151 



IV. Tobacco can be cured with a more uniform color. 



V. Less fuel will be required, and the risk of setting fire 

 to the barn will be greatly lessened. 



Flues and Flue Curing. — Flues are extensively used instead 

 of open fires for curing yellow tobacco for chewing purposes 

 and is a better method. The heat is more readily controlled 

 by the use of flues, and tobacco cured by this process is 

 cleaner, brighter and sweeter. The flue is the best mode 

 for applying heat in the curing process for any type of 

 tobacco requiring the application of heat. 



X. ^ 



STRIPPING. 



After the tobacco is thoroughly cured it has to be 

 stripped. The leaves become soft and pliant in damp 

 weather and can be readily taken down out of the barn for 

 stripping. After taking down, the plants should be packed, 

 in order to be kept moist until stripping. 



This operation consists in taking the leaves from the 

 stalk and tying them in bundles after assorting the various 

 qualities and keeping them separate. Each hand or bundle 

 of the best grades should contain at least twelve leaves. In 

 the old tobacco States the plant is usually made into three 

 grades — long, short, and lugs, or worm-eaten leaves. 



In Cuba the leaves are divided into four classes — first, the 

 leaves at the top of the plant, which constitute the best 

 quality, from the fact that they get more equally the benefit 

 of the sun's rays by day and the dew at night; second, 

 the leaves which are next to the above ; third, the inferior 

 or small leaves ; fourth, the lug leaves, or those nearest the 

 ground. 



The assorting of the plant previous to putting in hands 

 or bundles is an operation that requires judgment and a 

 practiced eye. This mode of assorting colors in stripping 

 is similar to that of shading cigars, in which the utmost 

 care is taken to keep the various colors and shades to them- 



