In Japan, the use of a multipurpose, high-clearance carrier which can be used for chemical application, topping and harvesting has became common in tobacco producing districts. However, such machines are not capable of reducing labor during harvesting because the leaves must be primed by workers who sit on the machine. This study was conducted to reduce the labor required on harvesting. A compact automatic harvester for flue-cured tobacco was developed. This machine was self-propelled type by the use of rubber crawler. The dimensions of the machine are 1.75 m in width, 2.6 m in length, 2.1 m in height and about one ton in weight. The priming mechanism consists of a pair of roller chains with many flexible cutters. The chains are set higher towards the front of the machine and lower at the back. The revolution of the chain is synchronized to the running speed of the machine. The chains and cutters surround the tobacco stem and squeeze the stalk downward as the machine runs. The primed leaves are carried to the side baskets immediately by the conveyers. Using this machine, there was little damage done to the harvested leaves by the priming mechanism. The performance of the machine was 0.2 ha per hour. And the turning space was only 2.7 m at a row terminal. The harvested leaves were covered with nets, and hung racks in the curing-chamber.