23° 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 



[lo April, 1911. 



of air caused. A most reprehensible practice amongst local growers is the 

 burning of the stalk while stripping the leaf, which is much damaged in 

 aroma and flavour thereby. Only clean burning woods should be used in 

 open fires for heating the sheds. The pits in which the fires are made 

 should be at least 2 feet deep and 4 feet long, and be covered with sheet 

 iron to prevent danger of fire. Stoves and flues would be a great improve- 

 ment on the open fire. Many good crops of leaf have been spoilt in the 

 shed through want of fires after the cure has been effected. The tobacco 

 has been allowed to become too damp, and the lower half of the leaf 

 covered with mildew. I'his deteriorates the quality and spoils the reputa- 

 tion of our leaf ; every year large quantities of such tobaccoes are put on 

 the market. Tobacco is a great absorbent, and will become moist, and dry 

 out again with every change in the weather, unless the conditions of the 

 atmosphere are regulated by fires in the .shed. 



A very large proportion, fully 

 90 per cent., of the heavy dark 

 tobacco crop is cured by. open fires. 

 In our climate a gradual process is 

 necessary, owing to the dryness of 

 the atmosphere, and the fires should 

 not be put under too soon, or be 

 too strong in the early stages, or 

 the colour will be green, and the 

 elasticity of the leaf be destroyed. 

 Care should of cour.se be taken 

 against the risk of fire, and the 

 lower tier of tobacco should be well 

 above the ground, say 9 feet to the 

 tier poles. Water should never touch 

 tobacco from the time it is harvested 

 till it is in the manufacturers' hands. 

 Cigar tobacco is cured solely by the 

 regulation of air and moisture, and 

 the shed must be specially constructed 

 tor the purpose, so that it can be 

 made very close, or be thoroughly 

 ventilated at will. In some instances 

 stoves with a pipe running up through 

 the roof are used in our moist seasons, with the object of creating a cur- 

 rent of air. The lower ventilators are opened at such times, the moist 

 warm air being driven up and out at the top of the shed. Cigar leaf 

 should not be allowed to get very dry, nor very moist, right through the 

 process, which is a slow one, and requires constant observation. The shed 

 should be kept dark after the leaf is cured, as light has a bad effect on 

 the colour. The curing process will take from two to four months. 



BASKETS FOR CARRYING STRIPPED 

 GREEN LEAF. 



Stripping and Classing. 



This work i.s usually done during wet weather, when out-door work is 

 not practicable. After the tobacco has been thoroughly cured, and the leaf 

 has become pliant enough to be handled without breaking, stripping can 

 be commenced. The stalk is taken in the left hand, and the leaves pulled 

 off with the right, taking hold of the leaf close to the butt. The bottom 

 leaves are of inferior character, and should be classed as thirds, also all 

 leaves that are badly worm-eaten or of bad colour. Generally speaking. 



