Priming

• It is essential for uniform quality that all the leaves are harvested at correct maturity stage. Thus, in some classes of tobacco such as Flue-cured, Cigar wrapper and Oriental, harvesting is done by picking each leaf as a result of unsynchronized maturity.
• This method of harvesting is called priming and it begins 2-3 weeks after topping.
• Priming starts with lower 2-4 leaves followed by 5-6 successive pickings at intervals of 5-10 days.
• After harvesting, the leaves are strung on a bamboo sticks or lath of 1.2-1.5 m length @ 60-80 or even 100 leaves per stick and taken to barn for curing.
• A string is attached to one end of the stick after which the leaves are strung by needle. When the string is full, it is tied to the other end of the stick.

Stalk-cutting

• Air-cured, Cigar filler, Bidi, Hookah, and chewing tobacco are harvested by cutting the entire plant near the soil surface when the middle leaves show the first tinge of yellow color or when the middle leaves have ripened.
• It usually takes place 40-55 days after topping.
• The stalk is then hung upon a lath or stick by piercing the stalk near its base with a removable metal spear-head placed on the stick and sliding along the stick.
• A stick holds 6-8 stalks. Leaves are removed from the stalks only after the curing is completed.