138 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



leaves (priming), stripping the leaves, and cutting the entire plant, including 

 a study of the influence of the various practices upon the color, quality, and 

 weight of the product. 



The results indicated that early-harvested leaves were brighter in color and 

 superior in quality, though practically the same in weight, as those harvested 

 later. When harvesting the leaves individually considerable variation was 

 observed, resulting in a product lacking in uniformity. Cutting the entire 

 plant produced a browner, brighter, drier, less hygroscopic tobacco which had 

 less tendency to mold than that harvested by stripping. The leaf weight in 

 the former method was about 10 per cent less than in the latter, but the total 

 weight was practically the same owing to the fact that the smaller leaves were 

 Included in the harvest. It is recommended that for general practice the crop 

 be harvested by stripping in dry years and by cutting in wet years. 



Tobacco curing tests, O. de Vries (Proefstat. VorstenlaTid. Tabak [Dutch 

 East Indies], Meded. 25 {1916), pp. 80, pis. 3 ) .—Extensive tests in curing to- 

 bacco are reported and the following general conclusions drawn from the 

 results : 



During the first stage, which is designated as the time occupied in changing 

 from green to brown, requiring from 7 to 10 days, the tobacco is very sensitive 

 to variations in temperature. The tests varied between 26 and 30° C, a 2 to 3° 

 difference in temperature giving an entirely different curing. The relative 

 humidity of the air was also of importance, but might vary to a greater extent 

 than temperature (60 to 95 per cent or higher). Ventilation had little influ- 

 ence on the first stages. 



Rapid curing resulted in tobacco of high value, possessing bright color and 

 excellent handling qualities, while, on the other hand, rapid curing increased 

 the hygroscopicity of the tobacco to such an extent as to frequently result in 

 pressure spots during subsequent fermentation which offset the good effects 

 noted above. Gradual curing, lasting two or three days longer, had the dis- 

 advantage of favoring rotting and other undesirable conditions not met with 

 in rapid curing. 



The second phase of curing is designated as the passing from the brown stage 

 to the dry. The quality of the tobacco was about equal with either rapid or 

 gradual drying. 



Artificial drying or drying under control conditions proved to be of the 

 greatest value in improving the quality and color of the product. 



Prefermentation in special stacks of tobacco, O. de Vries {Proefstat. Vor- 

 stenland. Tabak [Dutch East Indies], Meded. 23 {1916), pp. 69-88; abs. in In- 

 ternat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Internat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 {1916), No. 8, 

 pp. 1118, 1119; Bol. Tec. Coltiv. Tabacchi [Scafati], 15 {1916), No. 3-6, pp. 94, 

 95). — Owing to the extreme dryness of the tobacco-growing season of 1914 in 

 Java the tobacco harvested at that time showed traces of pressure undergone 

 after fermentation, these traces remaining visible in the form of streaks and 

 spots on the leaves and considerably reducing the value of the product. In 

 an attempt to remedy this fermentation stacks were designed having an open 

 center in which the air could circulate more freely than in the ordinary form 

 of stack. 



Provided the temperature of these stacks did not exceed 35° C. (95° F), the 

 results were very satisfactory. In subjecting tobacco thus treated to the usual 

 fermentation processes hardly any trace of pressure was observed. The con- 

 clusion is that a slow oxidation occurs in the preliminary stacks, destroying 

 certain essential oils which are decomposed by the heat, which frequently reaches 

 54° in the ordinary stacks. The products of this decomposition are then 

 thought to impregnate the dry cells, forming pressure spots on the leaves. 



