The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-08-27
ON CURING AND CARING FOR
TOBACCO.

other article upon curing and caring
for tobacco, but there is so much more
that should be written that is profitable
to the inexperienced, Twill add another
article. Much stress is laid upon Cut
no tobacco while wet with de or rain.
l admit that it is unpleasant to be be
drabbied with wet tCbIcco. Outside
of that, it matters but little. would
prefer to undertake to cure barn of
tobacco cut when it is wet with dew or
rain, than one cut on a very hot day !;
especially so if it is suffered to wilt be-
fore bting carried to the barn.
The types make me say the ''stem
and fbers wither a little in ripening."
[ should have said whiten. Hired
hands often cut green plant just to
ill out the stick, or because they do
not care. The cutters should be closely
watched and guarded against breaking
off leaves, breaking the stems, or fberg,
and the stick holders against trailing
the tobacco on the ground, and against
layi the stick when filed out upon
the sharp ends of the stubble. Remem-
Der that every leaf with hole punched
into it, or with a broken stem is un
fitted for a fine wrapper. A stout per
son only should place the tobacco on
the bulks in hauling to the barn and
hauling it eff from the wagon. He
should not let go his hold on the stick
until the rec eiver has gotten a firm
hold to the other end. Care must be
taken not to let the tobacco drop on
the ends, as the stems and fiber may
thereby be broken. If the tobacco is
wilted, which will often be the case on
hot sunshiny days, guard particularly
ag2ir ST trailing the tobacco over the
door sill or tier poles, as it will ruin the
leaf for fine wrapper. The door of
properly -constructed d barn should have
the door four feet wide by seven high
without a door sill This will render
it convenient in putting tobacco into
the baln, or taking it out, and will
afford light in curing The curer should
caution those who enter his barn dur
ing the process of curing not to touch
his tobacco, IS by thbt means much of
the tobacco on the lower tiers is ruined
by those who come in ''just to see how
you are getting along curing" Slch
persons go into the barn, catch hold of
three or four plants and squeeze them
to see if it is sweating. Good curers
do not, as a rule, talk much while cur
ing, nor do they like to be bothered
much by visitors at the barn.
One can only lay down general direc
tions for curing. Conditions vary all
through the season. A difference in
the size of the barn. its situation, the
fues, the wood, the weather, the to-
bsc3o, it's size, its ripeness; all these
things make a difference in the time it
takes to yellow and cure out cutting;
and l may be safe in saying that no
two barns or cuttings will cure exactly
alike, nor will any two curers run the
heat exactly alike. Certain principles
must be adhered to, not too slow nor
too fast. Heat not too little nor too
great, and all will be well.
As to how much tobacco should be
put into barn of a given size, curers
differ greatly. A successful raiser of
fine tobacco placed his sticks to 10
inches apsr5 on the tiers; another, a
near neighbOr, placed his from to
inches apart and succeeded equally as
well. The one cured his crop with
Is to seventeen curings, the other 5 to
Z curings. The latter told me that the
variation in curing was that he com
monced steaming low and gradually
went up to 1O5 degrees and remained
at that point longer time than if he
had a less qu9ntitity in the barn; then
killed or rather dried the lugs at 10
degrees, going up slowly, guarding
against slonging on the one hand and
reddenipg on the other, occupying
about five days in curing barn. Then
I will remark: In curing a full or
crowded barn, commence raising the
heat sooner than if it contained less
quantity and go up slower give plenty
Of air or ventilation. As the season
advances the air becomes cool and dry.
The barn will bear crowding then bet
ter than early in the season. Tobacco
will then yellow more readily than
when open; that is, with less in the
barn. Late in the season, in yellow
ing, keep the barn close, dampen the
hoor and run low heat. In fact, If
one has a steamer, it is no bad plan to
use 1t IN the yellowing process.
A few words more of caution to the