The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-08-02
GRADING TOBACCO.
a Timely Article for Planters Of the
Golden Weed.

he tobacco TlanterS UulOe says
many tobacco planters make mistake
by not properly grading their crops.
Some entertain the idea that they can
pack away lower grade with higher
and make the whole lot sell for the
value of the latter, when the result is
generally the reverse. Dishonest pack
ing has never paid any farmer and
never will. The planter should rerem-
Der that the buyer generally knows more
about the quality Of tobacco than any
one else, and is more likely to detect
any flaws or defects in packing. You
can put this down as safe rule; that,
whenever you pack lower grade with
higher, you are certain to get paid
for the lower grade, and all extra leaves
put in the lot is just so much waste.
Honest packing always pays.
Maj. Ragland has written so inmate
ly and so fully on this subject that we
cannot do better than give the reader
his directions. They are comprehen-
siye and need notbe supplemented with
any explanatory notes. IF, after the
tobacco is cured, the weather remains
dry and.it fails to get soft readily so
that it can be moved, it may be brought
in order in the following way: Place
greca bushes with the leaves on the
floor ard sprinkle water over them
copious!y. If the tobacco is dry and
the atmosphere contains but little mois-
ture, and if the weather is cool, little
fire kinllei in the fucs will assist in
making the tobacco soft. Straw, wet
or made so, will answer the same pur-
pose. If the weather is damp there
will be no necessity to use either straw,
bush or water Blu. when it is necessary
to use means to order tobacco, IL is best
to apply them in the afternoon, that
the tobacco may be removed the next
morning. If the weather continues
warm and damp or rainy, tobacco that
remains hanging will be apt to change
color unless dried out by fues or char
coal. Wnen this becomes necessary,
build small fires at first, and raise the
heat gradually.
Tobacco should never be stripped
from the stalks except in pliable order,
and the leaves on every plant should
be carefully assorted and every grade
TIED up separately. Usually there will
be three gaades of leaf, assorted with
reference to color and size, and two of
lugs. Ofleaf, tie six to eight leaves in
bundle, and Of lugs eight to ten. As
fast as you strip, either hang the hands
on sticks, twenty-five to each stick, and
hang up, or bulk down in two layers,
the heads of the hands or bundles fac
ing outward. The latter mode is best
if you intend to sell in winter order,
loose on the warehouse floors. II bulked
down, watch frequently to see that it
does not heat. If the bulk becomes
warm it must be broken up, aired and
re-bulked, or hung up if too soft. 1t is
safer always to hang up as soon as strip.
ped, unless you desire to sell soon, and
strike down in safe keeping order in
spring or summer. 1t is considered in
safe order when the leaf is pliable and
che stem will crack half way down the
tie.
"If you sell loose, deliver in large,
uniform piles; such will cost less and
your tobacco bring more in price. But
to sell in distant market, pack in
tierces-half hogsheads make the best
and cheapest-to weighs about 400
pounds, net, taking care not to press
the tobacco so as to bruise it, or pack
it too closely together. The best leaf
is wanted for wrapper, andit must open
easily when shaken in the hand. Pack
one grade only in each tierce, uniform
in color and length; but if it becomes
necessary to put more than one grade
in tierce, place strips Of paper or
straw between to mark or separate them.
Pack honestly, for honesty is al
ways the best policy. Tie man who
nests his tobacco will certainly go on
the Black List, and buyers have good
memories. If your tobacco is fine,
sound and nicely handled, you will
have the satisfaction Of getting, at the
least remunerative price forit, al
though poor and nondescript stock
may be selling for less then the cost Of
production. The world outside Of this
country makes, as rule, low grades
plenty, and at cost to raise much less
than we can compass. We must plant
less surface, fertlize heavier, and cul:
tivate and manage better, if We would
get the best prices. .