When transplanting the young plants to the field, it is desirable to make a selection of the best and most vigorous plants in the seed-bed. At this early stage of growth the most vigorous plants having, the largest and best-shaped leaves, can be very easily distinguished by the grower and selected for the field.
The ordinary distance for Sumatra under cloth is three feet three inches apart for rows, and twelve inches apart in the row. Under slat shades the distance between the plants in the row is usually increased to about fourteen inches.
Before removing the young plants from the seed bed, the bed should be thoroughly watered and the plants taken out with all possible care. In set ting the plants in the field care should be taken to avoid binding and doubling the roots, and the necessary application of water should not be over looked. It is often found beneficial, just before transplanting, to water the soil where the plant is to be set, and to water again shortly after trans planting.
The cultivation of the crop should include the removal of all weeds from the field, particularly during the early stages of growth, and the keeping of a loose mulch on the surface of the soil. It is the custom to hoe the young plants twice and to use some form of cultivator at least once a week during the remainder of the season until the plants have become too large for inter-tillage. In many instances it has been found desirable and practi cable to inter-till the tobacco until shortly before the top leaves are taken off. In dry seasons this serves to retain the soil moisture by preventing excess evaporation due to soil capillarity.
When the plants begin to bud, all except the in dividual plants saved for seed purposes should be topped. No very definite rule can be given for this process, but it is the custom to break off the top of the plant just below the first seed sucker. The height of topping must be governed largely by the local soil and climatic conditions. It is necessary to remove the suckers before they reach sufficient size seriously to injure or dwarf the plant or inter fere in the development of the leaves. In most cases it will be found necessary to remove the suckers two or three times, and more frequently if the season is one which promotes rapid growth. If seed is to be saved on any of the plants, the flower-cluster should be covered with a light and strong paper bag before any of the flowers blossom, in order to prevent cross-fertilization. The bags should be kept in good condition and not allowed to injure the top of the plant in any way. They
should remain over the flowers until a sufficient number have been fertilized to produce a good supply of seed.
The time for harvesting will depend to a consid erable extent on the season. The ripeness of the leaves can be distinguished by the development of irregular, light yellowish colored patches over the surface, and a thickening and crumpling of the body of the leaves. The leaves should be harvested before they become overripe, and it is the usual practice to pick them at three or four different periods, the lower leaves maturing first, the middle leaves next, and the top leaves last, generally allowing six to eight days between each two pick ings. After picking, the leaves are carried to the curing shed in baskets made for this purpose, and are strung on four-foot laths specially arranged for them, at the rate of thirty to forty leaves to the lath. The leaves are arranged back to back and face to face, and are regularly strung on the cord attached to the lath. The laths are then hung in the curing shed, where the leaves are allowed thoroughly to cure. When the tobacco is primed from the stalk, it should not take more than three weeks to cure ; when it is hung on the stalks, four to six weeks are necessary.
The manipulation of the curing barn is governed entirely by the condition of the weather and the nature of the tobacco, so no fixed rules can be given. However, in a general way, it can be said that the barn should be opened during the day and kept closed at night. If there are frequent showers and but lit tle sunshine, the barn should be kept closed and small fires started at Voints distributed throughout the building. [See under Connecticut Havana tobacco, following.] When the midribs are thoroughly cured the leaves are ready to be taken to the packing-house. To get the tobacco in condition to handle, all the ventilators should be left open for one night, being opened about six o'clock in the evening. Unless the night is a dry one, the tobacco will soften before morning and be in con dition or "good order" ; that is, it will have taken up sufficient moisture to make it soft and pliable. The barn should then be tightly closed, in order to retain the moisture, and the leaves taken from the laths and tied into hands of convenient size. The bottom, middle and top leaves should be kept separate in the barn. After the tobacco has been taken down and packed, it should be sent at once to the warehouse for fer mentation.