National Republican., 1883-08-20
THE WEED WE SMOKE.
It is Neither Meat nor Drink, Yet II is in tho
Mouths Of Many.
Interesting Facts About Its Growth and
Manufacture
How II is Planted, Picked, Cured Assorted, Sold
and Pressed Into Plugs
What One May Sec Ht One Of the Oldest
Tobacco Marts I'm Virginia.
Special Letter.

LYNoHBURG, VA, Aug. 1S-Yeta n few days
and the tobacco which is now green on the
thousand hills Of Virginia shall be cut down
and cast into tho dry house. Notwithstand-
ing the long dry spell the crop promises
fairly, and there will be enough to cheer tho
hours of labor and solacc those of rest for u
large share of this great world of ours. Vir-
ginia is the home of this marvellous weed,
which is neither meat, nor drink nor medi-
cine, nor clothing, nor anything else that is
needful, yet which pays an enormous share of
the national debt, and cuts o very handsome
figure in the commerce Of the world. His
tory hath IL that the early Virginians found
il very useful in their courting arrangements
in early days Sir Walter Raleigh amused
the queen of England and all her maids in
waiting by smoking it in their
presence and got an involuntary ducking by
turning himself into miniature volcano in
the presence of an uninitiatod servant. All
this was two hundred years ago. Since then
the weed has grown in favor, and If not in
everybody's mouth is still in the mouths OF
enough to make its raising and manufacture
immensely profitable.
The tobacco seed is, perhaps, the smallest
in tho vegetable ngdom-smaller even than
the mustard seed, and of light brown color.
1t is sown from December to early spring,
beds, always cleared, in fresh soil or new
ground, when possible, and always burnt with
heavy wood to prevent any other growth and
to kill all insects. The beds are covered with
dry brush to keep of frost, which is
fatal to the plant in any of its stages and
protect it from animals and from its great
enemies, the tobacco fly and the cut worm.
Planting time is from the middle of May to
early juno, or as soon as rain falls. The
tobacco hills arc made altogether by tho hoe
and hand, and are about three feet apart
each way, or nearly 5000 to the acre. The
plants are deposited in the hills very rapidly
by the aid of u small, sharp stick in hand
and they droop for day or so. when they
spring to life and vigor, and commence
their rapid growth. If left unchecked
the stalk will grow from five to six feet high
rs it evidently did in its primative state be.
fore touched by the hand of culture, but when
the plant has reached some two or three feet
and gathered from eight to twelve leaves, the
farmer "tops" it by pinching of the top bud
which checks its further growth and gives
additional vigor and size to the leaves. The
leaves grow from ton to fifteen inches broad
and frequently two feet long, and are always
green until they commence to rpen in the
sun, when they turn bright yellow and fire.
quently golden, according to climate and
quality. Tobacco is plowed or hoed from
four to six times during the season, and the
oftener the better.
The cutting season commences in Scptem
ber, and must always be completed before
frost, or suffer very serious damage there
from. 1t is done with sharp knives. In old
times the plants were hung up temporarily OIL
stands in the field for two or three days. but
now they are housed as soon as cut, and hung
on sticks in the barns with the leaves down
ward. Smoking or curing them commences
by hot wood fires underneath. Flues ar,
coming into general use and are considered
far superior and cheaper mode than the ole
plan, especially in the manufacturing article
In from five to seven days it is ready to bt
shipped and tied into small bundles. This il
done when tho weather is damp, and is theI
ready for market 1t cannot be handled a
all until it is well dampened by rainfall a
it crumbles at touch when very dry.
There arc several kinds and grades o
tobacco. There is first what are callet
"primings." These are tho short, small
leaves, stripped with the hand from thu
lower part of tho stalk while growing t,
give strength and vigor to the main stem an(
leaves, and to keep them clean from damn
and dirt. Next are "lugs," which are tht
smaller and less valuable growth, and are o
several grades and colors, These are called
by the trade common dark, good dark, an(
fine dark, and then the same grades in brown
and then common, good, and fine in "smok
ing" Next is the leaf, which is th
larger growth Of the stalk, composed
of the same grades and colors o
'1ugs" with the additional color of red
Last are wrappers" which are the finest ant
brightest grades and always command tn
highest prices. They make the outer cover
ing or dress of the plug or twist, and like tn
fine and silky dress of many people, the,
frequently conceal from view much that
unclean and uncomely underneath. There
another lower grade called ''suclsers,p whicl
is composed of the sprouts that spring u
from the root of the stump after the regula
crop is cut, but they never amount to muc
and arc only used for the commonest work
The prices of these several grades of tobacc
may be stated at the present market value t
be as follows:
Primings. gs.......................,.. .....S 600 G
Lugs common dark ark.................... 500 G
Lugs good dark. rk................s....... Goa 8
Lug> fine dark. Observation-Disclosures. 506D Q
Lugs common brown. ....,............ 4 500 Z
Lugs good brown. ..... ............... 6 OO@ G
Iugs, fine brown. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Z 00@ 8
Iugs common smoking ...,.........,, 7OO6l0u