Different Methods of CriaNG Tobacco. 141 



Drying the Stalk. — The next step is to diy out the stalks tho- 

 joughly, and in order to do this the tempeiatiue is raised to 175° or 

 180° F., and kept there for a further period of about 12 hours, when 

 the stalks should be completely dried out. 



It takes anywhere from four to six days to flue-cure a barn of 

 tobacco. The time required for curing each barn will depend chiefly 

 on the type of leaf to be cured and how soon it yellows, and on the 

 temperature of the atmosphere outside the barn, which also influences 

 the rate of curing. During wet or warm weather higher temperatures 

 will be required than during dry or cool weather. 



It will perhaps be useful to give a record of the temperatures (as 

 shown below) kept during the curing of barn Xo. 3, mentioned above. 

 As the atmosphere and other conditions will vary for each barn cured, 

 these temperatures can only serve as a guide, and will have to be 

 altered to meet the special conditions under wliicli the curing takes 

 place. 



Preparing the Leaf for Market. 



No matter how well a crop of tobacco is grown and how success- 

 fully it is cured, the value of it can be reduced very considerably, and 

 in some cases become practically worthless, through bad management 

 after curing. On the other hand, if the crop receives the necessary 

 attention during curing, and is graded properly and baled, the value 

 is still further enhanced. The tobacco crop requires skilful handling 

 from the time it is harvested up to the time it is offered for sale. Most 

 farm crops can be sold as soon as harvested without much additional 

 labour and expense. It is for this reason that the tobacco grower 

 should be entitled to a bigger margin of profit than the grower of any 

 other farm crop. 



After the tobacco is cured the grower must bring his leaf into 

 case, i.e. into condition, so that the leaf can be handled without 

 breaking. Steam can be used for bringing the leaf into case, but if 

 not available a conditioning cellar is used for this purpose. This 

 cellar is made in the ground below the shed or near by so that the 

 tobacco can easily be removed from the shed to the cellar. The 

 tobacco must not be allowed to absorb too much moisture, otherwise 

 it will be in too high a condition, and if packed in bulk, after grading, 

 will be liable to heat or become mouldy. Consequently the bulks must 

 be watched, and as soon as they begin to heat the tobacco must be 

 rebulked. 



When the tobacco is in proper condition for handling, the leaf is 

 graded into the different grades of bright, red, and dark, and separate 

 grades are also made for the tips and bottoms. Colour and length of 

 leaf must be taken into consideration when it is graded. As soon as 

 the leaf is properly graded it is stacked in bulks. The bulks must be 

 about six feet wide and about the same height, the height of each 

 bulk depending on the quantity of leaf to be stocked and on the space 

 available for this purpose. Each grade is bulked separately, and care 

 must be taken not to bulk the tobacco in too high condition. The 

 bright grades must contain just sufficient moisture not to break when 

 bulked. The dark leaf can stand slightly more moisture than the 

 bright leaf. The bulks must be weighted down, otherwise the leaf 

 will dry out too much. If the tobacco contains just sufficient moisture, 

 the curing of the leaf will continue in the bulk and the leaf will take 

 on a more even colon)', losing all the original green colour, and the 



