Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-01
Curing, Storage and Marketing OF


Some crops are easy to cure after
they reach maturity. This certainly
is not true of tobacco. No matter
how successful the handling of the
crop may have been up to the date
when it is placed in the curing barn.
the grower will then find himself
confronted with the most difficult
and serious of all the problems he
has to solve. Even after he has cured
his tobacco unless he stores and
markets it carefully his operations
will likely result in loss rather than
gain. Tobacco will naturally de-
teriorate rapidly after it has been
cured and stored. There were farm
ers in Georgia last. year who had
beautiful samples when their barns
were cured out but who, through ne
elect after the curing was finished,
had to sell this crop at from ten to
seventeen cents "a pound. Some of
the factors which must be consider
ed in relation to the curing, storing
and marketing of tobacco have been
summarized and, set forth in this
article. Mr.. E. c. Westbrook, the
State College of Agriculture is re-
sponsible for the data presented to
our readers relative to this impor-
tant phase of handling the tobacco
crop.
The curing of tobacco involves
many complex changes in the leaf
which are not fully understood, but
some of the more important prin
ciples of good curing are well estab-
lished. Every tobacco grower should
acquaint himself as far as practic-
able with the fundamental facts.
Curing is forcing the leaves to I'M
dergo a process of gradual starva-
ton under proper conditions. Any
thing which kills the leaf prema-
turely, such as bruising or breaking
in harvesting or very rapid drying,
will prevnt god curing: ..,
In filling. the barn it is best not
to crowd the tobacco on the sticks
nor to place the sticks too close on
the tier poles. For the best results
the sticks should not be placed
the tier poles with from. 60 to rs
leaves on the stick, depending on the
size of the tobacco. This allows for
plenty of ventilation which is neces-
sary. for the best curing. With this
about bS 500 sticks of go TOBACCO. As
soon as filled, the barn should be
thoroughly inspected to see that the
f1ues and furnaces are in good con-
dition and that all dry leaves, and
side. This. is to guard against dan
ger from fire. For a 16-foot barn,
place a thermometer near the CEN
ter of the barn. For a larger barn it
one on each, side Of the barn. 1t
it a good idea to have an extra
thermometer as one may be broken
during the curing process.
The barn may now be closed and
fire started in the furnaces, The
leaf properly. Tobacco yellows best
in. the first. stages when the tenn
refature of the barn ranges from 80,
to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The
temperature should be raised to, and
kept between go and 100 degrees until
lemon yellow. This will take from
SO to 4S hours under average ,condi-
lions.
In order to obtain the best re-
suits in yellowing, the barn should
be tight at first, so that in the earlier
stages of yellowing the desired tenn
perature may be obtained without
moisture too rapidly. AS
the yellowing- progresses 1t is neces-
sary for the moisture to be removed
at first and later more
rapidly. Moisture should never be al
lowed to collect on the leaves or the
sides of the barn, as it will cause the
tobacco to be rnottled. The moisture
can be controlled by regulating the
ventilation. During the last few
nOuFS OF yelfOWlHS" Inc temper allure
should be raised to from, 110 to 120
degrees. Good results are obtained
by beginning to. raise the tempera-
ture when the tobacco is a pea-green
color. Never allow the temperature
to drop, for if this happens, dry
ing will be, retarded and the tobacco
will cure dark.
When the yellowing Of the leaf is
completed, move up the
temperature fairly rapidly, at the
rate of about g. degrees per hour
Until 1875 to 40 degrees is reached.
Hold it at that point until the leaf is
entirely dry, especially on the bot
tom tier poles. 1t is not safe to
raise the. temperature above lao de-
grees until the leaf is thoroughly
dry, as the leaf is killed too rapidly,
and there is danger of causing the
tobacco to be dark If the tempera-
ture is raised to 1875 degrees too
slowly the tobacco is likely to mottle
Therefore, the condition of the to-