The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-09

into proper cAec and is then very carefully
sorted. The wrapper leaf is sorted into four
grades OF light wrappers and four grades
OF dark wrappers. according TO the
length OF the leaves. These are placed In
small boxes on either side OF the operator.
and when box ~ full the leaves arc taken
out and the Cuban tobacco Is put up into
'carottes" tcylindr:csl rollsl. The car
ottes arc maze up into bales, similar in
every way to the Cuban package the wrap
pings being imported from Cuba Tor the
purpose. The sumatra wrappers are put
up into bales similar in every way to the
we'll known form that Is imported Into
this country in largo quantities from
Holland.
The filler leaves arc frequently resweat.
ed and are usually petuncd. process
which makes them very much heavier,
darker and stronger. The petuning IL either
done by spraying. which Is the best way,
or by dipping the tobacco. The essential
part OF the petuning liquid is n, thick in
fusion of tobacco stfms OF the finest quail
ity obtainable. TO this is ADDED mollsses.
cider. Jamaica rum, or sour Wine Free
quently other matters are put Into tho
pctunlng liquid. according TO the taste or
fancy OF the operator, to add quality to the
leaf. This is a secret OF tho Cubnr methni
and the only part Of the process which they
are unwilling TO divuiec.
When the petuning IL done by dipping
the tobacco, each hand is dipped separately,
and ~ then thoroughly shaken, after which
II must be bulked down to draw--that q
nntA the moisture has beaoms thoroughly
absorbed and evenly distributei through
the leaves. Otherwise they would BE- ap.
| TO spot and charge color. Tho wrappers are
/ never treated In this way, rs IT is not do.
sirabie that they should kayo the properties
Of a good filler.
After the bales have been made up they
are put into d warehouse In pileg rot OVER
tthrnp hn1 fot, st,a
Kept NJ moderately Uniform and rather
cool temperature AT 1east two wears in
order that the tobacco shall age. before
Y 10 suitable for making zip into cigars
Insre seems 10 be no particular change
that goes on at least no noticeable outward
change. MS in the case Of fermentation. but
the tobacco loses the hsrshness that is
always noticeable IN fresh tobacco. and
becomes mellow. az wines ana liquors d.
by ftandirg, When properly put mp 1t Will
keep almost Indefinitely in the bale. AMI
The logger y Is loft 10 age the better 1t
becomes
There is no Iouht that tobacco can he
banded much better as we'll rs more
economically in large than in .msIl u,,au
tues The fermentation is much more Uni
form In large bulks than in small II there
are .everal hulks they can, if recessary
be mixed to insure the proper conditions
The different Kinds of tobacco need to be-
treated differently. and this IS only possible
IN case OF large quantity, where The seloc-
lions VIII amount IN enough to handle
with large quantity of tobacco, also. It
is possible to grade more carefully and
more closely; and, lastly, 1t In always es.
sential to have large supply of tobacco
OF UNIFORM quality In order that man
nfacturcrs may maintain any particular
line OF goods they may desire. For these
reasons the farmers usually sell their
crops from the leld or from tho barn 10
In yy VxVH I,.1
maintain Curing houses. 1t is claimed that
not more than per cent of the tobacco
in the Gadsden district OF Western Florida
remains IN the hams OF the farmers later
than October I. In Southern Florida. also
II has been found more economical and
moro successful for the farmers TO com
pine ana have one large curing houvc. or
10 sell their product 10 the curing house
rather than attempt to do the curing.
rrac'rs and sortipg themselves
hahc,r rival ee,ta xzfiiT 1894 12s 10
CURING EXPORT TOBACCO.
The class of tobacco known as dark ex-
Port or shipping tobacco has strong,
heavy leaf, used largely in tho export
trade IT Is exported in great q,intitins
10 england and the other continental mar.
kets OF Europe, as well as to Africa and
other foreign countries. In Europe the
tobacco is used for cigars, chewing ard
smoking, but its chief demand Is a Nrap
par leaf. In our market 1t is graded ac
uordllis to color. fairness, texture and
length of leaf, 'oach foreign country buying
essentially particular grade.
IN The dark (expor) tobacco dis,
when the leaves are ripe the s,alk is cut
ana laid on the ground TO wilt. II Is then
put on sticks. six or elgh, to the stick, aud
hauled to dhe barn. The tobacco is either
hung Immediately In the barn or is hung
on scaifolds outside for a few days in order
! TO yellow. There Is a difference OF cp,n-
Ion as to whether this following process
gees on better on the scaffolls or in tn,
barn. In either case 1t acquires in n few
days a rich, dnop yellow color When the
leaves show an even yellow color slow
Hires arc built on the floor of the barn.
very small at FIRST aud gradually increas-
ing in size until bne bsrn becomes as hot
MS II is safe ITO make It, This firing pro-
cess requires usually four o. five DAYS T.
is important that the wood should be thor
oughly seasoned in order not 10 produce
smoke. Smoke makes tho tobacco bitter
and leaves an oior of creosote on tbs
leaf. This heating cures the LEFT,
but leaves the stem still green After the
, fires are withdrawn the sap nuns down
from fhe stalk into the leaf and in the
event OF damp weather a second or third
firing is frequently given by the beat
growers. Flue curing has not been prsc-
t.ced with any general success so far On the
darS-tobaccO region.
tfter the tobacco is property cured ths
leaves are stripped from the stalk, grated
es TO length and quality. tied into hands
and bulked down in piles four or five feet
high AMI covered with canvas or loose
boards. Fermentation undoubtedly o.
ours while in the bulk. but 10 what extent
and exaciIv what changes are produced
are not known. Little attention rs paid 10
the matter except to see thst me tempera-
ture OF the bulk doas not al any time rise
too~hlgh' The tobscco Is either sold loose
or priced into hogsheads. as with IN,
White Bugloy and manufacturing tobac-
cos,
TYPES OF EXPORT TOBACCO.
The dark tobaccos are cassca into four
genoTl types. whlch are further graded
According to color, the darkest first. via: j,
German Tyre; 2. Italian type; 3, Austrian
type; !, French type.
!. The German typo is very ia.
heavy-oodied lcH, strong. tough and elas-
tic, Is TO 20 inches long. with ane stems
and hber Generally the heaviest, dark
est types so 10 Germany the color va,.,.