The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-11
The Curing of Tobacco.


cured, are not generally known is
shown by the conflicting opinions
that exist on the subject among TO.
bacco growers themselves. 1t is
not unusual to find tobacco growers
of wide experience who virtually
disagree with regard to the manner
in which the tobacco barn should be
managed during the process OF cur.
ing the tobacco. 1t is an important
subject and one which deserves the
closest attention from tobacco grow
ers, tor in a great measure the quality
OF the cured leaf depends on the
manner in which it is cured. Color
is an important element in the quality
OF tobacco, and it is only by proper
curing that good colors can be OBJ
tanned. The memorable law of fash
ion at the present time demands rich
dark colored wrappers for covering
fine cigars: hence the Importance of
knowing how to obtain them.
AS the natural laws which govern
the curing of tobacco are not as yet
generally understood, cannot give
facts in this part of my paper. The
best can do is to state my beliefs
along with those of our most expert
enced and successful growers. 1t is
we'll known fact that tobacco in
given section in certain seasons cures
with an exceptionally good color,
varying only with the various condi-
tions and qualities of soils, and, some
what, with the kind OF barn in which
the crop is cured. AT other seasons
in the same section the color OF the
tobacco will be generally poor. The
cause of such variations has not as
yet been satisfactorily explained 1t
is the general belief that rapid drying
tends to produce light coloIs, and the
reverse, dark colors; but the diff
Guilty lies IN so governing the process
that the curing shall be slow and
gradual and yet escape the dreaded
"pole burn" After tobacco has been
hung few days in the curing barn
it begins to sweat, or show consider.
able moisture on the surface OF The |
leaves or stems. This, l believe, is a
critical period and the time when
pole burning is mos. likely to occur.
If this moisture dries off well there
is less after danger, yet II should not
dry TOO rapidly for the best results.
In order to test the relative differ
ence between rapid and slow curing,
l selected two tobacco plants OF
equal stages OF development and
hung them up at the same time, one
in dry, airy loft, where the drying
was very rapid the other in damp
cellar, where the curing must neces
sarily proceed very slowly. The re.
suit of the experiment proved de.
cided gain III favor OF gradual curing
at least as tar as color is concerned.
The color OF the leaf hung in the dry
lott was very light, and, on the
whole, very undesirable, while that
in the cellar was rich dark brown.
Undoubtedly much depends on the
weather in the curing OF tobacco. 1t
is well known fact that in certain
seasons tobacco i'll given locality
cures with too light colors. At
OluCA SCaoOAio d 5ShNA"i SOul 'IoIiC 10
heard among growers that their to-
bacco is pole burnt. These vara-
tions OF quality are probably owing
to the general character OF the
weather during the curing process,
or they may occur from the character
of the growth OF the plant. ii the
weather produces the colors, we
might prevent danger either from
too slow or too rapid curing by some
sartif 5ial means. The loss III this
section during some seasons from
pole burning unquestionably amounts
10 many thousands OF dollars. This
loss believe might be avoided if
our growers knew just how and
when to produce artificial ventilation
in their curing barns. We need to
know at just what stage of the ther-
mometer and barometer the burning
begins and how to secure ventilation
to avoid it.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
subject of tobacco curing is not tho
roughly understood, much can be
done to regulate the process, tending
toward the desired object. AS
preventive OF pole burning the to-
bacco should not be hung thick.
From twenty to twenty-five pairs OF
plants should be hung upon tour
Teen loot pole, the number varying
somewhat with the size OF plants and
The distance they are hung from the
ground, as the higher up they are
1nn0 from The ground, in the barn