140 JouKXAL oi- THE DE^ARTME^■T OF Agkicllture. — AuG., 1922. 



leaves are then strung" on reeds by means of long" steel needles, and 

 the string containing the leaves is tied on to the reeds at several inter- 

 vals to prevent sagging. The reeds of tobarro are then hung in a 

 wilting room until the leaf assumes the proper yellow colour, taking 

 from two to four days. It is very essential to have the right amount 

 of moisture in the barn in order to get the best results. The relative 

 humidity must be about 85 per cent. The hygrometer is used for this 

 purpose, and the dift'erenre between the dry and wet bidbs should be 

 3.5 degrees. If more moisture is needed, wet grass can be placed on 

 the floors, the walls sprayed with water, or the wilting room can be 

 opened during nights and closed during day-time. 



As soon as the tobacco has yellowed properly in the wilting room, 

 it is removed to the drying camp, where it is hung in scaffolds exposed 

 to the sun and open air. For the first day or two during very hot 

 weather the leaf should be covered bv means of hessian or crass. 



[Photo h;i J. ,hi P. O. 



CdiTii'/ated Iron Shed. 



i>fter which the covering is removed, and the leaf left until it is 

 thoroughly cured. J)uriiig rainy weather the tobacco must be 

 covered. When thoroughly cured the tobacco is brought into case 

 and bulked. 



Sun-curing improves the flavour and aroma of tobacco. The 

 Virginian sun-cured tobacco is chiefly used for chewing, and the 

 Turkish sun-cured for the manufacture of cigarettes. 



FlRE-( UEI>G. 



This metlujd of curing is practised almost exclusively in Western 

 Kentucky, Tennessee, and Central Virginia. It differs from the two 

 previous methods in that artificial heat is used during the process. 

 Small open fires are built of logs beneath the tobacco on the floor of 

 the barn. The smoke from these fires gives the tobacco a peculiar and 

 distinctive aroma. As this type of tobacco is mostly produced on a 



