The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-07-24

CURING "BRIGHT YELLOW TOBACCO.
There are two modes for curing yel-
low tobacco-one with charcoal and
the other with flues. The first IS the
primitive mode, but is fast giving place
to the latter, which is cheaper and
efficient, and is being adopted by most
of our best planters. The chief agent
in either mode is heat-a dry, curing
heat-to expel the sap from the leaves,
stems and stalks OF the plants, and
catch the color, yello7v, next to Natures
color, green, and to fix it indelibly.
This is the science of curing yelloy to-
bacco. There are seven prismatic colors
that of green tobacco occupying the
middle of the prism. BY the process
of nature, leaves in drying decend in
color from green, first to yellow, then
orange, then red, and finally lose all
color as they go to decay. Now, a
quick dry heat, so regulated as to dry
out the leaf and catch the yellow, and
fix it, is the modns obe,anM of curing
fancy bright tobacco.
A barn containing seven hundred
sticks of green tobacco, six medium
plants on each stick, holds along with
the tobacco four thousand five hundred
to five thousand pounds of water, (which
must be expelled in from eighty-fve
to one hundred hours.
Charcoal produces an open, dry
heat, we'll suited for the purpose 4; but
its preparation is costly, its use tedious,
dirty and laborious and it deposits a
black dust on the leafthat is objectiona-
bic. With fues (see diagram) con-
structed with furnace and pipes, the
wood is burned as cut in the forest or
old field, and the whole process Of
curing is less costly and less laborious,
and the tobacco cured Herewith free
from dust, and has a sweeter flavor.
The flue process possesses SO many ad
vantages over all other modes of curing
tobacco, is SO safe, if properly con-
structed, and free from smoke, that
when its merits become better known,
it will come into general use and SUI
perCede all other modes.
The first step in curing is called the
srEAMING OR WELCOMING process. Me
dunn tobacco will require from twenty
four to thirty hours steaming at about
ninety degrees to yellow sufficiently
but tobacco with more or les, sap,
larger or smaller, will require longer
or shorter time to yellow. Here the
Judgment of the curer must be be his
guide. inexperienced planters would
do we'll to procure the services of an
expert curer, if they have tobacco
suitable e fine yellow. The planter
saves in enhanced value of his crop
many times the money paid to the
curer, and besides, by close attention.
he may learn in one season to cure
we'll himself. Theory alone, however
good, and directions, however minute,
will not do here, but it is practice
that must qualify one to cure well.
"LCu IL ID ICtuCuOSICO ttidt III wv
plants are exactly alike, no two barns
precisely similar in every particular
and that the weather may change
every hour,is it reasonable that fixed
programme can be followed for every
curing with any reasonable hope O
success? The experienced know bet
ter. On work so variable, only general
directions can be given.
! The next step is called FIXING THE
COLOR. When the tobacco is sufficiently
yellowed, best leaves of uniform vel
low, and the greener ones of light
pea green color, it is time to advance
the heat to one hundred degrees OBJ