The "SPLIT" Tobacco" stick was formed by splitting, oak, ash,
or hickory logs by means of a
mallet and forged "froe". One log
could produce 50 to 100 sticks. These sticks
are 80 or more years old and were made at a time when almost everything was made by hand.
They make great walking sticks or hiking staffs.
"SPLIT" Tobacco" sticks
are becoming very difficult to obtain, due to the ever increasing numbers of small
tobacco farmers going out of the tobacco farming business. The small
tobacco farmer will
soon be a part of the history of rural Kentucky.
Chewingtobacco was twisted by hand. Someone wanting to have a "chew"
of tobacco would take their pocket knife and cut or bite off a plug of tobacco. The tobacco
"juice" was spit into a cup, can or on the ground.
May the
road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back; May the sun shine
warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet
again, may God hold you in the palm of His Hand.