The Somerset reporter., 1895-08-22
NEW METHODS WITH TOBACCO.
Gathering the Leaves as They Ripen-Ths
Leaf Cure and the Stalk Cure.

Gathering the Leaves They Ripen-Ths
Leaf Cure and the Stalk Cure.
For years the tobacco growers of New
England, New York and Pennsylvania
have realized the difficulties of curing
tobacco according to the usual practice.
More or less loss results from imperfect
curing, house burn and other causes If
there is better way, all are interested
to know about it. A method that has
recently acquired a degree of popularity
in southern states, notably in North
Carolina, where it originated, is thus
described in The Country Gentleman:
Under this system the routine OF
planting and cultivation need not differ
essentially from that Ill general Use.
The first important divergence from the
ordinary line of practice Is made when
harvesting begins. The usual way is to
cut the stalk at the ground, at the time
when the largest part OF its leaves are
ripe. just previous to this topping Of
the plants is done, when a number Of
the upper and immature leaves are bro
ken off and thrown away.
BY the new plan the leaves which
ripen first are plucked from the stalk,
leaving the rest TO be gathered as they
mature. The bottom leaves which are
thus saved, as they are the first to ripen,
would otherwise decay and be lost be-
fore the other leaves of the plant are
ready to be harvested. The leaves are
gathered at several different times al
ways from the bottom, until nothing of
the plant is left in the field but the stalk
and its suckers. Removing the first
. leaves is said to hasten the maturity OF
the rest, 50 that the entire crop may be
secured earlier than it could be other
wise, thus lcssening the danger from
frost. Finally the top leaves, which,
when ripened, are not without value, are
saved
A great advantage claimed for this
process Is the complete SEPARATION of the
leaf from the stalk as soon is tie lei.t Is
ripe l. IT, s}id that if the lesyes are
not removed be stalks VII esract
naaaly ESQ ounces Of TIE oil e tohaeeo
firm eF#lF rmnd # leaves cured On
then. and that Wlu the leaHes are cured
seea4s#e Is die tobacco Is abHt - pr
CEN aar.ctthal itwoald Otherwise he.
the leaves Of the tate plant do
lot ali rp.u at Tie samp TINE. and
While tsc upnur ouai ere maturing the
! Her leaves are becoming worthless
tbs f4at puts the frmes ID Il dilemma.
L he laVrS the plant until same Of 1T
Leaves arc uycrripe, il Is believed that
Their 81 is AL abod ~ the stalk and
Their valuo tlus impaired Il lac cuts
The plant while some leaves are green,
these immature leaves VIII be Of little
worth. 1t urged that loss il either di-
reefian may be avoided by taking OF
the leaves a. fast as They ripen.
In practice the leaves are gathered
and laid in baskets 3 feet long, S inches
wide and 8 inches deep and i'll them
conveyed to the curing haase. This
building is provided with heating appa-
ratus. usually III the basement. The
leaves are strung on steel wires, 81
leaves to "stick. As soon as Il "sec-
ton" of sticks is filled it is hoisted to
its place. The leaves are cured in avery
short time compared with the process of
air curing on the stalk House burn or
pole sweat is said to be entirely avoided,
Several patents are held i'll connec-
ton with the process. In the few in
stances III which the leaf cure has been
tried in Connecticut and PENNSYLVANIA
the growers have seemingly concluded
that its advantages over the old method
are more than offset by the great addi-
tional labor and expense involved.