The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-24

| OF these grades does florluh tooacco ~.
semble? II resembles neither one very
closely. hut has its own merits. it will
not do to imagine that, because seed comes
from Cuba, II will necessarily produce
Havana tobacco II has been demon.
Rtrated, however, that II Is best 10 inipors
the vueita Abajo, because that icpresents
In Havana the finest grade. The next
best kind would doubtless be me Sumatra
seed, because the trade no longer looks
with favor upon the old Florida broad lear,
but gives the preference to small or
medium leaf that will wrap about two
cigars.
METHOD OF CULTURE IN CUBA.
THE seed beds or posturas, are pre-
pared In September on virgin soil, usually
near large tree, which protects the
young plants from the direct rays Of the
sun. The brush and underbrush are
burned and afterwards rakad on, the bed
is lightly cultivated with plow or a Eoe,
| srd the seed Is sown broadcast over Ii.
when about five inches high, tile
plants are set out IN the field, and they
| are usually ready by the middle OF Oc-
| tober. The plants are set about two feet
| apart each way and the best crops are
usually raised on the uRlands and hill
| sides.
|
used as a fertilizer for tobacco, but OF
late years its use is becoming less gem
eral. and the planters are substituting
| green and well-rotted stable manure, ana
| think they obtain better results.
| "As soon as the lower leaves on the
| stalk begin to mature. the seed.bud is
| pinched out. This stops the upward growth
and causes the sap to extend Into the leaves.
! giving them character and color as well
an Increased size
During the growth OF the plant inces-
| SAINT care Is required to keep down the
| weeds and remove the worms, which are
always to be found In the tobacco fields
| Of Cuba. These are mostly removed by
| hand picking; sometimes flocks Of turkeys
are driven through the fields to assist in
this labor. They are excellent helpers In
this respect, but are apt to make small
punctures IN the leaves with their bills.
About six weeks after being set out,
II the weather is favorable, the tobacco
is ready for the first cutting, and the por-
ton cut at his ime is called the temprano
tobacco, and usually represents the finer
wrappers.
The stalk Is slit up one SIDE Just deep
enough to remove the leaves, which the
filler holds together, and Nley are hung
over a pole. one on each side; III as many
pairs OF leaves as may be ripe are removed
In this manner
. nc raves are placed close together on
these poles, which are then carried TO
closed curing sheds and hung about a,
foot apart. when the tobacco dries out
and the colors become set. second and
third cutting are made In the same man
uer,
When the leaves in the sheds begin to
show the proper color, they are taken
down and each leaf is detached; they are
then laid down in piles or rows called
matules, each pile representing about 200
pounds. In making these piles a row Of
tobacco is first laid down and sprinkled
WIN strong detection 1f tobacco stems
called in Spanish betun; then another
row is laid and eprinkled in the same
way and this process is continued until
the pile is finished, when it Is covered
over with the leaves of the palm tree.
This process is usually begun at the |
opening OF the rainy season, as there is
aneh more moisture in the atmosphere |
ana the sun heat creates n steam or |
vapor which hastens fermentation and
causes the colors to set firmly. Some
Vegueros or planters, in order 10 preserve
the iight colors In the tobacco, do not an
ply any betnn. and opinions are about |
equally divided as to Its use. Unless
great care is observed in its application.
me tobacco may become soft and rot or
the leaves may get baked together 50 /
come torn and much deprecated In value
Alter going through this sweat or
leVer, as the Cubans call IT, tha "a. |
pacco is ready for sorting or classifica-
lioh which Is usually done by expert
hands' as this is very important mart
OF the work and strict attention must he
paid to the sizes, grades and colors of
The leaves. VI
In Vuelta Abajo there are usua,,v s,-
teen distinct grades or classes made RIM
'i's from la TO l5a. The first eight
grades ia to Sal represent the warmers
ana the numbers denote the difference in
luality and texture Of the leaf. the grade.
Ia 10 ia representing the strictly fine
The remaining seven grades
ire hllers, the last three sizes represent-
ng the smallest and lightest leaves. Thero
are also some intervening grades called I
ne torn, worm eaten and imperfect ,
caves, and the manufacturers selecI these
according to their own ideas, for either ,
wrappers or filters. The principal sizes
nippea 70 the United States are "a to la !
- thess comprise the best filters,
urowes should not deceive themselves :
mo the belief that Florida tobacco 4, u
sortn as much as Cuba tobacco, in the
. NS.-N eta'o VI Inc markets, which are .
lpsoiutely controlled by fashions. 1t is G
lot, There is no inherent, unchanglng C
uaiity'. as in wine-lt is a question If o
'ehsonai or National taste. Americans
want the sparkling champagne; Euroue- 7
ms prefer the rich. still wines, and the II
'ine makers OF France and Ger,nanv s
iuga In thar sleeves when they shin ~ Il
.merica "doctored" beverage mr. icia o
nat costs them 30 cents a bottle while h
hey retain for their royal and noble nat n
ohs an article that costs ten times as "
luch In the making SO the fashion ~ 81
ooacco governs prices. and fashion in Il
,merica, at present, DEGREES a higher p
iaee TO Cuban than to Florida tohacco Il
ut lashicn is capricious. and NAV
lanse; In fact, the fashion in cigars has
iIhih the memory of those men. changed
ON dark grades 10 light. This is e "
nything. change In the general direction b
tiorida tobacco, and 1t NAV even n
Tally go further s'en- y
rhen too, in Florida there are MANY o
Iie.ies OF soil. yielding many grades or a
ia,ties OF tobacco. There Is he sarSy n
Ia, asslack ridge producing a wrapper Leaf
nNh Is quickly ready for the smo,ar
trla | ~