Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-07
TOBACCO CULTURE.
Heavy Fine Virginia Export Lear
Nceded-Where II IL Grown, Etc.


A Richmond correspondent OF the New
York Journal of Commerce writes:
with abundant food products, planters
are in a position not to hurry their to-
bacco to market but 20 handle 1t well
before sale, and this they are advised TO
do In order to maintain values. The only
tobacco in which there is "A real deficiency
with a ready demand at paying prices IN
Virginia is the heavy fine grade export
leaf, the lack OF which in the past rev
years has led, no doubt, 10 a great temp
tation 10 substitute western tobacco az
times for II. While TO the eye OF even
an expert there is little difference OBJ
servable after a close blending, yet to the
consumer at least there must be radical
one. as there Is a great difference In
quality. The outward appearance Is eN-
ceedingly deceptive, 20 much so that
traders and rehandlers very strongly con-
tend that If the deception Is not discover
able it amounts TO no deception in reality.
AT the same time. the cost OF production
Of this finest export leaf and black wrap
pers for fine navy work Is much hiSher
In Virginia than its western third COUSIN
i'm quality. IL is here at home like our
sun-cured tobacco, confined TO rev
counties. a distinctness OF aroma, pecu-
liar keeping quality. 1t is not bony,
fbrous. nor coarse in stem or lateral
veins: It IS not dead black nor brittle
browny near the stem or in any part "
shows the oil cells when pressed OF
creased. in a rich, brown nicotine color
Ing. The butt Of the stem Is not wide'
cared, yellowish. pithy, or soft, neither IS
tho stem corrugated or ridgy, but dark
and firm rather snappy than supple
There is a difference in smell distinguish
sr.t.a
and Kentucky This is hard TO describe,
hut easily detected when placed side by
side. The Virginia rich, dark, well
handled shipping fine leaf has rather a
meat (smoking) house smell. especially
when cured after the old hickory-wood
open-hre manner. Now II Is usuaily
cured after a milder method, less rank
The western tobacco, on the other hand
has often a suggestion Of a pipe-smoking
odor; il has the distinction OF size ana
leafness. which is It's chief attraction.
Its peculiar characteristic is that OF turn
ing a dark grayish color when long ex-
posed. Its variety Is Of the Pryor type
while that OF Virginia is either an I'M
proved Oronoko or an improved hypriu'
suited to the soil and section
The red lands OF most parts or virginia
produce many kinds OF dark. The best To-
bacco comes from a few counties WITHIN
fifty miles OF Richmond and south OF re-
tersburg. on which lands also, strange 10
say. the best fne yellow wrappers, under
a different treatment and curing, etc, are
made. There are dark crops made near
Lynchburg. Va. which have been noteo
for bringing on the open market $40 I've
age for many years, the pest Wrappsi'
selling over $50. which is sample OF oe
mand for such. and shows also, Una. M,
AZ much less or any less values. As 10
lower grades. 1t is not disputed but tnst
thar. T. a mixture, far greater than with
leaf grades. In order to compete win
hesvv and cheaper dark western tobacco,
r',,rbar OF years ago. that prolific. one
s,,eSsr coarse. long, dark. laneeolated
issf was introduced into Virginia fields.
II found favor. especially for strips, as
making much show. II Is a class WIN