The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-09-21
years as follows:

Pres. Frye of the N. E. Tobacco
Growers association on the subject Of
curing leaf tobacco says:
Curing tobacco by natural process,
subject to varying conditions OF the
weather, continues to be the only prac-
tical method Could we regulate wealth
er changes, ideal conditions for curing
might be obtained and perfectly cured
crops result, but the same might be said
regarding the growing season, when the
crop is subject to extremes of drOuth,
floods, hail storms, and tornadoes that
in a few minutes ruin hundreds of acres.
In considering the curing of tobacco we
have to confine ourselves to the condi-
tions as they exist, which are sometimes
SO adverse that no amount of care or ex-
-perience can entirely eliminate loss,
either from pole sweat or white veins,
both the effect largely of two opposite
meteorological conditions. Pole sweat is
the result of prolonged spell of damp
humid weather; white veins the too
rapid drying of the leaf. Of late years
there seems to be much less loss from
white veins than from pole sweat. One
prolific cause of pole sweat is the result
of hanging the plants too closely in the
sheds. | can recall instances where the
loss from this cause alone in single
crop would have nearly duplicated the
shed room occupied, most Of which loss
might have been avoided by the build
ing of additional shed room for one acre.
The cost of tobacco barns is SO large, av
eraging 5000 per acre, that the tempta-
tion to grow half or an acre more to-
bacco than ought to be hung in them,
has always been a prolific cause of loss.
In sheds we'll located, with good circula
tion of air, and tiers of 5 to SO feet
space, laths of tobacco should have
space between them of inches in pur
lin and third tier, inches in second tier
and inches in first or ground tier Ha-
vana Seed should be hung six plants to
the lath, and Seed or Broad leaf five
plants. No arbitrary rule can be adopt
ed as to the care of the leaf. Because
the outside plants are out of danger or
seem to be, do not assume that all the
tobacco inside the shed is Doors should
not be left open during storm. Never
leave them open nights until sure
that all danger of pole sweat is passed,
and that the leaf all through the sheds
has become SO far cured as to need
dampening Do not take down tobacco
for stripping SO long as there is single
stem or midrib in the shed that has not
become completely dried out, at least
once, so thoroughly as to leave no doubt
that it is cured, and thus save many bit
ter regrets because of "stem rot A
good rule is to keep all the doors open
every pleasant day, shutting them at
night, for ten or fifteen days. Keep doors
open all the time tobacco is drying or
curing and shut whenever humidity is
such as to prevent evaporation. When
about half cured use your best judg
ment about drying out and dampening.
There is much more danger in tobacco
becaming too damp or keeping SO too
long than in getting too dry. This is the
period when the profits of the crop de-
pend on constant vigilance, judgment
and care. Do not imagine all the danger
is past as soon as the crop is hung in the
sheds. Every grower should know the
exact condition of his tobacco in every
shed every day, by personal examina-
ton or inspection, until thoroughly cur
ed. Let the crop become thoroughly
ripe before cutting. Besides a better
quality, a we'll ripened plant is very
large factor as insurance against damage
in the sheds. Ripe tobacco will cure
quicker is much less liable to pole sweat
or become white veined, will cure
lighter color, will weigh more, will stand
and come out of the sweat better, being
less liable to mold, or "full up and the
result when comes the critical test at the
cigar table, is always overwhelming proof