138 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Aug., 1922. 



For air-curing, Joiner, Sterling-, Yellow Prj'or, and Piet Retief 

 Swazie are to be recommended. Tennessee Red nlsfi gives a high 

 l)ercentage of cigarette leaf, but it has a veiy thick midrib which, in 

 a wet season, retains some of its original sap, and wlien packed in 

 bulk will cause the bidk to go mouldy. The following table gives the 

 percentages of cigarette leaf obtained from six varieties over a period 

 of three years : — 



Variety. 



1918-1919. I 1919-1920. [ I'.H'O 1921. 



Average for 

 Three Years. 



The method of harvesting tobacco also influences the rate of 

 curing and, consequently, the percentage of cigarette leaf obtained. 

 The three difterent methods practised are whole-stalk, split-stalk. 

 and priming or jjicking the individual leaves. For air-cnring, tlie 

 first method is commonly practised in the Union. The following 

 table gives the results obtained at the Rusteiihurg Experiment 

 Station for two seasons : — 



