Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 67.djvu/84

78 After breaking up all large clods and leveling the land, the seed is scattered broadcast on the surface and by means of planks pressed into the soil. Usually a shade is placed over the bed to protect the young plants from the direct rays of the sun. Forty to sixty days after planting, the plants are ready for transplanting. This begins about the last of December and is continued until the middle of February. Experience has shown that transplanting later than March does not give satisfactory results. The preparation of the field to which the young plants are to be transferred consists of plowing and harrowing, in which operations the corresponding native implements are used.

The ground being stirred, the native provides himself with a string of the same length as the width of the field. Each end of the string is securely attached to a stick for the purpose of laying out the rows. Sometimes the string itself is divided into spaces of two and one half feet by securely tying red ribbons at these intervals. These show where the plants are to go in the rows. After stretching the string across the field, the holes are made with a stick or bolo, about three inches deep and three inches wide. The holes are watered immediately after the plants are put in. The planting is done in the evening or very early in the morning, when the rays of the sun are not strong. After six or seven weeks from the transplanting the plants are usually ready for topping.

Topping.—When the flower buds begin to appear topping is begun. Usually from fifteen to twenty leaves are left on each plant.

Worming.—The battle with the worms begins in the seed-bed and does not end until the crop is harvested. No poisons are used, but the worms are caught by hand and killed. This is usually done in the mornings or late in the evenings.

Harvesting and Curing.— As a general rule the tobacco is primed; that is, the leaves of the plant are removed as they mature. It is customary to make five gatherings at intervals of about a week. The native collects the leaves and places them in large baskets which, when filled, are carried to the drying-shed in rough sleds or carts. If the soil is rich, a second profitable crop is produced from the suckers. As soon as the original crop is topped, suckers will sprout from each leaf. These, of course, are broken off as soon as they appear, otherwise they would hinder the growth of the leaves. When all the leaves have been primed from the original stalk, except three or four at the top, two suckers are allowed to grow from the bottom of the stalk. When the remaining leaves are removed, the stalk is cut just above where the suckers sprout and the field is immediately cultivated. It is claimed that when the season is favorable very good filler-tobacco is produced from the suckers.

In the drying-shed the leaves are sorted, usually into five classes,