Nga Tikanga o te Whakatupu me te Mahinga o te Tupeka

John White

First published by Printed by W.C. Wilson in 1867

Digitised and made available online by the University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services and Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Epub © 2015 Early New Zealand Books Collection

ISBN 978-0-947487-43-0

[TITLE PAGES]

E HOA. –

He maharatanga naku ki a koe, koia te pukapuka nei i hoatu ai mau.

KAWANA KEREI.

Akuhata, 1867.

NGA TIKANGA O TE WHAKATUPU
ME TE
MAHINGA O TE TUPEKA.

HE MEA KII E
KAWANA KEREI,
TENEI PUKAPUKA KIA WHAKAMAORITIA; HEI AKO I NGA TANGATA
MAORI O TENEI WHENUA KATOA,

NA HONE WAITI,
KAI-WHAKAWA TUTURU,
I
WHAKAMAORI.

AUCKLAND:
PRINTED BY W. C. WILSON, "HERALD" OFFICE, WYNDHAM STREET.
1867.

[Page 3 is blank]

[Text in Maori]

No. 1.

A plant ready to top, place for topping indicated by b.

He Tupeka tenei Kahore ano i Katohia te puawai.

No. 2

Plant with the suckers growing.

Kua katohia te puawai o tenei; ko nga pihi hou, e tupu ake ana: ko era kia katohia.

No. 3.

Hanging tobacco on the poles.

Ko te ahua tenei o te tupeka, ana whakatarea ki roto i te wharau.

HE PUKAPUKA AKO I NGA TIKANGA

O TE WHAKATUPU ME TE

MAHINGA O TE TUPEKA.

Ma te oneone pai anake tenei mea te Tupeka ka pai ai.

Kai pai te oneone kia ruru ano hoki te wahi hei tupuranga ka tika ai, ka putu ai ona nui.

Ko te oneone pai koia tenei, ko te oneone kura o nga maunga; ko te oneone mangu i nga awa awa o nga maunga, me nga oneone mangu o nga parae.

Ko to mahinga mo te maara koia tenei, me keri te oneone ki te karaone, a ko nga keretu me patu patu kia ngawari, kia pera me to te kumara ngaki, a i te mea kua ngawari te oneone, ko te kai ngaki me tu i tana tunga, ka koko mai ai ki tona taha te oneone, kia tae ki ona turi te teitei, ka oti tera, ka mahi ano aia i te-tahi ahuahu kia pera me to mua, a oti noa tana maara te tupuke. Ko aua ahuahu kia rarangi tonu, ko te matara o te-tahi ahuahu i te-tahi, kia wha putu i tetahi papa, kia toru putu i tetahi papa.

Ko nga purapura o te Tupeka ana ngakia kia tupu ai hei putake whakato mo te maara, me rui ki te-tahi wahi iti koia anake, ko te oneone o taua wahi kia tino oneone pai momona, kia maroke taua wahi, otira kaua e tino rahi te moa, kia hei ai te mea atu he wai whakamakuku i nga rangi e nui ana te ra. Ko taua wahi ara te moa hei tupunga mo nga tupeka purapura, hei te marama o Akuhata

o Hepetema ka timata te mahi, ara me ami nga tarutaru nga kakau kaanga nga rakau nga aha noaiho ki reira, ka tahu ai aua mea hei whakamomona ka oti tera, me huri te oneone, ara keria kia pai te whenua. 1 He mea ano ka ngakia e nga kai ngaki tupeka tetahi nani ki te taha o te wahi e tupu ai te tupeka, ko aua nani kia tawhio katoa te moa o nga tupeka, he mea hoki e kainga ana nga tupu tupeka e te ngaro tena e mui te ngaro ki reira ko te nani e tupu ra ka kainga e ratou ma reira ka toe ai nga tupu tupeka, ki te mea ka puta te hau anu ara te haupapa, me hipoki te moa i nga tupeka, me hipoki ki te tapau kei katoa nga tupu tupeka e te anu ka mate.

Kia kotahi marama e tupu ai te purapura tupeka kua nui te take a kua pai i taua wa kia hukea kia kawea aua tupu ki te tino maara e tupu ai.

I te mea kua wha nga rau o te tupu a e pihi ake ana te rima o nga rau o te take tupeka, i te wahi kua tae te roa o te tupu ki te wha inihi te tike tike, kua tino tika kia hukea kia ngakia ki te tino maara. Ma te kai ngaki te whakaaro ki te wa e hukea ai eia aua take tupeka, ko te ra pai hei hukenga, ko te wa kua ngawari te oneone i te ua, no te mea hoki kei motu motu nga pakiaka o nga tupeka ana hukea, no te mea hoki he taru mate noa te tupeka a kia pai te tango i nga putake kei motu motu nga pakiaka; a i te mea kua hutia nga take tupeka i te moa i tupu ai, me kohi ki te kete kia hohoro tonu te kawe ki te tino maara, a kia kotahi putake ki te ahuahu kotahi, ara ki te ahuahu kua oti nei te korero tona mahinga, he tangata ano hei tuha i nga take tupeka ki nga ahuahu he tangata ano hei whakato, ko te tangata whakato hei ore i runga o te ahuahu ki tana ringa ka hoatu ai

eia te take tupeka ki roto i te puta i kowhao ra i tana ringa, a kia maro tonu kia tu tika te take tupeka ka papaki ai eia te oneone ki te take o te tupu o te tupeka, otira kia tupato tenei mahi ara te tukunga atu o te take tupeka ki te kowhao i te ahuahu i mahi ra e tana ringa, kia tupato ano hoki te paki paki i te oneone i te take o te tupu, no te mea he taru ngohe noa te tupeka i te itinga, a ki te mea ka kope nga rau ranei te putake ranei, ka kino te tupu.

Kia rangi makuku ka tino pai te whakato mo te tupeka, he makuku hoki tona mea e pai ai ana hukei i tana moa i whaka-tupuria ai kia ngakia ki te tino maara. He mea ano kei nga ra ua anake nga ra e hukea ai tenei mea te tupeka e ngakia ai ki te tino maara.

I te mea kua ngaro nga tupeka te whakato ki te tino maara, e kore e taro ka kitea nga mea e tupu ana me nga mea kua kongio; kia ua ano kia makuku te whenua me tango nga mea kua kongio ka whakato atu ano he tupeka hou ki nga turanga o nga mea i kongio kia kapi ai te maara.

E penei pu ana tenei taru te tupeka me te kumara, maatua tango tonu nga taru ka tupu ai te tupeka, e hara i te mea me tango nga taru i te oroko ngakinga o te tupeka, kahore, otira me hono tonu te ngaki o te taru a taeanoatia te pakaritanga o te tupeka, te mea i ngakia ai nga taru he mea kia makuku ai nga putake o nga tupeka, tetahi he mea kia ngawariwari ai ano hoki te oneone kia tawhai ai te tupu o te tupeka, ko nga rau maroke o nga tupu o nga tupeka me kato era kia pai ai nga tupu.

E kore e mohiotia te roa e tupu ai te tupeka hei puawaitanga mona, no te mea kei te maara te tikanga, kei te whenua tino pai ka puawai wawe, kei te oneone kino e kore e puawai wawe; otira kia tupu te tupeka a taea noatia tana tike tike ki nga putu e rua ka puawai.

Kia puawai to tupeka hei reira pu ano ka kato ai

te matamata o nga tupu (Titiro ki te whakaahua Nama I) me kato te matamata o te tino tupu o te tupeka, ma te maikuku o te koromatua e mahi; te mea i katohia ai he mea kei pau te kaha o te tupu i te puawai, he mea ano hoki kia nui ai nga rau o te tupeka, koia i katohia ai; kei nga kainga ngaki tupeka e waiho ana e o reira tangata kia 5, he mea ano e 9 nga rau ki te putake tupeka kotahi otira kia pai pu te oneone e tupu ai te tupeka ka waiho kia 9 nga rau ki te putake kotahi; ekore ia e nui nga putake e waiho ana kia 9 rau hei tupu, he kore hoki e pai e kaha te tupu i te tini, ko te tino tikanga e mohiotia ana ka ouou nga rau ki te putake kotahi ka tino nui aua rau.

Ma te maikuku e kato te tupu puawai, no te mea e kutia ana e te ringa nga kaka o te tupu, ma reira e kore ai e putu te ware o te tupu, a e hohoro ai te mahu ano te wahi i katohia o te tupeka. He kino ki te mea ka katohia te tupu o te tupeka ki te makoi kota ki te marapi, i te mea hoki e puta ana te ware o te tupeka, a e kore ai e tawhai te tupu o te tupeka.

Tetahi mea ano kia mohio te kai ngaki tupeka ko nga pihi e puta ana i te taha o nga rau o te tupeka, me kato aua pihi, tetahi ko nga pihi e tupu ake ana i te taha o te take o te tupeka me kato era (Titiro ki te whakaahua Name II) ki te mea ka waiho aua pihi kia tupu, ka kino te putake matua, a ka kino ano hoki te tupeka.

He makokorori te mea e kino ai te tupeka, he ngata enei e noho ana i te tupeka he mea ano ka kainga ko nga rau o te tupeka he mea ano ka kainga ko nga putake i te whenua.

Ko aua makokorori me kohi e te kai ngaki, a kia hono tonu tana tinei i aua ngata kei pau tana maara he manu pai te Pipipi hei kai i nga makokorori e noho ana i te tupeka, me tuku nga Pipipi kia haere i waenga o te maara, otira ko nga ngata e kai ana i nga putake i raro i te whenua me rapu era e te kai ngaki me tinei kia ora ai tena maara.

He mea ano ka pa te tahi mate ki te tupeka i aia ano e tupu ana, e penei ana me te ahau o etahi rau harakeke ana kainga e te mokokorori he mea ano e pa ana taua mate i te mea kua mahia nga rau o te tupeka ki te whare tare ai.

E kore e taea te ako atu, te ahua o te tupeka ana pakari, otira ki te hunga mohio e mea ana, ko te ahua o te tupeka pakari ara o nga rau o te tupeka kia whakiia, he ahua pungapunga tu a rite ki te pua o te kowhai, a ki te mea ka whawhakia nga rau e ahua a hawareware ana ki te tango tango a te ringa ringa e kore hoki e kotahi pakaritanga o nga tupeka katoa o te maara kotahi, a ma nga kai mahi mohio anake e titiro te maara, a ko ratou anake hei tiki hei titiro hei tapahi, he maripi te mea hei tapahi, ko nga mea pakiri anake e tapahia ana e ratou, ko nga putake ki ano i pakari ka waiho e ratou kia tu, a i ona ra ano ka tapahia era a tona pakaritanga.

Ki te mea ka tapahia te tupeka i te mea ki ano i pakari, kei te mahinga e kore e pai, a he mea ano ka kohia ki te kaaho ka pirau.

Ka tapahia te tupeka, kia tata ki te tino putake te wahi e tapahia, a hei te ra maroke kaua e ua kaua e kohu ka tapahia te tupeka.

Ka tapahia te tupeka, ka koara te too, kia rite nga rau i te tahi taha mau ai kia rite ki te tahi mau ai, he mea hoki i koara ai te too kia puhia ai e te hau kia maroke ai, he mea ano hoki kia kore ai e noho tonu te makuku o te tupeka i aia kei toroi a ona wa e mahia ai, a kei kino ano hoki te tupeka.

I te mea kua kotia te tupeka i taana tupunga i te maara, me kawe ki roto ki te whare. He wharau nei te whare kaua he paatu i taua whare kia puhia ai nga tupeka e te hau. Kia Kotahi marama e tare ai aua tupeka i te wharau, a kia rangi ua, kia rangi kohu ranei ka kohi ai aua tupeka ki te pouaka, ka kawe ai ki te wahi e tino mahia ai hei tupeka hoko ki te iwi.

Ko te ahua o te wharau e tare ai te tupeka kia

maroke koia nei, kia 12 putu te tiketike o te paatu, a ko nga kaho hei tarenga mo nga tupeka kia eke te tahi pito ki te kaho o tetahi paatu o te tahi paatu, ko aua kaho kia 4 putu te mamao te taki i te taki puta noa ki te tahi pito o te wharau ki te tahi pito.

Kei mama te tahuhu o te wharau e tare ai nga tupeka, ki te maku nga tupeka ka kino.

Kia ahua ngawariwari nga rau tupeka ka kawe ai ki te wharau tare ai engari kia tupato te kawe tata nga tupeka i te oroko kotinga o nga tupeka, no te mea i aia ano e tupu ana te tupeka e whati noa ana nga rau, engari kia roa roa iho e takoto ano i te mea kua kotia ka ngawariwari nga rau e kore e whati noa ki te mea ka whati whati nga rau ka kino.

Ko nga putake o nga too tupeka te waiho hei tarenga ki nga kaho ko nga rau hoki o nga tupeka kia tare noa, ko te putake te wahi hei maunga ki te kaho, kia 5 inihi te mamao o te tupeke tetahi putake i te tahi ia ratou e tare ana i nga kaho (Titiro ki te whakaahua Nama III.)

He hau te mea maana e maroke pai ai te tupeka, otira me ata titiro e nga kai mahi kei tino maroke te tupeka a kei tino maaku ano hoki te tupeka i te hau, ara kei nga rangi ua, ka maaku te hau, a ka maaku ano hoki te tupeka ana puhia e te hau, koia i kiia ai, kei nga rangi maaku me tahu he ahi ki roto i te wharau, ko aua ahi me whakapongere, ara me kanoti kia ahua pumahu te wahi e tare ai te tupeka, kia tupato ano ia kei mura aua ahi no te mea, ka mura aua ahi ka tino wera wera nga tupeka penei ka kakakaka a ka kino ka ahua pirau.

Kia rima wiki e tare ai nga tupeka i roto i te wharau kua pai, me whaka matamatau ano ia nga tupeka kia kitea ai te painga kia kawea ketia nga tupeka kia mahia hei poke he whiri, te take e mohiotia ai te tupeke mehemea kua pai kia mahia, me tango tango e te ringaringa, a mehemea e ahua ngawariwari ana e ahua hawareware ana kua pai, ka waiho ano i roto i te wharau tare ai, a kia tae

ki te ra ua maakuuku hei reira ka tango iho ai nga tupeka i ona tarenga, ka whakia nga rau tupeka i nga too ara i nga putake i mau ai nga rau. Ko nga rau i mau i te putake i te mea e tupu ana te tupeka, he rau kikino era a e waiho ke ana era he takotoranga ke, whai hoki ko nga rau o runga ake o te too, e ahua ke ana etahi i etahi, a e tirotirohia ana era, e kohia ketia ana nga mea pai, e kohia ketia ana nga mea kino, ka toru ai puranga tupeka, ka oti nei nga rau tupeka te whiriwhiri nga mea kino i nga mea pai, he mea paere nga rau ko te putake o te rau ara tana maunga ki te too, te wahi e herea ana, kei te ahua o te nui o te rau te whakaaro mo nga paere, otira ko te matatoru o te paere, ara o te putake o nga rau e herea ana kia penei me te nui o te koromatua o te ringa tangata. Te here hei here i aua rau he rau tupeka ano.

Kite mea ka mahia te tupeka i nga ra tino maroke penei ka whatiwhati nga rau a ka mohunga noa iho, otira i te mea kua oti pai te maroke nga tupeka e kore e tirotiro nga kai mahi ki te maroke ranei ki te maaku ranei o te whare e takoto ai te tupeka, ara te maaku te maroko o te hau o te whare, haunga ano te whare tuturu mama, he kino tera, inahoki, ahakoa tino maroke nga rau tupeka i nga ra werawera, ka tae ano ki nga ra maakuuku, ka ngawariwari ano nga tupeka.

Ka oti nei nga rau tupeka te whaka paere, ara kua herea hei pupu, ka kohia kirunga ki te whata, ka takoto ra i reira a ka pumahutia, a ka ahua pipi te wai o nga tupeka ka toroi otira kia tupato kei nui rawa te pumahu te toroitanga o te tupeka ma te hau e pupuhi ara te tupeka e mutu ai te pumahu.

I te mea kua mutu te pumahu ka ahua ngawari-ano te tupeka, ka kiia ikonei kua pai te tupeka kia mahia nga tupeka hei hoko. He mea ano ka tohia nga kaka o nga rau, te mea hoki i peneitia ai e paingia ana e te tangata te tupeka kakakaka kore.

Te mahinga o te tupuke kiroto ki te kaaho koia nei ko nga pupu kua oti ra te here here ka kohia ki te kaaho ko te putake o te rarangi tuatahi kia hangai tonu ki te taha o te kaaho, a ko te rarangi tuarua ko nga putake kia hangai tonu ki runga ki nga kouru o nga rau o te rarangi kua oti ra te kohi i te tuatahi, ano ka nui nga tupeka ki te kaaho me pehi a runga ki te kohatu kia kopepe ai, ara pehia e te taimaha ka pakeke te takoto o te tupeka, ko te pakeke o te takoto koia nei, kia kore e hoki ake ano te tupeka ana tangahia nga kohatu i pehia ai, kia roa e pehia ana ka pera, he mea kohi hou atu ano etahi tupeka, ka pehia ano, ano ka kii noa te kaaho.

1 Ka oti nei te huri te moa mo nga purapura Tupeka me kohi arunga o taua moa ki te kakau witi kia nui ka tahu ai ki te ahi aua kakau witi, ano ka keto te ahi o aua kakau, me rui nga purapura Tupeka ki runga o aua pungarehu i Akuhata ranei i Hepetema.

[Text in English]

THE CULTURE
OF
THE TOBACCO PLANT.

TRANSLATED BY ORDER OF
HIS EXCELLENCY SIE GEORGE GREY,
Governor of New Zealand and its Dependencies,
FOR
THE INFORMATION OF THE MAORI RACE.

JOHN WHITE, R.M.
TRANSLATOR,
AUCKLAND, N. Z., JULY 1ST, 1867.

AUCKLAND:
PRINTED BY W. C. WILSON, HERALD OFFICE, WYNDHAM STREET.
1867.

[Page 14 is blank]

The Culture of the Tobacco Plant.

Everything depends upon the proper selection of soil for the cultivation of tobacco. 2 In none but rich and sheltered lands will it ever succeed. Those said to answer best in Virginia are "the light-red or chocolate-coloured mountain lands, the light-black soil in the coves of mountains, and the richest low grounds;" and it is, doubtless, owing to the variations in the soil, that particular districts enjoy a reputation superior to others for the production of tobacco.

When the ground has not been previously under cultivation, and requires to he cleared of heavy timber trees and underwood, this task must be commenced early in the autumn. The underwood, roots, and small branches are collected together into heaps by women and children, and burnt on the ground, while the trunks of trees are sawn into lengths of about eleven feet each, suitable for forming a fence to enclose the land. The next operation is that of breaking up the soil and throwing it into

shape, which is done with hoes, the clods of earth being worked until they are sufficiently fine. The mould thus broken is then drawn with the hoe round the projected leg of the labourer, forming a hillock as high as his knee, when, the foot being withdrawn and the hillock perfected, he proceeds onward to form another, until the whole ground is prepared. These hillocks are raised in lines, and are usually four feet apart one way and three feet the other.

The seed 3 is always sown in nursery beds, or patches as they are called, which are invariably made in lands of the best possible soil, in a dry spot, but so circumstanced that attention may be conveniently given to water the patches from time to time, according to the state of the weather. The size of these plant-beds varies, of course, according to the magnitude of the concern. They are made ready for receiving the seed in March, or the early part of April (at the Cape, say June and July), according to the forwardness or otherwise of the season. For this purpose large heaps of brushwood, maize-stalks, straw, or any other dry vegetable matter are burnt upon the land, which is afterwards completely broken by digging. 4 Some planters are accustomed to sow white mustard seed round the plant patch, as a protection from the ravages of the fly, which, preferring the mustard to

any other plant, will feed on it until the tobacco sprouts are in a fit state for being transplanted. On the slightest appearance of frost it is necessary to spread mats over the beds for the protection of the young plants; but all precautions against the inclemency of the weather are evidently unnecessary in inter-tropical climates, where the cultivator of tobacco has only to choose the period of his operations according to the more usual season for rain. 5 In about a month from the time of sowing the seed, the sprouts will lie in a fit state for transplantation. 6 When the fourth leaf has sprouted, and the fifth is just appearing (at which stage the sprouts will be about four or five inches out of the ground,) they are known to be sufficiently forward for this operation. The cultivator chooses his time when the ground has been well softened with rain, so that the sprouts may be withdrawn from the patch without risk of injury to their tender roots. This done, they are conveyed without delay in a basket to the field, previously prepared in the manner already mentioned, and one plant is dropped upon every hillock. Persons immediately follow, who with a finger make a hole in the centre, and deposit the tobacco plant in an upright position, pressing the earth round the root with their hands – an operation which must be performed with great care, as the leaves are exceedingly tender at this time, and any injury sustained by them would endanger the safety of the plant.

So necessary an agent is moisture towards the successful performance of this operation, that the planters wait for a shower of rain, and prefer to

complete the transplanting during the very time the rain is falling. 7

In the course of a very few days, most of the sprouts will, under these circumstances, give signs of their having taken hold of the ground. Some few will appear, however, upon inspection, to have failed. The favourable opportunity of a shower must again be waited for, in order to supply their places; and attention must he given to this point until all deficiencies are filled up, and the plants are proceeding satisfactorily throughout the field.

Tobacco husbandry calls for continual labour in weeding and earthing up the plants, and in constantly stirring the soil about the roots; and these labours must be persisted in through the whole growth of the crop, to ensure its receiving a proper degree of nourishment. Any dead leaves that may be found from time to time attached to the stalks must also be carefully removed.

The period when the flower-branches first begin to appear differs according to soil and climate, but, in general, happens when the plants have attained the height of two feet. At this stage of their growth they must be submitted to the operation of topping. This is performed by removing with the finger and thumb-nail the leading stem, which, if left, would run up to flower and seed, but in so doing would drain away a large portion of the nutritive juices from the leaves, to increase the size of which is the object of the cultivator, and this he strives to assist by every means in his power. When this source of exhaustion is removed, the leaves will absorb the whole nourishment which the plant receives, and

will become thicker and heavier, and in every way superior. 8

In topping the plants it is usual in Virginia to allow from five to nine leaves to remain on the stem, according as the quality of the soil is fitted to perfect a less or greater number; but it is seldom that so many as nine can be left with advantage. In general, the fewer the number of leaves that remain the stronger will be the tobacco; and it by no means follows that, by increasing the number, the weight of the produce will also be increased. This topping process is better performed by the hand than with any cutting instrument, because the pores of the extremity are better brought together, and the wound is healed sooner and without much loss of the juices of the plant.

Another kind of pruning is incessantly called for. Near to the junction of the leaves with the stem, and also about the root, superfluous sprouts, called suckers, continually shoot forth, and if permitted to grow, materially injure the quality of the tobacco. They must, consequently, be removed; and, for the reason already given, the finger and thumb-nail form the most appropriate instrument for this "suckering" process also. It would, in many cases, be practicable to procure a second crop of tobacco from the same plants by means of suckers proceeding from the root; but the produce thus obtained would also be very inferior in quality.

The plant is liable to injury at various periods of its growth from the ravages of grubs, some of which attack the roots, and others the leaves. One species of these insects, the horn-worm, or large green tobacco-worm, is particularly mischievous. Whenever these enemies appear, they must be

destroyed by any means within the power of the cultivator, the most efficacious of which is to remove them individually from the plants, and crush them under foot, an unpleasant and laborious operation. These caterpillars are greeedily devoured by turkeys, large flocks of which are sometimes kept by cultivators, and are driven into the fields, where they prove more useful in removing the insects than even a considerable number of hands. The ground worm, which attacks the plant under the surface of the ground, must be sought for and destroyed.

Tobacco encounters also another injury, which appears under the form of blight, and is occasioned by the long continuance of cither extremely wet or dry weather. This disease which is called firing, is much dreaded by the planters. When it appears, the leaves perish partially in spots, and thus diminish the weight of the crop. The injury sometimes shows itself in the field, and other times in the curing-house. In this latter case it may be mitigated by the employment of artificial heat for drying the leaves. 9

It is hardly possible to describe the particular appearances of the plants which determine the fact of their being in a fit condition for being cut and gathered in; experience will alone enable the cultivator to seize upon the most proper moment for harvesting. When fully ripe the leaves change their colour to a yellowish green, they put on what may be called a mellow appearance; the web of the leaf (owing, probably, to a contraction in its fibres) appears more prominent, and it is somewhat thickened in its substance. 10 The requisite amount of

experience upon this point is, indeed, soon gained by the observant cultivator; but at first it will be better for the young planter to seek the advice of some one already possessed of that experience, rather than act upon his own unaided suggestions. In more tropical climates, the motive which principally incites to vigilance in this respect in Virginia is wanting. If frost should he experienced while yet the plants are in the ground, farewell to all the hopes of the planter; the destruction is entire and irremediable.

As all the plants throughout the same field do not arrive together at their full maturity, the charge of cutting them is assigned to clever and experienced hands. Each of these is furnished with a strong, sharp knife, and, proceeding regularly along the rows of plants, selects and cuts only such as appear to be ripe, leaving the rest for future and successive operations. If tobacco be cut before it is fully ripe, it will not assume a good colour in the curing, and will, besides, be liable to rot when afterwards packed in hogsheads.

The cutting takes place near the ground. 11 Such plants as have stalks sufficiently thick are then cut down the middle, so as nearly to divide them, and this is done that the air may be admitted more freely to every part of the leaves during the after process of curing. By this means, too, the plant is more readily freed from a part of its natural moisture, and is thus rendered less liable to undergo fermentation, whereby the quality of the tobacco would be injured. When thus cut and divided, they are laid down in regular order on the spots where they grew, the extremities of the leaves all pointing in the same direction, that they may be more easily gathered up. 12 This operation

is performed, as soon as the sun has produced a sufficient effect upon them, and they are found to have lost their freshness and rigidity. The same effect is sometimes produced by laying the leaves in bulk upon logs before they are conveyed under cover. 13

The building appropriated to the reception and curing of tobacco is a kind of barn, its size being made according to the extent of ground under cultivation. Where this is great, and more than one building is consequently required, barns are usually erected on several spots contiguous to the different tobacco grounds. The most usual size given to these buildings is from forty to sixty feet in length, with a proportionate width, and their height to the eaves of the roof is twelve feet. The sides are left partially open to allow a free circulation of air, and the internal area of the building, including the roof, is occupied by horizontal poles stretching across the barn in a parallel direction, and four feet apart from each other. These poles are connected together, when the house is occupied, by cross pieces, which are called tobacco sticks, and upon these the leaves are hung in order to be cured. There are three several tiers or stages of these poles and sticks in the principal area of the house, besides others in the roof, a perpendicular space of four feet being preserved between each stage for the proper circulation of air.

It cannot be necessary to offer any further directions for the construction of tobacco-houses.

The object which they are intended to fulfil being borne in mind, their material and form must he left to the discretion of the cultivator, and to the local capabilities afforded for the purpose. Of course, the roof must always form a perfect protection against the weather, and it will be necessary so to contrive the poles and sticks that they may be removed and replaced without difficulty.

The plants must be removed into the tobacco-houses so soon as they become sufficiently pliant to bear handling. If taken from the field at the moment when they have been cut, such is the rigidity and brittleness of the leaves, that they would be much broken and damaged. The removal is effected by manual labour, and that quantity of leaves which can be conveniently carried by one person is called a turn.

The operation of hanging is then performed by suspending the plants upon the sticks, with the points of the leaves downwards, resting them either by the stalk of the lowest leaf, or by the slit which has been made in the stem of the larger plants, as before described. The whole are made to hang four or five inches apart from each other upon the sticks, the exact distance being proportioned to their size.

The sticks thus occupied are then, by means of ladders, conveyed to the places it is intended they shall occupy between the poles, the buildings being filled with them progressively from the roof downwards.

The agency of the atmospheric air is principally relied on for the curing of tobacco; but as it is important to maintain something approaching to an uniform temperature, and to be particularly watchful as regards the dryness or dampness of the air, it is necessary for the planter to bestow his constant attention upon the weather, in order to remedy as far as possible the effects of atmospheric changes. If too much moisture is seen, small

smothered fires are made with rotten wood or bark at various spots on the floor of the curing-house. Much care is needed to prevent the blazing of these fires, as any sudden heating of the leaves while in a moist condition would produce a disease similar to that already described under the name of firing.

When the curing has proceeded to a sufficient extent, the tobacco is said to be in case, an effect which is generally produced in about four or five weeks after it was first hung in the building. The method employed for ascertaining whether this point has been attained, is to stretch the leaves gently over the ends of the fingers and knuckles. If the tobacco be in good case the leaves will then be found elastic and tough, and slightly covered with a glossy kind of moisture. After this effect has been produced, the first rainy day is chosen for taking down the leaves, which are next withdrawn from the sticks, preparatory to their being stripped from the stalks. Tor this purpose a numerous party of negroes – men, women, and children – are seated in a circle on the floor of the tobacco-house; and, as they draw the leaves from the stalks, hand the former to two men placed in the centre, who distribute them into separate heaps, according to their qualities. The lower or ground leaves being generally soiled and torn, are for that reason separated from the rest, while of those produced on the higher part of the stalk some are inferior to others. The whole are therefore distributed into three heaps. When this separation has been effected, a number of leaves are tied together at their thickest ends, a small leaf being employed lor that purpose, by twisting it round the others, and securing its end in a kind of knot. Each little bundle thus made is called a hand, and is somewhat thicker than a man's thumb at the end where it is tied.

It is necessary to choose rainy or very damp weather for handling tobacco, otherwise the leaves will partially crumble into dust, and much loss will

be thereby sustained. When once the leaves have been properly cured, it does not much signify whether the place in which it is stored be damp or otherwise; for however dry the leaves may become in hot and fair weather, the return of rain never fails to restore to them so much toughness that they may be handled without injury.

When the little bundles are thus made they are thrown together in heaps on a wooden platform, where they undergo the process of sweating. This amounts to a slight degree of fermentation, and care must be taken, through exposure to the air, to check this from proceeding too far. As to this point experience will be the only proper guide. 14 The leaves, when the sweating has subsided, will once more show an elastic quality when stretched between the fingers; The tobacco is then considered to be sufficiently in case, and fit for being packed for shipment. The leaves are sometimes deprived of their stalks previous to their being packed, an operation which is performed for various causes. If the plant has exhibited any symptom of blight during its growth, or if the season has been less favourable than usual, experience has taught the planters that the stalks are liable to decay, an event which would prejudice the saleable value of the tobacco. These stripped leaves are besides more esteemed in some markets, so that the enhanced price which they bring will more than make good the loss of weight, and pay all the expense of stripping. The operation is performed by taking the leaf in one hand and the extremity of its stem in the other, in such a manner

as to tear them asunder in the direction of the fibre; and although this appears a very simple process, expertness in it is only to be acquired by practice. Leaves thus stripped are made up into bundles, and in other respects are treated in the same manner as the more perfect leaves. In former times the stalks were thrown aside as refuse; but for many years past sone particular kinds of snuff have been prepared wholly from them, so that they find a ready market, if in a sufficiently sound condition to he manufactured.

In proceeding to pack tobacco for shipment, it is necessary to adopt mechanical aids to labour for compressing it, so that the space it would otherwise occupy, and with it the expense of transporting it, are very materially reduced, while, the air being pressed out, the tobacco is rendered less liable to external change; and its body being made compact, it is less penetrable by moisture, and less exposed to other injuries from without. Well packed tobacco acquires by this means so great a power of resisting the entrance of miosture, that instances have occurred where vessels have been stranded and their cargoes of tobacco, although long covered by sea-water, have yet been found on examination to be only very partially damaged on the outside, the middle, from one or two inches inward, proving perfectly sound and dry.

This advantage it is on every account quite necessary to attain. There is, however a limit beyond which pressure would prove hurtful, bruising the leaf and destroying its texture, and some judgment and experience are called for to regulate the operation.

It cannot be necessary to give a particular description of any apparatus employed for effecting the necessary compression of tobacco in the casks. The principle upon which any such contrivance must be constructed is that of a weight whose efficacy may be increased at pleasure by means of

a lever of the second kind, its fulcrum being at one end, while the power is applied at the other, and the compressing weight is placed between the two.

It is not requisite that the casks should he made perfectly tight, and, in fact, tobacco hogsheads never are so made; but they must he constructed, both staves and heading, of well-seasoned wood, otherwise they will be liable to shrink and may fall asunder, so that, although their contents should continue free from any other evil, they would he exposed to plunder. Immediately before packing them, it is advisable to remove any dampness which the casks may have acquired, by either exposing them during an hour or two to the rays of the sun, or by placing them over burnt shavings.

In proceeding to pack a cask, the little bundles, or hands, are ranged one by one parallel to each other across the hogsheads, and their points are all placed in the same direction. The next course, or layer, is reversed, the points being in the opposite direction to the first. Any vacant spaces that may he thus left, are supplied with small bundles, so that the surface is rendered perfectly level; the thick ends of all the hands are placed nearest to the sides of the cask.

When a sufficient number of layers has been thus arranged within the casks so as to occupy about one-fourth of its area, the lever, or prizing apparatus, as it is called, is brought into action, and being pressed down by means of an adequate weight, the quantity of tobacco just mentioned will he compressed into the thickness of about three inches. When the lever has been brought to its position, it must be kept there until such time as the tobacco under compression will permanently retain its situation after the weight is withdrawn; an effect which will not he produced until after several hours. Fresh layers of hands are then added, followed by a fresh application of the prizing lever, and thus the process is conducted until the cask is filled.

A great loss of time will be experienced by this mode of packing unless several casks are placed under operation at the same time, so that the packers need not remain idle.

The size of a tobacco hogshead, such as is commonly used by the Virginia planters, is forty-eight inches long, with the heads thirty to thirty-two inches diameter, and into one of these casks from 950 to 1,000 pounds weight of tobacco may very properly be packed.

Tobacco is very generally cultivated throughout the East, and particularly in the Northern and Western Provinces of India. Although the cultivation is more laborious than any other branch of agriculture pursued there, while the produce from an acre of land scarcely equals one-third of that produced from the same area in America, yet such is the low rate of wages paid in those districts, that it is said Tobacco may be purchased in many parts of India at a price below three half-pence per pound. The flavour of the Indian leaf is weaker than that of American growth, which circumstance is attributed to the want of skill on the part of the curers, rather than to anything unfavourable in the soil or climate.

Perhaps no plant of European introduction is in such general request as this throughout India; its consumption being almost universal among the inhabitants of the Indian islands, who grow all that they require for their own use, while some produce a surplus quantity for exportation. The introduction of tobacco into that quarter is ascribed to the Portuguese settlers, numerous communities of whom were established in the Indian seas at the time when the plant first became known in Europe.

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2 The tobacco ground should have the full benefit of the sun all day, and be protected by hedges or banks from strong winds. The ground should be heavily manured with old cow-dung or horse-dung (cow-dung is the best), and ploughed in as early in the winter as possible. In a month or two it should be ploughed again and harrowed, and planted as soon as possible after September 1st or 15th. The seed-bed should be a patch of good soil, well broken up and pulverized; a thin layer of straw or reeds should be spread over it and set on fire. In June or July the seed can be sprinkled in the ashes, and the rain will beat it in, or it can be watered with the hand. The seed-bed should be in the full sun, and protected from heavy rains and frosts by an old window-frame, or mats, or something else, to be removed in the day during fine weather.

3 Which ought always to be procured from the original stalk by allowing some of the strongest plants to go to seed for that express purpose; and on no account must there be more than one kind of tobacco grown in the same place. Should it be so, however, those plants which are selected for seed, should have the flowers protected from bees and other insects by a bag of gauze. In no other way can the seed be kept pure. Virginia and Maryland tobacco have the largest leaf; but the Cuba and Latakia for smoking are superior in quality, and though the leaves are smaller they are more numerous.

4 An ounce of seed can then be mixed with about a quart of dry ashes, so as to separate the seed as much as possible, and be sown broadcast.

5 Should the nursery-beds apparently become dry from blighting winds or other causes, watering will be absolutely necessary, for the ground ought to he kept in a moist state from the time the seed is sown until, the young plants are large enough to be removed.

6 Say, of the size of good cabbage plants.

7 The plants set out in the morning, unless in rainy or cloudy weather, should be covered immediately, and the same should be done with those planted the evening previous, should the day open with a clear sunshine. A few small bushes or a cabbage leaf will answer this purpose.

8 Washing the hands after this is necessary, as the acrid juices of the plants would soon produce a soreness of the fingers.

9 But fire should if possible, be avoided, because the smoke would impart to them a flavour which would injure that of the tobacco itself.

10 The proper time for securing the crop is also known by the leaves becoming gummy to the touch, and cracking upon being folded, which they will not do to the same extent when green.

11 And should be effected in dry weather.

12 The tobacco, when cut, can be hung up in a shed or loft (solder which has a free current of air through it, and, after about a month, it can be taken down on a moist or foggy day, the leaves being then soft and pliant. In this state it can be packed in boxes, or bags, or bales, and transported to the manufacturer by ox-waggon or otherwise. It will then be the business of the manufacturer to prepare it for the market.

13 But drying the leaves in the sun in this country is injurious; it is apt to scorch them, cause an unpleasant flavour, and render them brittle, where toughness in the leaf is an object most desirable.

14 To guard against the leaves becoming over-heated, and to equalize the fermentation or sweating, after the first twenty-four hours, place the outside bundles in the centre, and those of the centre to the outside of the bulk. By doing this once or twice, and taking care to cover the bulk, either with sheets or blankets, so as to exclude all air from it, and leaving it in this state from five to ten days, or longer, according to the weather and other circumstances, it acquires an odour strong enough to produce sneezing, and the other qualities of cured tobacco.

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