Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Shade Tobacco
The Connecticut River Valley is known for fine tobacco. The leaves of these plants are prized for use as the outer wrapper of cigars. There are two kinds of tobacco grown here Broadleaf and Shade.
Shade tobacco is grown under tents. Each leaf is individually picked, then sewn onto a lath and hung to dry.
Four of my summers were spent working in the fields and sheds of a tobacco farm. Generally the girls worked in the sheds and the men were in the fields.
Many of these fertile fields are now being replaced with homes or businesses.
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I have passed these fields on my way in and out of Hartford (airport), barren fields after the harvest and, not seeing the plants themselves, I have wondered why the rolled up cloth covers. Thanks for this post.
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