In the Virginia Piedmont, tobacco ruled the economy from colonial times well into the 20th century.
Tobacco plants were harvested whole. In preparation for curing, they were split lengthwise from the top and hung upside down on 5 foot long oak sticks called laths. The laths, holding 6-8 plants each, were suspended across poles in the tobacco barn. Every step of the process was undertaken with great care so as not to bruise or tear the valuable leaves. The leaves were cured for several days over small wood fires built on the dirt floor of the barn. This phase was often overseen by itinerant curers who traveled from farm to farm in autumn. The following spring, when seasonal moisture had made the leaves less brittle, they were taken to a local tobacco factory. Planters hired out their slaves to these factories to stem, cut and shape the tobacco into plugs and twists for chewing, the popular form of tobacco consumption at the time.
Booker T. Washington National Park
What a find. Even though not smoking,assume that the smell there must have been impressive - how nice to see that you did find even leaves.
ReplyDeleteIn the north of Greece there are various tabacco factories. Please have a nice Wednesday you all.
«Louis» remembers the old Lucky Strike commercials on TV in the 50s that showed tobacco auctions. You could see the plants hanging in the background.
ReplyDeleteVery simple but solid building, and so interesting story. Fun to see the shorts on the girl and leaveless trees around :-))
ReplyDeleteThats a long process, I bet that building has a strong smell.
ReplyDeleteIt is a cute little building Tanya! Very interesting information too. My grandparents lived in Georgia and my grandfather used to talk about stringing tobacco for a living when he was young. He also rolled his own cigarettes using Prince Albert Tobacco which was sold in a can!
ReplyDeleteI like this little barn. It's cute!
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting! I have a tobacco barn with those "poles" going across it and I didn't realize that's where they hung the tobacco from. Also, a friend gave me a bunch of laths. I thought they were stakes for growing the tobacco but now I know!
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