Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-03-11
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IOdHr0HNxT H7AHS
velopment Of the leaf. Suckers are
thrown out at the place Of topping.
and these. too. must be removed
promptly. This applies as well to the
method by which the strength Of the
leaves is maintained by restricting
their number. II seeds are to be
gathered certain plants must be set
apart from others and these cult
waited with special reference to this
purpose. When the leaf Is ripe II Ii
harvested. The length OF time be-
tween topping and harvesting varies
greatly. and experience Is needed to
decide on the proper color and hrm'
ness at which to begin. Cutting or
printing Is the term by which Is I'M
derstood the process of gathering the
leaves for curing. This Is one OF the
most important steps IN the cultiva'
ton OF tobacco. II must be done on
dry day. so that the leaf will be clean.
unspotted, and free from fungus. Ac'
cording to the habit OF the country or
district the leaves are now placed In
a basket or hung on a board or wire.
and allowed to wilt. Then It Is cured.
Curing is. of course. the step which
changes the product from a mere agrt
cultural to a purely commercial com
modify. Tobacco must not be per
mitted to sweat. which really means
the growth of fungus. for II fungus
once starts in warehouse. It Is liable
% spread throughout all the stock:
neither must II ferment too soon. Tor
the result will be the same. or leads
to evils equally az DISASTROUS. Proper
fermentation is an art and must be
controlled by an expert whose per
sonal judgment has been tested by
long handling OF tobacco In all stages
The technical process Is called press
ing. but does not necessarily imply
that the leaves themselves are sub
jected to great pressure; they are
weighted down by themselves In
receptacle constructed for that pur
pose, the change taking place now.
due to action Of engines rather than
to bacteria Gas was once thoughD. DO
ing one Of ripening. as It were. through
heat and moisture.
This fermentation process develops
| In the tobacco leaves the characteristic
qualities of the commercial article
Fermentation follows Immediately aft
err curing when both are done by the
grower, but where the cured tobacco
Is bought up by manufacturers several
months may pass before 1t Is subjected
to the latter process. When tobacco
is ready for manufacture into Its I'm
ished condition for consumption, the
amount Of nicotin Is relatively unim
portant, and It is certain that the ex
cellence OF the leaf and its adapta
bility are not dependent upon 1t. II
the prime object of tobacco culture
were the production Of nicotin. as the
prime object Of raising sugar beets IL
the production Of sugar. then the
amount OF nicotin might be forced by
the use Of heterogeneous fertilizers. but
nlcotin alone no more makes a goot
tobacco than does alcohol alone make
a good wine. The flavor and aroms
are much more important.
Classification Of the leaves now
takes place, although some selection
has taken place In the earlier stages
A division popularized by long use
separates them according to their col
or into: Claro. light brown; Colorado
claro brownish yellow; Colorado
brown; Colorado maduro. dark brown;
Maduro, dark. This has applied large
ly to the wrappers. but Sumatra and
other leaves are to-day more freely
employed for wrappers. and as fashion
now admits that good cigar Is some
thing besides a wrapper, and That .
good wrapper may possess other quail
| ties than color, adherence Is not al
ways given to the above classification
When the leaf has been delivered TO
the manufacturer It Is converted Into
cigars, cigarettes. pipe, chewing and
smoking tobacco. Smoking and chew
ing we're the aboriginal methods BY
which native Americans consoled and
stimulated, or, at times. physicked,
L .L---n.... 18th Tho nlanf