The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-10-19

Ing dSfeou 10 pay SOou PliCoo io' 'Ho
crop it is but natural they will expect
that it be delivered to them in proper
condition. At any rate the buyers think
that as matter of education such cir
cular would be valuable. Below we
print some excellent advice on the same
topic.
***
The public is indebted to President
Frye of the N. E. Tobacco Growers asso-
citation, for the following information
concerning the handling of tobacco from
the shed:
In the handling and care of tobacco
after curing, there is no necromancy or
hinden magic, unknown to the average
experienced grower; it is not because he
doesn't know better" that many good
crop is more or less unnecessarily lnJur-
ed every year, but rather men are consti
tuted differently. Some growers will
not or do not seem to realize that COM
the farm is very valuable one, and that
in the handling of it the very best care
and judgment should always be used.
It means "a difference of many dollars
to the owner of a good crop whether he
has exercised his best judgment and
care in stripping or asserting tobacco,
clings to the slipshod methods of other
Il ha
wholly or In part in bad condition for
packing, either too damp or too dry or
bundled in :slovenly manner.
] know of mo agricultural product in
!. the eatire temperate zone that pays bet
ter for careful handling and good judg-
ment than leaG tobacco in New England
or on the other hand, one the value of
which can be SO suddenly and seriously
shrunken or deteriorated. In general
way few simple rules are sufficient to
insure perfectly handled crop. Never
take down tobacco for stripping until
positively certain there are no fat (un-
cured8 stems In it. More OR less to-
baccO lis seriously damaged every year
from this practice alone. Never take
down and bulk any (even the smallest
quantity of tobacco that you suspect
may be "'a leetle too damp" for do what
YOU will afterwarcl it will always be dam
aged tobacco and will probably injure
more or sess other leaf it may come in
contact with Should some ou tside poles
or laths of tobacco get too damp let it
hang and dry out again, to be taken
down later, when it is in just the right
condition. Now every grower of amy ex
perience knows when tobacco lis in good
condition, i. e, damp enough and not too
damp. just what percentage of moisture
there should be In leaf in good condition
I cannot tell. and it would do no good, as
the average grower could not ascertain
the percentage without much expense
and trouble. Early in the season it is
we'll to pile tobacco on lath in long piles,
Tapped tips to tips, the latter reaching as
near to the butts on opposite laths as
possible and not be exposed to drying.
Some lay in six OR eight square piles,
stripping from lath as wanted. For strip
ping, the latter is very safe method
when weather is warm, or when a large
quantity is taken down and portion has
to lie some time before stripping. AS it
is not always possible to get leaf in good
condition without dampening by light
sprinkling with water, the latter is per-
missible and must sometimes be resorted
to, but in the hands of the inexperienced
or the careless grower it is most dan
gerous practice, one that has cost the
farmers of the Connecticut valley tens
of thousands of dollars, simply because
through carelessness or lack of judgment
too much water was applied, or the ap-
plicatiOn was too uneven, wetting tobac-
co in spots, to the extent of ultimately
rotting it. A good and safe rule is not
to take down any tobacco unless the top
leaves are nearly or quite damp enough.
Then though the middle or butt leaves
may be quite "husky" it is quite posi-
ible to dampen it with a common whisk
soroom, with entire safety, SO as to be in
perfect condition. At this point is where
the greatest care and judgment is re-
quired, to know how much water to use
and not apply too much. If you err at
all, keep on the safe side and never get
on too much. If the tobacco is on lath
and requires dampening, by all means do
SO before stripping off the lath, for it can
then be done more quickly and safely
than at any subsequent stage. A very
light sprinkling on each lath or every al
ternate one is sufficient for any tobacco
In any condition to take down. In bund-
ling, the most convenient sized box is
made of 12-inch pine boards. This
should make bundle of 35 to 40 lbs.
The length of the box should be such as
will allow of tapping. the tobacco just
sufficient to make the bundle of uniform
thickness, say So to 38 ia for Havana
seed, and 40 to AZ in for seed leaf.
Whether the tobacco is to be assorted at
home or daliverad Gin the bundle" the
greatest care should be taken to straight
en- out the leaves and pack neatly as
possible. 1t will always pay in either
case and it never pays to handle tobacco
in a slovenly manner at any stage. Al
ways get paper of suitable size and strong
enough to never cut or tear in tying.