TOBACCO. 447 



easily broken by the handling, they should be taken to a tobacco house or barn and hung up 

 to cure. The best method is to put it on laths or poles in the field ready for hanging, as 

 this requires less handling. It is customary with some tobacco -growers to load the plants, 

 after they have become sufficiently wilted, into a cart and put them on laths afterwards in the 

 shed or barn, but the best method is to do this part of the labor in the field, if practicable. 



Curing. The usual method of curing tobacco is to hang the plants on lath, on which 

 they are put by means of a large steel needle made with a socket at one end. in order 

 to fit the end of the lath. The needle, after being fastened to the end of the lath, is pushed 

 through the lower part of the stalk, and thus the lath is forced through. From six to ten 

 plants can be put upon a common lath in this manner, according to the size. The laths on 

 which the plants have been strung are put into a cart or wagon arranged for the purpose. 

 Some are particular to have each end of the lath supported, that the plants may hang 

 down without being broken or crushed. This requires more labor, as a less quantity can be 

 carried at a time, but the plants are less liable to injury by this means. 



The laths are placed upon slats or crossbeams arranged for the purpose in the tobacco- 

 house or barn, where the plants are suspended for drying. Where large quantities of tobacco 

 are produced, a tobacco-house is indispensable. Such a building has beams and joints in sev 

 eral tiers, arranged to support the laths or poles on which the plants are hung. About one- 

 half of the boards of such a building are hung on hinges, so that they can be opened like a 

 door, in order to better admit the air and light. Where the air and light are thus admitted, 

 the laths can be placed nearer together than where the circulation of air is less free. About 

 ten or twelve inches apart is the usual distance of placing the laths from which the plants are 

 suspended. In a common barn or close shed, considerable more room will be required. Very 

 large plants will also require more room than smaller ones. 



After hanging the plants for curing, the doors should be kept open in pleasant weather to 

 admit the air and light, which are so essential to perfect the process. During damp or rainy 

 weather the building should be kept closed to exclude the dampness, and after the curing 

 process is completed the building should be kept closed constantly. 



When tobacco dries rapidly, the tendency will be to produce a light color. When it 

 dries slowly, the tendency will be in the opposite direction. The great difficulty in curing 

 tobacco is to so govern the ventilation as to secure slow drying, and obviate what is termed 

 &quot;pole-burning,&quot; or pole-sweating. This latter difficulty is most liable to occur in hot, muggy 

 weather, when there is little air stirring, and during the first three weeks of the curing 

 process. 



In very dry, windy weather the plants might dry too rapidly if the means of ventilating 

 were all employed, and it may sometimes be found desirable in such weather to keep the 

 doors closed entirely for whole days together. The judgment of the person having charge of 

 the crop at this stage will be called into requisition, the treatment given depending upon the 

 condition of the tobacco at the time. Pole-burning may be largely avoided by hanging the 

 plants further apart. 



It is the nature of the plant, irrespective of weather, to begin to sweat a little a few days 

 after hanging, the moisture standing in drops on the stems and leaves. When this moisture 

 dries off well, there is little danger from pole-burning. At this period there should be a free 

 circulation of drying air through the plants. Pole- burning is most liable to occur during the 

 first three weeks after the tobacco is cut. If the air is then damp and heavy with moisture, 

 the plants will not dry off well, but will ferment or burn.&quot; The best method is to exclude 

 the dampness in wet weather, and admit the dry air in clear weather, taking care not to 

 crowd the plants in hanging. The leaves should also be well shaken out so as not to cling to 

 the stem. Fully ripe tobacco is less liable to pole-burn than that which is cut greener, but 

 such tobacco is considered less desirable for wrappers. In all the process of curing, great care 



