What is the Purpose of Tobacco Tier Rails?

Many of our projects have been made from reclaimed tobacco tier rails. Since my husband and I both grew up on tobacco farms, we assumed that many people understood our terminology. Well, you know what they say when you assume!?!

So, here's a quick explanation of their usefulness prior to being reclaimed and transformed into some of our homemade projects.

Why are tobacco rails needed?

Tobacco leaves require curing or drying. When the leaves are freshly picked, they are green and contain excessive moisture that prevents them from being ignited and therefore cannot be smoked. As the tobacco leaf cures, the leaves turn brown. The most common method of curing tobacco in our area was air-curing. The process of air curing is more effective when the plants are hung to allow good airflow around the leaves. Hanging tobacco was a fall activity for many tobacco farmers and their families as I was growing up. It was hot, hard work but the benefit was that it required several people working together and allowed for conversation and comradery during the work.

The tier rails or tobacco rails are long pieces of wood that are placed strategically in the barn to allow a tobacco stick with several cut tobacco plants to be hung. This process involved climbing several levels to ensure that every inch of valuable barn space was utilized.

The process of cutting and housing tobacco:

First, the tobacco is cut and strung on tobacco sticks. We also have a few project pieces made from reclaimed tobacco sticks. 

** Note the tobacco stick. 

Then, the tobacco is loaded onto wagons to be transported to the barn. 

The tobacco is manually hung in the barns on the tobacco tier rails and spread apart to allow good airflow. The tobacco will remain there until it is cured.

*The arrows are pointing to the tobacco rails. 

After curing, the process of stripping the leaves off of the stalk will begin but that's a whole other process that I won't discuss now. If you are interested in this topic, let me know and I will write more pieces regarding different aspects of the tobacco raising process as I know it from growing up on a tobacco farm. 

 **Photo credits go to a beloved and helpful family member.