The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-12
ON THE CURING AND PRIZING OF
TlR ACEl

After having worked hard and raised good crops
of Tobacco, great deal of money has been lost by
Kentucky Farmers from not properly understand
ing how it should be managed after it is ready for
the knife. There is great secret in the cultiva
ton of tobacco. Like all other crops when planted
IN due time, in good soil, well cultivated and kept
clear OF Weeds worms and suckers, it will give
goou yield; but the difficulty to be in bad man
agement after the crop has been raised
Inc plant should be allowed to stand in the field
a ohE s possible before cutting, so that it may be-
come tnoroughly ripe, and should never be cut i'm
medlatey after rain if it possibly be avoided,
as the gum, which is very essential to good tobacco
is washed off. Great care should be taken not to
bruise it or let the sun burn it after it has been cut
hen the sun is very hot it should only be cut late
in the evening, and when properly wilted, hung on
scatfolds, which should be covered with thin brush
so as to keep the sun from scorching it. If the
weather be favorable, it should be allowed to hang
out in the until it is well yelowed after which
it should be taken to the barns. The barns should
hc the lily prepared and the cracks well stopped
on - owA the tobacco is apt to mould and will be
exposea'all winter to the wind and rain, which will
materially inlure it. As soon the tobacco is
housed, small fires should be kept under it until it
begins to cure up.
When bright piebald or spangled Tobacco is de
sired, such as used by the for wrap
pers, it should not be allowed to cure up slow
enough to lose the yellow color, but when it Is
about half cured, heavy fires should be kept up
until the process is completed which will only re-
quire some two or three weeks. 1t now requires
no more attention, unless damp spell OF weather
occurs, when small fires should be Kept under it to
keep it from moulding. When the leafcan be cured
and the bright color retained without fire. it is much
more durable, but this can seldom be done in Ken
lucky except during very dry autumn, when the
plant can be almost cured by the sun, on the scat
fod but when it has to be takenin, out of the RAIN
which is almost always the case, the desired
suit cannot be obtained without the aid Of artificial
heat.
The above applies more particularly to the Green
River country than to some other parts of Kentucky.
In the counties bordering on the Kentucky river
the soil is not so well adapted to manufacturing
leaf The Tobacco of this latter region is used al
most exclusively for cutting purposes, for which
the piebald OF spangled is not required This To-
bacco, almost devoid Of gum, may be cured of a
bright red color in good barns, without the aid
of fire. This makes a very desirable Tobacco for
cutting.
After the Tobacco is well cured, it should be
stripped out as early possible, and great pains
should be taken to assort it properly. When the
crop is large enough to make three sorts, the i'm
perfect leaves should be carefully picked ont to make
Lugs, the short ones for Seconds leaving none but
the best for Good. 1t should now be tied in small
hands and bulked down straight and nice, covered
well with straw or fodder and weighed down pro
perly. When the proper season arrives hang it up
IN the barn and let it get thoroughly dry, and take
advantage of the first warm gentle rain that soilens
it, to take it down. it is difficult to do so without
injuring it when too dry. Too much care, however,
cannot be taken at this time, half of last seasons
crop was damaged from 81 to S. per 100 lbs, from
having been priced when wet
Have the casks made of good seasoned timber
Tobacco is often damaged ten times the price of a
good cask, by being put up in green ones. Have
your casks of medium size. In prizing Fine Picbald
manufacturing Leaf put from 900 to 200 lbs. in
a cask. 1t opens prettier and will bring more mo-
ney than when pressed hard and matted together;
rich heavy shipping leaf put from 800 to 500 lb.
in hid, and Of rich heavy lugs from 800 TO 1000.
In prizng cutting leaf, such as is put up in the
gion of Kentucky river, the casks of good tobacco
should weigh from 200 to 500 lbs and light chalfy
lugs not more than 900 100 lbs. In all case.
try and have all the tobacco that is in a hogshead
uniform and of the same quality, color and length
! (ths is very importantly and pack it carefully and
straight Nothing pays the Farmer better than
taking pains in handling his tobacco If he could
be about the warehouses and see the difference in
the condition of different packages of the same
qualities of the weed when offered for sale he would
cease to wonder at the wide range of prices which
are obtained for similar grades louisville Price
Current.