70 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR MARKET WHERE AND HOW SOLD. 



At proper and convenient seasons the cured tobacco is stripped and prepared for market. 



A moist atmosphere is necessary to produce and maintain proper "order" in the leaf, which cannot be handled 

 without great injury in a dry condition. Cured tobacco is liable to loss of quality and weight while hanging in the 

 barn, and it is an object with good planters to withdraw it from such risk as soon as possible. A favorable season 

 is utilized to take down so much as can be stripped and bulked in proper condition. Bulking is done as soon after 

 stripping as possible, or as soon as the proper "order" is obtained. In some cases the tobacco, when found in 

 proper order, is taken down and put into temporary bulks upon the sticks, so as to preserve and continue this 

 condition until it can be stripped, tied, and packed into bulk for prizing. This is objectionable, because when bulked 

 in the stalk the tobacco lies so loosely as to be easily dried by harsh winds, and stripping is often made impossible 

 without reordering. This can be done successfully by careful management in close houses, or by covering the bulk 

 with carpets, blankets, or otherwise; but generally the method is uncertain, and in most cases the tobacco is left- 

 hanging in the barn and stripped by installments, as opportunity permits. 



In stripping heavy types the best planters assort into two, three, or even four classes of leaf, putting into each 

 class leaves of similar length, color, and weight, and making two other classes or grades of the inferior lower leaves, 

 the better of the two called "lugs", and the damaged and dirty leaves called "trash". After being thus assorted, 

 the leaves are tied into bundles or " hands" of five to six leaves each, the steins even, and the head of the bundle 

 closely and neatly wrapped with a leaf folded for the purpose, making a tie 1 or 2 inches broad, and fastened by 

 tucking the stem end of the tie-leaf through the center of the bundle. 



It the tobacco is sufficiently cured and in proper order, each day's stripping is bulked at the close of the day ; if 

 not in proper condition, the bundles are usually hung on sticks and replaced upon the tiers in the barn, to be brought 

 into bulking order. Sometimes, instead of rehanging, the bundles are piled in ranks, called " windrows ", to remain 

 until the excess of moisture is evaporated and the tobacco can be safely bulked. This method is preferred, unless 

 the stripped tobacco is so damp as to endanger its quality by piling in this way, because when well managed it 

 brings the stock into good condition for packing smoothly and closely into bulk. When hung on sticks the bundles, 

 because of not being properly balanced, frequently become crooked, and the leaves are blown open by the winds, 

 so that it is difficult to put them down into a smooth and compact bulk. Nevertheless, rehangiug is the only safe 

 way to treat stripped tobacco too soft to be put down in bulk. 



For bulking heavy tobacco the desired condition is evidenced by softness and pliability of leaf, the stem only 

 moderately flexible. The texture and fiber should be supple, without excess of moisture, while the stem for one third 

 or one-half its length should crack slightly in bending. Much care is necessary to secure the right condition for 

 bulking to prevent sweating into a harsh and dry state, which greatly injures the tobacco, and, on the other hand, 

 to avoid mold or "funking", liable to occur when the bundles are packed down too damp. 



With light types of tobacco, especially such as are intended for manufacturing fillers, it is requisite that the 

 order should be such as to secure perfect immunity from injury in sweating. Such tobacco is not suitable for use 

 until fermentation has taken place, and is unlit for use if soured or funked in passing through that process. Very 

 few planters attempt the process of sweating in bulk, but prefer to sell the loose tobacco or to prize lightly in casks 

 for delivery to local dealers, who redry it during the spring and summer, putting it in such condition and form as to 

 pass through the necessary fermentation without loss. 



The lighter types, because of the necessity for rehandling, are not, as a general thing, so carefully ordered as 

 the heavy tobaccos, and are not usually s,o neatly handled in tying into bundles or in packing into casks or cases 

 For the most part, this class of tobacco is sold to dealers who make a business of reasserting and repacking for 

 home manufacturers. In the production of bright wrappers, however, the handling is very careful, the work of 

 assorting very thorough, and the tying and packing is neatly done. 



In the assorting of yellow tobacco in the Padueah district about five grades are usually made: First, a uniform 

 bright yellow, leaves perfect and elastic; second, color not so uniform, and leaves not so perfect and elastic; third, 

 mahogany color, yellow and brown spots, making a dappled surface; fourth, imperfect leaves of various colors, 

 from bright yellow to mahogany, called good lugs; fifth, trashy and dirty lugs, composed of sun-parched, soiled 

 ground leaves. 



It is the custom of a large class of planters in all districts of the state to hasten the preparation of their crops 

 for market. These crops are sold in bulk to local dealers, or are packed and shipped to the nearer markets, frequently 

 in poor condition, without having passed through the necessary process of bulking to produce the smoothness and 

 compactness essential for neat packing into casks for prizing. This stock is bought to a large extent by rehandlers. 

 The proportion of the annual product disposed of in this way probably exceeds one-half, and much the larger part of 

 this is sold and delivered from the 1st of December to the 1st of April. Of the remainder of the product, which is 

 prized by the planters themselves, fully one-half is sold by the 1st of May, commencing as early as the 1st of 

 January. 



A few planters take pride in skillful handling. They assort closely and carefully, and give special attention 

 to stripping, bulking, and prizing. Prizing is generally postponed until spring, to secure proper atmospheric 

 humidity, with mild temperature. 

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