The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-07-20
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton. Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.
Edgerton,

A bulletin issued by the department
of agriculture contains the following in
formation concerning the curing of cigar
leaf tobacco:
Tobacco goes through certain processes
of fermentation from the time 1t is cut
until it is ready for the manufacturer.
During this time it is said to be curing
and aging. Very little is known about
the chemical changes that occur IN these
processes. A great deal of work has
been done by scientific men in studying
them, but bevond the bare fact that
they are similar to what goes on in wine
and in the ripening of cream and the
aging of cheese little has been delivered.
1t is a very important field of research
and deserves a thorough investigation.
Upon the skill with which this curing
and aging is managed depends in a large
measure the value of the tobacco to the
manufacturer. Farmers, as a rule, pay
little attention to the matter and lose
the profit that might otherwise be theirs.
The curing comes usually when farm
work in general is not pressing, and 1t is
therefore the more deserving of attention.
Xxx
Theoretically each tobacco plant in
the tobacco districts produces the filler,
binder, and wrapper necessary for the
manufacture of cigar. The best leaves
are to be used for wrappers, the second
quality for binders, while the remaining
leaves are for filters. Practically, how
ever, it takes leaves of very different
qualities and properties to make the best
filler and the best wrapper. A soil which
will produce the best grade OF wrapper
is not likely to produce filler OF cores
ponding value A soil which will pro-
duce filler of fine quality will produce
a wrapper leaf which is too heavy,
strong and dark for our present market
demands. On account of the difference
in the soils different grades OF tobacco
are produced in the different northern
tobacco districts. The main sorts OF the
Connecticut Valley crop are wrapper
and binder leaf. This does not mean
that good filters are not raised on some
xof the soils of the Connecticut Valley,
/ but the average soils at present used for
tobacco produce a good wrapper leaf and
IA poor filler, as rule. On the other
hand, the soils of the tobacco district of
Ohio are very strong, heavy soils, con-
tanning very high water content. These
produce strong, heavy, dark type of to-
bacco, which can be used at present only
for filler purposes. The characteristic
crop of Ohio used to be wrapper, but
in the change of style from dark to light
cigars the produce of that district is
adapted at present to the filler only. In
PENNSYLVANIA the same thing holds true,
except that along the river courses the
soils are lighter and very fine quality
of wrapper can be produced. The main
dependence of the grower is filler crop,
and on the heaviest limestone soils filler
leaf only is produced. The Wisconsin
soils appear to come midway in texture
between the Connecticut Valley and the
Pennsylvania soils, and both filler and
wrapper are produced.
*x*
The tobacco is cased in the fall or
winter, and SO remains through the next
summer. The temperature of the ware
house is quite even during the winter.
After the summers sweat the operation
is finished, and the cases are opened and
sampled. This is one year after the har-
vest. After sampling, the tobacco is re-
turned to the case without breaking the
bulk, and remains in the case until it is
wanted by the cigar manufacturer. The
whole process of fermentation in this
operation is largely matter of chance.
1t is not controlled, the temperature is
not taken to note the progress of the fer
mentation, and nothing is done, in point
of fact, except to maintain the tempera
ture of the room moderately uniform
during the winter season. In some cases
the fermentation is overdone and in other
cases it is underdone. There is strong
feeling among the more intelligent plant
ers that more information is needed upon
the changes which take place, in order
that these may be carefully controlled.
There is room for marked improve
ment in grading and sorting the tobacco
and putting it upon the market. Com
paratively little attention is given to this
subject, and as consequence the cases
when opened show various sized leaves
of various colors and shades. A profit |
able lesson can be learned from the |
methods of the Cuban and Sumatra |
growers. With them the tobacco is |
graded very strictly according to the |
length of leaf and the color and shade. |
The small manufacturer in buying few
bales is able to maintain uniform brand |
of cigars. He is not able to do this with |
a small stock of domestic leaf, on account |
of the great variation in the color of the !
leaves.