The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1872-04-03
CURING TOBACCO YELLOW.


8 The following letter is from DIR. N. NJ.
Roam, Of Caswell, to B. s. Guion, Lincoln,
N. G.
Dear Sir: | prcsume you had reference
to curing tJbacco yellow. for which this
section is 10 famous. Ii is a very nice pro-
cess, and requires some experience. obser-
walton, and . thorough knowledge Of the
character and quality Of the tobacco with
which you have to deal. In order 10 insure
uniform success. Much depends upon the
character Of .he crop when il is taken from
the bill. IL it is Of good size, we'll matured
aaa q good ysllexisA color there y.y. j ne Z:
% tion. as soon as The tobacco is taken from
the bill and housed, We commence--with a
low degree Of beat, say. 95 to 100 Fahren-
heit--'the yellowing or steaming process.
This is the FIRST and simplest part Of the
whole process. and requires frOm Is 70 SO
hours, according to the size and quality Of
the tobacco. aud this degree Of beat should
be continued, until the leaf opens lemon
color and il nearly free from aily green hue.
whca this point is reached, the beat should
be gradually raised 10 los degrees, in or
der to enmmenee drying the leaf; and here
lies the whole difficulty IN curing. Il mean
drying the loaf. The last degree Of heat
indicsced, should be continued Eve or six
hours, when Il should again be gradually
raised 10 ITO degrees. and should be main.
tained at this point, until the tails or points
Of the leaves begin 70 curl and dry. In
deed II will probably be safest for begin
uers to continue this degree Of heat until
oae-third Of the leaf is dried. The tempe
rature may then be gradually Increased to
i15 degrees and kept for several hours at
that point. until the leas begins 70 rattle
when shaken, then again raise the heat to
100 degrees, at which point il should be
continued until the leaf is dried. after
which the temperature may be increased 10
$50 degrees 10 dry the s,om and Ftalk the
latter should be blackened by the beat. be-
fore the curing is complete Ordinarily,
il requires from two aud half TO i've days
10 cure barn Of tobacco. dependent entire
" on the size and quality. Put seven OF
eight plants on each stock aud place them
eight inches apart on the dsr poles. 10 the
yellowing procesa. the door Of the barn
should be kept closed 70 exclude the air.
When the point i reached for drying the
leaf, the door may be opened occasionally
and kept open from 20 to 80 minutes at a
time. especially il The tobacco gets into a
sweat, as il Is called. or becomes damp
and claminy. The temperature il raised
In the barn, BY cautiously. from time L
time, adding coal 10 The frcs, which should
be placed in snail plies On the floor. 10 rows,
allowing about fye feet between each pile,
which should contain at first double hand.
ful Of coal. In adding coal, you viii soor
learn the quantity necessary 10 be applied
By the effect produced. Avoid raising the
heat hastily after the dryingis commenced
lest the leaf should be scalded and redden
cd on the other hand II should not be rails
ed too slowly for fear Of raising The grain,
or the leaf becoming spongy and dingy
Both extremes are 10 be avoided. and th'
skill hare required 10 inaure uniform sue
cess 10 to be acquired only by experience
and observation. Wefrequently cut tobao
% the latter part Of the voek house ID AM
suffer 1t 70 remain until the fra Of mex
week, that we may not violate the fourt
commandment. II | had time aud space
there are other points which might be men
toned II. however, have succeeded Il
this crude and hasty manner, 10 giving yol
any suggestions which will aid you In you
new enterprise | shall be gratilied, an
IL will give me pleasure 70 give you an
further Information 10 my power.