des
runs a raised platform for placing the leaves in bulk; and,
commencing at a safe distance from the fire, up to the top
of the tall building, reach beams stretching across for the
reception of the tobacco-sticks, thick pine laths, from
which are suspended the heavy plants. Safely housed and
beyond all danger of the frost, whose slightest touch is
sufficient to blacken and destroy it, the crop is now ready
for firing, and through the late autumn days blue clouds of
smoke hover over and around the steep roofs of the tall
tobacco-barns. A stranger might suppose the buildings on
fire, but not a blaze is within, the object here, as in
bacon-curing, being _smoke_, not _fire_.

"For this the old field-pine is eschewed, and the planter
draws on his stock of oak and hickory-trees. Many use
sassafras and sweet gum in preference to all other woods for
this purpose, under the impression that they improve the
flavor of the tobacco-leaf. When the leaves, fully cured,
have taken the rich brown hue of the tobacco of commerce, so
unlike the deep green of the growing plant that a person
familiar with the one would never recognize the other as the
same plant, the planter must fold his hands and wait until
they are in condition for what is technically known as
striking, i. e., taking down from the rafters on which they
are suspended. Touch the tobacco when too dry and it
crumbles, disturb it when too high or damp, and its value
for shipping is materially lessened, while if handled in too
cold weather it becomes harsh. But there comes a mild damp
spell, and the watchful planter seizing the right moment,
since tobacco, like time and tide, waits for no man, musters
all the force he can command for the work of stripping and
stemming. This done, the leaves are sorted and tied in
bundles, several being held in one hand, while around the
stalk-end of the cluster is wrapped another leaf, the loose
end of which is tucked through the center of the bundle.
Great care is taken in this operation not to break the leaf,
and oil or lard is freely used in the work. During this
process the crop is divided into the various grades of
commerce from 'long bright' leaf to 'lugs' the lowest grade
known to manufacturers. These last are not packed into
hogsheads