Different Methods of Curing Tobacco. 



137 



Different Kinds of Sheds Used in Air-curing. — There are three 

 different types of sheds in use in the Union. Each type is named 

 after the kind of material used in buikling, e.g-. brick, corrugated 

 iron, and grass sheds. These sheds are usually cheaply and simply 

 constructed, and are certainly not as elaborate as the air-curing sheds 

 found in the Burley section of Kentucky, The results obtained in 

 these three different sheds over a period of five years are given below. 

 It will be seen that, if anything, there is a slight advantage in favour 

 of the grass slied. At the same time it must be pointed out that, 

 in wet weather, the tobacco will be apt to cure out a dark colour in 

 the grass shed. In very dry weather the tobacco generally cures out 

 too rapidly in the corrugated iron shed, and the leaf retains too much 

 of the green colour. In a wet season the corrugated iron shed usually 

 gives better results, as no surplus moisture is absorbed by the roof. 



[Phofo hn J. du P. O. 

 Nicotiana rwstica and Piet Retief Swazie. 



Thus, when the weather becomes more favourable, the rate of drying 

 out, which is very essential after or during such a spell, is faster 

 than in the grass shed. 



On certain types of soil the tobacco yellows on the land, as, for 

 instance, the turf soils in the Rustenburg District. Tobacco from 

 these soils will usually cure out a better colour in the corrugated iron 

 shed than in the grass shed, as in this case the curing must not be 

 delayed but hastened. 



The results from the brick barn were very good in favourable 

 seasons. If this barn was smaller, so that the whole barn could be 

 filled in one or two days, much better results would have been 

 obtained by proper ventilation, and during a wet spell the use of 

 artificial heat would help tremendously. 



