54- Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Aug., 191 i_ 



TOBACCO (^U^TURE. 



{Coiiii lined from fage 394.) 



T. A. /. SniiiJt, Tobacco Expert. 



Sheds for Curing. 



The site for a tobacco shed should be chosen with a view to getting the 

 advantage of the prevailing winds, when required. At the same time, a 

 \ery exposed position is not desirable. A wet floor is to be avoided, and 

 as tobacco sheds are not, as a rule, boarded, a dry site is essential. It is 

 often possible to choose a site on the edge of a bank, which will prove 

 convenient for cutting out for a furnace, or for making such an excavation. 

 as will allow a waggon to be backed in to save lifting in loading, &c. 



For curing different types of tobacco differently constructed sheds- 

 will be necessary. For bright leaf, the shed should be small, as it is 

 easier to get all the tobacco in the same condition in small quantities, and 

 also to regulate the heat for the curing process. A square shed, 16 ft. x 

 16 ft., four tiers or floors high, will hold an acre of tobacco. The lowest 

 tier should be 9 ft. from the ground, having poles 4 ins. in diameter, 

 running from end to end. These should be 4 ft. apart on each floor. On 

 these the sticks carrying the tobacco are hung. The next tier should be: 

 3ft. 6in. above the first, and the third the same distance above the second. 

 Two rows can also be hung in the roof. The walls should be closely made, 

 with ventilators to open or shut round the bottom ; and the roof should also- 

 lie well ventilated to allow the moist air to be driven out freely. The w^hole 

 building is best constructed of wood. 



The heating apparatus may be an iron stove, with pipes running round 

 inside the shed, at 5 ft. from the walls, and i ft. from the ground, the 

 chimney pipe taking the smoke out through the roof or wall. Another 

 means of heating is to have outside furnaces, wuth flues running along 

 the floor of the shed ; these are sometimes simply made by digging trenches 

 through the floor, and covering with sheet-iron. Charcoal fires in tins will 

 do the work in very small sheds. 



For heavy tobaccoes, larger sheds can be utilized, as the heat required 

 is not so great. If the tobacco is to be partially air-cured, the shed 

 should be built so that it can be freely opened or tightly closed. Where 

 bush timber is available, a useful and cheap shed can be built on the 

 following plan: — The corner-posts should be not less than 8 ins. at the 

 small end, and 16 ft. apart each way in the square. They should be 

 at least 4 ft. in the ground, and \6 ft. from the ground to the wall- 

 plate. The first cross-beams should be let into the posts 9 ft. from the 

 ground, and should not be less than 5 ins. in diameter at the small end,. 

 as the weight of the green tobacco that they will have to carry is consider- 

 able. On these, running the length of the room, poles are placed, 4 ft. 

 apart. This will make the first floor. The next floor is made 3ft. 6in. 

 above this, and the third floor the same distance above the second, bringing 

 XT level with the wall-plates. The roof should have plenty of pitch, and 

 in this two more rows of tobacco can be hung on poles fastened to the 

 rafters. The holding capacity will be about one acre, which, when cured,, 

 will vary from 800 lbs. to 1,500 lbs. 



A skillion, 12 ft. wdde and 12ft. 6in. high on each side, will add tc^ 

 the carrying capacity of the shed, and be an additional support against 



