The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-09
Asserting Tobacco.

A New York correspondent OF the Country
Gentleman writes: AS this is the season
when tobacco-growers usually prepare their
crops for market, a few hints on the subject
may be accepted. The work of asserting to-
baccO fortunately comes at a time in the
year when the farmer is not overrun with
farm work. The frozen, snOw-bOund fields
and the piercing frosty air makes outdoor
work impracticable. But the tobacco-as-
sorting room well protected from the cold,
and provided with good stove, affords
comfortable place for work, and the tObac-
co-grOwer has no excuse for being careless
in the handling of his crop.
In the majority of cases, il will nay grow
ers TO exercise the greatest pains in assort-
ing their tobacco, so that il may be done in
the best possible manner. III il does not
pay the first year, il will in the long run,
for good reputation among buyers is a
good thing for u tObaccO-grower To have.
our best growers assert their crops into at
least four qualities, namely, double \,
single ~ binders and filters Some
times, when requested by the buyer of a
crop, more qualities are made by sizing the
leaves of the wrappers, and placing the
leaves OF equal lengths in separate
hands When this is done
they are termed long AA,' or short \ y etc
Tobacco should be in good condition as
regards moisture before 1t is assorted. If it
is too dry, the work can not be done proper
", and besides the leaves will become more
or less mutilated while being handled.
Artificial moistening is rarely necessary If
the tobacco is in good condition when it is
taken from the poles. When il is necessary
to moisten tobacco artiiicially, Il should be
done with extreme caution. lest the tobacco
be injured by the process. The water
should be sprayed on carefully and evenly
over the leaves with fine broom or blow
pipe in sufficient quantities (which re-
quires good judgment on the part of the
grower to determine) 10 bring it TO the re-
quired condition.
\ very common mistake made in assort-
ing tobacco is in asserting too closely, or
making too many OF the higher grades.
Nothing is gained by this. ON the contrary.
il is usually better for the grower, and more
satisfactory TO the buyer, that each quality
be made good. Some growers aim to make
as many wrappers as possible, hoping
| thereby 10 raise the standard of their crop,
and hence place many leaves among wrap
pers that properly belong with the binders.
! Such asserting reflects discredit on the
grower, and should be avoided.
/ The tobacco is handled over, and each
/ leaf put in its respective quality and tied in
hands or hanks that is from fourteen
/ to eighteen leaves, and placed together,
with the butts perfectly even, and Leaf
wrapped about the butt, to keep them in
shape 1t is important that this thing be
done correctly; that is, the hands should be
made small and even in size and they
should be neatly tied with leaf suitable
for the purpose. 1t Is our custom to place
fourteen leaves in hand of the first quail
ity, or double A. sixteen in the Single
/ A. eighteen in the binders, and about
twenty in the filters. Tobacco put up il
this systematic way indicates painstakins
and careful handling on the part of the
grower. which has its effect upon the buyer
1t should be the aim of every tobacco-growel
to manipulate his tobacco in the manne
which will best please the purchaser OF the
crop. With this end in view, let the assort
ing be done in neat and workman-lik,
manner.
When the tobacco has been assorted anC
placed in neat, well-proportioned hands j
should be ranked out in q dry place, eacl
quality by itself Ina order to do this worl
neatly and rapidly. it is best to place guide
boards the proper distance apart TO which
the butts of the hands are placed In rank
ing. the hands should be placed squared,
and evenly in the rank, in layers, pressed
firmly dogn by the knees of the workman
When a rank Il completed. the guide board
should be removed, and the butts left ex
posed to the air to dry or cure The top q
the rank should be weighted down some
what. and securely covered, TO prevent tn
tobacco FROM drying. Care should be exer
,cised in ~akins to keep the leaves straight
Sometimes the butts of the leaves are s.
thoroughly cured as to make the raking ur
necessary. When this is the case, the &c
kacco may be packed into cases immediatel
after il is assorted
An important point in handling a crop c
tobacco, is in keeping it from drying ou
: When left exposed TO dry atmosphere, tC
baocO rapidly loses its moisture. 1T is in
, portant that all the dampness which ii take
up sreyious to when it Is taken from tn
poleG is retained TO this end let the toba,
co be kept carefully covered at all times
Some kind OF a vessel should be kept on tn
stove IN the assortiog room, while the toba.
8 co is being handled, which will help I
keep the air damp, and thus prevent the Il
:: baccO fsOm drying