Growing

Deforestation is the clearing of land by cutting or burning large areas of trees. Deforestation is a very serious world environmental problem. The growing of tobacco adds to the problem of deforestation. Forests are cleared to grow tobacco. Microscopic tobacco seeds are simply spread over the field after the trees are cleared. Farmers use many pesticides to help the tobacco plants grow.

Tobacco plants are ready to be harvested six weeks after the top of the plant begins to grow. At this time the upper leaves will "crack" when folded. The plants are cut either by hand or machine. The freshly picked leaves are tied to sticks. This process is known as "stringing" and was usually done by women and children in Native American cultures. The sticks are then carefully prepared for curing.

In Connecticut, a state not usually known for tobacco growing, the tobacco plants are grown in the shade.