126 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



with its load of leaves to be handled separately. The latter is the ideal method and 

 one which is being introduced into many of the tobacco-growing regions of the 

 United States with excellent results. It entails, however, a greater amount of labour 

 than the first and older method, and at a season when the farmer is usually pressed 

 for time. When the former method is adopted the plants are strung on laths either 

 by piercing or splitting the stalks. After being allowed to wilt for a short time 

 they are taken to the curing house or barn. 



The best drying-houses are now supplied with a system of heating flues which 

 hastens and facilitates the process of drying, which without these aids takes from 

 four to six weeks according to the humidity of the atmosphere and the system of 

 harvesting employed: the whole plant taking longer, of course, than if the " single 

 leaf method " is adopted. 



The leaves are next stripped from the plants and graded according to their 

 quality and size, in bundles called " hands " containing a dozen leaves each. 



Fermenting. 



In order to give the leaves a uniform colour the " hands " are arranged in a 

 compact heap with butts outward, in which condition they remain till heating com- 

 mences: when the thermometer in the centre indicates a temperature of 100 to 110 

 degrees the " balk," as this heap is technically called, is opened and rearranged 

 so that the outer tiers are brought to the centre. After the process of fermentation 

 has been completed the " bulk " is opened, the " hands " taken out and arranged in 

 loose tiers where they are gradually cooled. 



In the case of fine cigar tobaccos the leaves are again sorted before packing in 

 bales or hogsheads for shipment, which completes the course of treatment before 

 marketing. 



