The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-07-26
CURING TOBACCO.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FARMERS TO
CONSIDER.
How to Reduce the Supply Of
Fillers-No Money in Them in
Competition With the Burley
Type---Theory Advanced by an
Experienced Planter.
| Warn tnton Record. /

Chtll "ltnln 4 fe" years, Virginia
and North Carolina filters were in
large demand, the plug manufacturers
refusing to use the Burley tobacco,
but this has all changed 1t was
found that the Burley tobacco, being
very porous, and capable of taking up
large amount of sweetening could
be used to better advantage and
with more profit, and also that there
was 4 larger demand for the plug
tobacco in the manufacture of which
the Burley with its large amount OF
sweetenlng was used as filler. We
are informed that at this time the
territory in which plug filled with
Virginia and North Carolina filters, is
confined almost entirely to the South
Atlantic States.
The result OF this state O! affairs
has been TO greatly reduce the demand
for our filters, since the manufacturer,
on account of the capacity of the
Burley to absorb its weight in sweeten-
ing, which costs almost nothing, can
afford to pay twice as much for the
Burley and make the same money,
and also because there is a larger
demand for sweet tabaCco. In conse-
quence of this, our markets are over
stocked with Virginia and North
Carolina filters. The manufacturer
don't want them except at prices so
low that he can use them III competi-
ton with the Burley. The fact is,
there is scarcely any sale tor them and
the farmer who puts common filters on
the floor for sale, can not get enough
for them to pay for the cost of cultiva-
ton. This does not apply to white
filters. They bring good price.
If a method of cultivation and curing
could be adopted by which the farmer
could make all Of his tobacco smokers,
cutters, wrappers, and white filters, if
any filters at all, it is evident that the
amount realized from his crop would
be much larger than it now is. We
do not make any suggestion upon our
own authority for we have had but
little experience in raising and curing
tobacco, but the suggestion which we
Will make in this article, relative to a
plan for curing, whereby we may avoid
making so many common filters, is at
the instance Of gentleman who has
had a lifelong experience in the
tobacco business.
TO cure tobacco III the ordinary
way-cutting and curing the whole
plant, it is impossible to make any
thing out of the tips but common
filters. The plant does not ripen
altogether, and the tips can not be
cured white. To wait for the tips to
ripen so as TO be cured white would
result in a loss in the other part of the
plant which would overbalanCe what
would be gained in the ripening of the
tips.
1t has been objected to the plan ot
printing off the leaves and curing
them without the stalk, that when the
lower leaves Of the plant are taken
off, so much sap goes to the top leaves
that they take new growth and car
not be cured white. If this difficulty
can be avoided, there can be nc
question as to the proprlety Of prim
ing tobacco in preference to curing
the stalk. DR.. Battle made a thorough
test Of the comparative value of the
two methods, and the result was
greatly in favor of curing by the Snow
method, or by prlmlng off the leave:
and curing them without the stalk
Now then the suggestion which We
make, at the instance of the gentle
man referred to, is to allow suckers tC
grow out on the stalk, after the leaves
are primed off, SO that these sucker
may take up the sap and not allow Sc
much to go to the top leaves. By thi:
means the top leaves would ripen W
and could be cured white and make
cutters or white filters, or if large
enough, would make wrappers. If thi
result could be accomplished by tht
plan suggested it would put many q
dollar in the pockets of our farmers
We believe the suggestion is one o
) sufficient importance to have th'
attention of our tobacco farmers anC
lead them to make careful expert
ment with the present crop. 1t is b.
experimenting with new methods anc
processes that progress has been mad
in all other lines of business, and ther
is no reason why the farmer shoul'
not me n12sSsss iIuths same way.