The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-07-26
FLORENCE TOBACCO GROWERS.
Meet and Give Valuable Pointers to
Those Now In the Business.

A special from Florence to the Co.
lumbia State says: If any one doubts
the solidity of the tobacco industry in.
the Pee Dee section of South Carolina
his fears will soon subside if he will
but attend one of the monthly meet
ings held by the Florence Tobacco
Growers Association. At the last regu-
lar monthly meeting of this association
free and open discussion of the
modes of handling tobacco, from the,
practical and economical point of view
was had. The first subject was "The
Handling of Crop from Field to Barn
end the Handling of it After it is
Cured" Mr.. Smile A. Gregg gave
his experience and described his
methods of housing the crop. He said
that in cropping the leaves from the
stalk it was very important to mash
and crumple them as little as possible.
He. does not use baskets at all. His
men were instructed to run their hands
under each pile of leaves, resting it on
their arms and loading t on the wag-
ons. He thought his way not the mosJ
elaborate, but the cheapest He tries
to keep freshlycut tobacco in the shade
ms mucn rs possible. Tobacco com
mences yellow;ng as soon as pulled off
the stalk, sc ne would avoid filing a
barn partly one day and the balance
the next day.
Mr.. r. c. Commander recommc ndcd
the use Of wooden frames, seven feet
long, with cloth bottoms, as carriers
The leaves are piled up on them III the
field, the frames then put directly on
the wagons and carried without further
handling TO the harm.
Mr. NJ. S. Haynesworth said he used
baskets in much the srme way. The
tobacco was not take out Of the bas-
kets when put theie by the croppers
until it is hung ';p in the barn. Two
wagons can III ;wo twentyfoot barns
in day.
Mr.. A. +. Curran said he also used
baskets out that the most important
thing WAS to start ut the tops of the
plants when picking the leaves and to
crop downward.
The next topic was Curing To
bscco." Mr.. Gus McSween, who is
said to be the best cUrer Of tobacco in
this county, white stem--going fast at
higher temperature ) degrees higher
than the outside atm:s"here. He first
tries to make ,ne !e,i Wilt at 100 de-
grees, then lets yellow at i0J degrees.
Tha. the amount O: v-ilov! ing to he per-
mitted is matter oi Judgment. When
the tips Of the .esf curlz be raises the
temperature by :: degrees per hour to
l30 to xiii the jeaf, then to 49, for sew
eral hours 10 :rahe certain of this;
after that to 100 o. degrees per hour
to kill the stem. II takes ueariT week
to cure barn. He cnceS very slowly,
so as to make n whlTe stem, going FAST
at higher tempeIytuie Than l6O de-
srees produces olsck stem. which does
not bring nesrly SO high price. A
heat Of Is degrees without any air
being inti oduced will make the yellow
color ''SeI." II man can get to li5
degrees successfully he will probably
cure his oa"n ali right He uses log
barns. ncathe = uoardeu inside and ouE
witho0t Jster;. reGti.asors in the roo.
Nest CAME "C@ad:rg nId Prepare.
tion 'ot Marker" o.. tnis point Mr..
Smil!2 A. Gregg rsii ia! swelvc-cent
tobacco ;: %: ~, - IN Il oea;nly pack
age, wor!G hc,nS less than four. cent
tobacco II hea; pacHa2"s. The piles
as laid on tne wn:ehouse floo- should
be auiform, ;he tyine 1eatly done,
stems tooc:Hc, nn" tho rnds even. JJ
is better - -cli wrappers late in The
season. bet crtt,7a &Ld smokern at
any time.
Mr.. f E. Cnrr.e laid he maGe
about eight grades of tobacco 10 .he
barr. Thinks grade: ef tobacco shCuid
he !cmihar with the difereDi prices t.t
tobacco and not simply the colors.
NJ >. G. Dusenbury, oi Williams
burg wno is planting h!s first cr1o
this year, was advised by the cyperi-
enccd growers present no: 10 cure on
the stalk He said that ne had heard
the president Oi the association recon-
mend ;hc Use Of common sense" in
growing tobacco. end that he thought
he md n far share of If, but thnt
somehow hc ;oHidnt apply it to to-
DGccO.
A few days later The State" rccely-
ed the following from J. f. Brochip-
ton of kingstrcc, s c.. Regarding
the accOhnt Of the meeting Of the Flor
ence County Tobacco Growers Assoc.
alton, us published IN your paper, q;
wish 10 say for tn" benefit of othe =
that the plan Of curing as there toll Dy
IL. IyS t,,n4 IL, l..