Museum the New Llano Colony

Tobacco
Growing and Curing

"Llano Colonist," July 5, 1930

John Aiton Says: The manager intimates that by next fall we should have our own, home grown weed, for the pipes or teeth of its devotees; but we are so busy sawing wood for our new houses, gathering blackberries for canning, planting sorghum seed for cane to give us syrup by October that I fear we will have to keep on buying tobacco, at 70c a pound, for another year; or else ____. I leave the alternative blank, for the tobacco chaps are many, and insistently demand their pet kind, and Comrade Clark, our worthy commissary, is only one against many. He has managed to feed us raw fruits and vegetables, and we are far brighter and healthier as a result; but the tobacco habit has got us users, and we go wild for it. We don't think we are wild, but the non users are afraid we are too self-willed yet, and so it goes."

"Llano Colonist," July 25, 1931

"The tobacco question is one of much dissension. Many do not use it in any form and feel that cash should not be paid for it since it is not, to them at least, a necessity. To others, so they say, it is a real need. Bill says he would die if deprived of tobacco. Many arguments are advanced for and against its use. Some absurd on both sides; all in the most pleasant and agreeable manner, no harsh arguments have as yet been made on either side of the question and of course none will ever be used. (Eugene Hough)"

"Llano Colonist," April 26, 1930

"Bill DeBoer has a hot bed growing tobacco which Comrade Kretzschmar expects to put through and cure for Colony use. In this way we expect to wipe out all tobacco expenses in the future."

"Llano Colonist," May 3, 1930

"Kretzschmar is doing some thing never before attempted here on a large scale. He is an expert in tobacco raising. He has now 4,000 plants ready to set out. The ground is prepared for him and we are expecting to hereafter do without purchasing so much tobacco for our own use."

"Llano Colonist," August 2, 1930

"Last year DeBoer showed the feasibility of growing tobacco. Then comes Gustav Kretzschmar freighted with a sheaf of Ms. poems, real poems too, and ten years in growing and curing tobacco in Sumatra. He went at the task of really doing something in the way of reducing the great expense of our tobacco, and he has succeeded. If you were to look along the streets of Llano today, or rather tonight, you would see many proud Llanoites strutting along with a stogy at proper angle, as serenely as an Pittsburgh Bozo...

And I want to tell our readers its right nice to get into a happy community like ours, and ramble along with life, see the same companions every day, sympathize with the wounded, rejoice with the joyful, and associate intimately with your chums. The seekers after truth are all keen on their quest. The smokers have all made friends with Gus Kretzschmar, the tobacco growing expert; the anti-tobacco forces chase the smokers out of the Hotel, and think a lot of things about it, but being all ladies and gentlemen, they don't say all they think. And thus the peace is preserved, and all hands go on about their business."

"Llano Colonist," July 25, 1931

"What should we do without Bill DeBoer? Always willing and always doing things for the advancement of the colony interest. See his fields of eggplant, sorghum, his milo maize and his tobacco. Under his direction there is promising a crop of tobacco which will relieve all those who have been stinted in the use of such solace all this season. He is ably assisted by Comrade Slaughter who is an expert in harvesting and curing tobacco. They are building a tobacco barn down near the old storage building where it can be cured as it should be.

Bill's other aids are Shutt, Mardfin and Catrell. All these are working their heads off early and late to get the things ready to supply the necessities and also the wants of colonists at table and at other activities. (Eugene Hough)"

"Llano Colonist," August 15, 1931

"There is another thing which has ever been quite a problem here. That is tobacco. This year there has been a successful effort to solve this problem. Acres of tobacco plants have been set out under the skillful management of Comrade Slaughter, who is an expert in raising and curing tobacco. They have erected a big tobacco barn in which there will be no such thing as spoiling the crop. He is now making a start with harvesting and curing. Such as has reached the smokers is delightful and is greatly relished by those particular ones who want just such a flavor in their smokes.

We are glad to see Comrade Kretchmer once more with us. He has had a long and painful time of it with his work going behind. He is our one good cigar maker and also our genial poet too. He now looks as if he would be alright for his activities in both directions. His oldtime friends are all flocking around him, perhaps to get the first hand-out of his production. Strength to his arm and his imagination. (Eugene Hough)"

"Llano Colonist," September 26, 1931

"Among the things having sometimes brought great discussion about providing for necessities and wants, the question of tobacco had been one that seemed to be unsolved. Well this year it was decided that if we really must have tobacco we must do as those do who really want sweet potatoes and such. That is those who declared that they could not live without tobacco should produce it for themselves. So stalwart Bill DeBoer went ahead and planted a lot and others did the same. Good care was given the crop, worms picked off, weeds kept in subordination and then they began the harvest and curing.

A big tobacco barn was erected and then there came a rivalry between two small factions about the way it should be cured and prepared. DeBoer and Bickle were for one way and Slaughter was for another way. Each has been successful and they are both doing great things in their line. DeBoer and Bickle have only means for preparing smoking tobacco while Slaughter is making a specialty of chewing tobacco, tho he, too, gets out a smoking brand as well. Kretschmar has the cigar end of the enterprise and all are doing a land office business, much to the gratification of many who use the weed.

Cigarettes, pipe, chewing, dust for plants, nicotine spray for orchard and gardens, all the products are to be saved and now there is no longer the cry that more cash is used for tobacco than for shoes. This now becomes a real industry and one that saves cash and much criticism from opponents of the use of tobacco."

"Llano Colonist," November 7, 1931

"Tobacco grower Slaughter announced that he had tried to find out how to take the bitter taste out of the tobacco he had grown. Comrade Webb has written to the Department of Agriculture, but the answer was disappointing as the suggestion was made to keep the tobacco two or three years, which would not be at all practical in Llano."

Llano Colonist, July 16, 1932

"Bill De Boer, among his numerous other duties, is looking after the tobacco for Comrade Kretzschmar, who for the time being is slightly under the weather. The tobacco, by the way, is coming along fine. There ought to be a real supply laid up for the Winter, more than sufficient for the colony's use."

"Llano Colonist," August 6, 1932

"Last week I mentioned that the tobacco house had been increased 50 or 60 percent. The information came from two sources, what I thought was the best in the world. Now Howell tells me, (and he was on the job) that the space was "doubled", not increased 50 or 60 percent. Now that's better. Wish it had been quadrupled, then Slaughter could keep his tobacco longer and "ripen" it.

Tobacco people tell me that tobacco is best when oldest, that it is hardly fit to use unless three years old. Friend Huey brought some tobacco here from the Ozarks that was ten years old and it was pronounced fine "chawin."

"Llano Colonist," August 27, 1932

"For the chewers of tobacco here is a nice cud of news. Kretschmar and his confederates announce that they have compounded a natural twit sweetened with honey. Report has it the stuff is really excellent, which ought to afford great comfort to the addicts of Lady Nicotine. Pipe smokers, too, are again being supplied from the colony stock, another boost for the peace and harmony of nations."

"Llano Colonist," September 10, 1932

"Down in the tobacco patch, of some six or so acres, east of the railway, saw Dore and Carnahan. They are busy stripping tall stocks of dried and green leaves to be carried to the warehouse for the purpose of turning into pipe and cigarette tobacco. There seems to me to be a world of it, although these experienced handlers of it say the local demand is greater than one would expect and if it is to last till next season conservation must be practiced.

To nostrils used to the aroma of tobacco the smell that rose from the field really was intriguing -- rather made us want to restart smoking, but we resisted."

"Llano Colonist," November 5, 1932

"Some of the followers of Lady Nicotine are more than ever persuaded that what the tobacco trust has been feeding them was largely sure-enough-alfalfa. They have been getting honest-to-goodness tobacco from the hands of Slaughter and Kretzschmar. At first it is wise to take it in mild doses -- otherwise it has a tendency to make you go round-and-round. Just imagine -- if you can -- what happens to that tobacco after the tobacco barons have skinned the growers in the tobacco auctions! There ought to be a law -- but adulteration doesn't seem to be so much of a crime in tobacco.

Do you remember how the first tobacco planters used to pack it up in big hogsheads, with a sapling stuck through the middle for an axle, and then roll it down the Virginia hills to tidewater and ship it to England? That was the original Walter Raleigh brand. That was tobacco with a real "nic" in it. Well, that is the kind the devotees of the weed get here. And they pay no tax, either to Uncle Sam or the State of Louisiana. You see, we don't sell it. It doesn't cost us anything (?) We just work for it. And once you get over the habit of smoking the chemicals with which the tobacco trust infect their commodity, it is a lot more wholesome and satisfying. And if you want a real kick out of it, do as Weatherwax does -- smoke it in an antediluvian meerschaum! It is a sure recipe for solitude: for no one who is not similarly addicted will stay within forty rods. Did you know that "meerschaum" is a beautiful German word, meaning "sea-foam"? The Weatherwax pattern -- not exclusive to him by any means -- bring memories of the sea -- in something akin to sea-sickness for the uninitiated. Don't you think that words are wonderful things! (Rex K. Dell)"

"Llano Colonist," December 17, 1932

"Kretzschmar with his helpers, Charley Hoen and Smith, are preparing last year's crop of tobacco for the smokers so that when the Spring comes they will be all ready to work on the soil starting the new crop. Slaughter has a lot of work to do on his last crop which was the biggest ever harvested in the colony. The acre yield of tobacco that he raised this year was considerable above the average for the state or nation. This would indicate that all the good workers have not left the colony yet. Slaughter did not get any commercial fertilizer for this crop either while most of the commercial crop over the state was raised with the aid of that commodity."

"Llano Colonist," Dec 24, 1932

"We are smoking good cigars these days, thank you -- and thanks to Gus Kretzschmar, who makes them, growing also the necessary tobacco. The cigars are at least reasonably good, better, certainly, than most of us could afford elsewhere. Gus raised about one ton of tobacco on an acre and a half of ground. He says it is of a very fine quality, and should bring top price if we could raise it in commercial quantity. Spreading out a leaf, and smoothing the wrinkles, 'See,' he said, 'a knowing tobacco man would pay almost any kind of a price for that kind of stuff.' It looked bright, rich and glossy, which I suppose is what the knowing ones are after."

"Llano Colonist," July 22, 1933

"Looking out of my window I see Gus Kretzschmar's seed tobacco in bloom -- strange, what pretty blossoms the "vile weed" can put out; but that means more peaceful pipes for Llanoites next Winter, and without cost, save for the labor of growing, cutting and drying. And men -- and sometimes women -- will burn the stuff --to which the present writer is no exception. But dear old Llano did cure him of one expensive and -- to some -- disagreeable habit, tobacco chewing. When the colony twist got so acrid that it fairly puckered the cheeks -- well the Sunday diarist took counsel of virtue and chucked the practice of soothing his nerves by the eating of weeds."

"Llano Colonist," April 14, 1934

"Seated in front of our trusty L.C. Smith and behind one of Gus Kretzschmar's indispensible little cigars (what would some of us do without these little perfectos?) made by him of colony-grown tobacco, we begin this record of the day's activities or at least a portion of them."

"Llano Colonist," April 28, 1934

"The two rival tobacco growers, stout Slaughter and slender cheroot-shaped Gus Kretzschmar."