iG June, iqii.] 



Tobacco Culture 



391 



break with the pressure required for baling. If the bulk should have 

 dried out so as to bring about such a condition, it should be covered with 

 green maize or any other green crop available, or wet bags rung out so 

 that no free water exists. 



The floor of the shed should be kept moist, and the shed doors and 

 ventilators closed, so that damp conditions are engendered. Being a great 

 absorbent, the tobacco will then become sufficiently pliable to handle with- 

 out damage. Some growlers cover the floor of the shed with a layer of 

 straw a few inches in thickness and water this well, bringing about the 

 desired result. If this system is adopted, care must be taken not to 

 let the straw get blown into the tobacco, as manufacturers strongly object 

 to any foreign matter. If carefully watched, the tobacco can be packed 

 in exactly the right condition without resorting to the above expedients. 

 The bulk should be opened on the top, and not more than is necessary 

 exposed as it is taken to the press to be baled, especially on a dry warm 

 day. If the atmosphere is 

 damp, this precaution is not 

 necessary. 



The prevailmg custom in 

 Victoria is to pack the 

 tobacco in bales of hessian 

 3 ft. long, X 2 ft. wide, 

 X 2 ft. high. The press can 

 be made, on the premises, of 

 either hard or soft wood, of 

 I -in. thickness, with 3 in. x 



2 in. pieces of hardwood at 

 the top and bottom of both 

 sides and ends. These pro- 

 ject 8 ins. beyond the sides 

 and ends, and are so mor- 

 tised as to fit into one an- 

 other, making a box or press 



3 ft. long X 2 ft. wide x 

 3 ft. high (inside measure- 

 ments). Wedges of wood 

 are then driven into the mor- 

 ti.ses to tighten the whole box which should be made floorless. The ends 

 are improved by having i-in. slats nailed from top to bc^ttom i^ ins. 

 apart on the inside. 



One-half the width of ordinary hessian is spread on the floor of the 

 shed, and the press placed upon this under the lever or screw. One man, 

 in rubber shoes or stockinged feet, gets inside the press and the tobacco 

 hands are brought to him to be placed with the butts between the slats on 

 the end of the press, keeping all the tips of the leaves to the centre. 

 The ends are filled alternately, and each layer pres.sed down with the feet 

 until the box is filled to the top. If the tobacco is short, it will be found 

 necessary to put a layer lengthways in the middle to secure ''ven pressure, 

 but ordinarily well grown leaf, which should average 1 ft. to .' ft. 6 ins. 

 in length, will not require any hands in the centre. 



When the box is filK^d, a lid, which siiould be so constructed as to 

 fit easily inside the box. is pl.icefl on it ; and pressure is then apjilied by 

 whatever means are available. The most popular, and the least expen- 

 sive. i< t'v' '''vi-T. which is made of a sapling or pi'v>.> u" rim'wr about 



1 (Jll.AL L IJ I'Kl-. 



