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Burley TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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Burley and black tobacco is generally grown in small quantities in the Bothwell area. Black tobacco requires a heavier soil as the demand on nitrogen is high. The burley and black tobacco is seeded in greenhouses, planted and cultivated using the same machinery and methods as flue-cured tobacco. This type of tobacco also requires topping and suckering. Black tobacco is topped heavily to produce broad, thick leaves.3
Black TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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Today, the harvesting method for black and burley is the least changed method since tobacco was introduced to Ontario. The mature plants are chopped down using a small axe with the plants arranged in same direction along the rows. The plants are then allowed to wilt to minimize damage to the leaves.5
Cutting Black TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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A steel tip, resembling a spear head, is attached to the end of a slat and the tobacco plant is forced down the over the steel tip to split the stock allowing the wooden tobacco slat to slide through the centre of the plant. Five plants are hung on each slat that is propped together until they are hung on wagons equipped with racks, where the slatted plants are then taken to a barn and allowed to air dry.7
Spearing Black TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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Slat of Black TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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Black tobacco can also be fired-cured using wood chips to create smoke giving the black tobacco a distinct colour and taste. Four grades are used in grading black tobacco - sand leaves are the less valuable, cutter grade from the middle of the plant, leaf from the top of the plant is the most valuable and twist which is made up of especially large, heavy unblemished leaves.10
Black TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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Most of the black tobacco is used for snuff with better quality leaves for wrappers for smoking products. Burley is mainly used as a cigarette ingredient.12
Tiers of Black TobaccoAugust 2008
Bothwell, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Bothwell-Zone & District Historical Society
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