Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-10-07
FARMERS TOBACCO WAREHOUSE.
Louisville, Sept. s, 1852.

MIR. GEO. w. BusH-Dear Sir: We duly
received yonr letter Of the Odd August, ask
ing our opinion as to the proper mode of
'curing and taking care Of tobacco" Re-
garding this as very important inquiry at
this particular juncture, when the planters
are about commencing the process of curing
and housing their crops, we deem it an ap-
proprate occasion through this medium, not
only to reply to your letter, but to offer
few suggestions for the consideration of
planters generally, which we think if pur-
sued would greatly augment their profits.
The various qualities of tobacco, and the
varied character of the seasons, render it
almost impossible, in communication like
this, to be strictly specific. We will, there
fore, confne ourselves to general princi-
pies, which are applicable TO all kinds.
Careful and proper management after the
work of the field is over, is quite as impor-
tant if not more so than before.
1st. 1t requires judgment TO know when
TO cut; if done when it is too green or too
ripe, it is equally injurious. Great care
should be taken to prevent sun burning.
I'd. After cutting, hang on scaffolds in the
field until it is wilted, yellowed and dried
sufficiently by the sun and atmosphere; hang
it then in tight barn, the higher the better
not more than ten to twelve plants to the
stick, and five to seven inches apart; in this
condition it should hang until thoroughly
cured. The above suggestions are appli-
cable where it is desired to cure without fire.
Sd. Firing, especially for heavy manu-
featuring descriptions, is very important,
and should be done with the utmost care
1t is especially requisite in rainy, damp sea-
sons, and the tobacco should be hung three
and half to four inches apart until it yell
lows, then rehung 10 remain. Commence
the firing by making small fires until the
room is made gradually warm throughout,
then increase the fires with green wood, but
be careful that the heat shall be steady and
regular, and at q proper temperature, until
the tobacco is perfectly cured. 1.-THE fire is
suffered to get low and leave the tobacco
sweating, it is very injurious; smoke is
also very injurious, as it mparts bitter
taste and blackens the leaves. Canstant and
regular fires as before advised will prevent
the smoke from settling on or lingering
about the tobacco.
4th. When it is thoroughly cured and
comes in case it should be bulked down (tak-
ing care that it is not too high in order) with
heavy weights upon it and carefully covered
with straw or boards; it is now safe and
ready TO strip and tie up in hands prepare
tory to pricing, which is often done too ear
ly than too late in the season.
9TH. The utmost care and particularly
should be observed in selecting and assort-
ing. All leaves of similar kind and size
should be kept together and tied up into
small neat heads of six TO eight leaves to the
head, and re-hung until thoroughly dried
and sufficiently cured, then carefully bulked
away until proper time arrives for pricing
When the process is commenced it should
be lain smooth and straight in the cask. 1t
is very bad, though very common practice,
to mix tobacco in the same hogshead-it
would be better for the planter TO throw the
Jugs away than TO mix them in with good
tobacco. A thousand pounds carefully Sc
lected will sell for more than fifteen hun
bred promiscuously packed.
9th. The hogsheads should be of a size to
contain 100 TO 1900 segar leaf, 1900 to
1900 heavy rich leaf, and 400 to 1900
manufacturing. Prize all lugs heavy.
18th. 1t is vastly important that more at
tention should be given than is usually done
to the mode of making casks. The timber
should be%@oak or ash, thoroughly seasoned,
neatly jointed, and have eight good strong
, hoops TO each, with good lining hoops. (not
grape vines.) Shippers always look closely
to the character of the cask, and often from
so cents to 81 per hundred is lost by negli-
, gence in this particular.
Sth. We would recommend frequent
change Of seed. 1t is well established
principle in agricultural science that crops
degenerate if they are planted too often from
! seed grown on the same ground. Breeding
! sin and i'm too long is as fatal in agrcultu-
raj products, as it is in the animal creation.
With the hope that these observations and
reflections may prove scrvicable to yourself
I and the planters generally,
We are, very respt'y your obi serv'ts,
WATKINS s. ROWLAND, Inspectors,
7 Farmers Tobacco Warehouse.