146 

 IX. 



CURING. 



Figure 15. 



The process of curing now commences, and on the success 

 of this operation depends in a great measure the ultimate 

 value of the crop. No matter how fine the plants may be, 

 or how large the production, an error in curing is sufficient 

 to destroy, in a great degree, the work of the season. The 

 tobacco barn should be built with windows and doors suffi- 

 cient to insure a free current of air. The barn should be 

 high enough to permit three rows of plants being hung one 

 above the other, say 16 to 18 feet from floor to roof. Figure 

 15 represents an inexpensive framed barn used for curing 

 where heat is applied with open fire or with furnaces. 



There are several methods of curing, viz: With open fires, 

 as shown in figure 15 ; curing by Hues, air curing and sun 

 curing. 



