216 TOBACCO LEAF. 



Carolina station conducted an elaborate experiment, and 

 concluded : 



1. " If the first priming leaves upon the tobacco 

 stalk be saved, they can be cured at a considerable saving. 

 The remaining leaves upon the stalk ripen at different 

 times, commencing from below, and if these leaves be 

 cured separately the experiment would indicate that it 

 can be done advantageously and remuneratively. Curing 

 by the leaf process, the plant will require at least three 

 separate curings in the barn, whereas only one curing is 

 required to cure the entire stalk with its leaves still 

 upon it, but the results justify the additional labor. It 

 is believed, also, that by removing the lower leaves the 

 remainder mature more rapidly, and so the danger of 

 being hurt by frost is decreased. 



2. "The manipulation in handling the leaves sepa- 

 rately is considerably more than in the stalk cure, but 

 the greater part of it is of such a nature that it can prof- 

 itably be done by children, and at various times during 

 the season. 



3. "There is a less consumption of wood for heat- 

 ing by the leaf cure than by the stalk cure. There is 

 apparently no satisfactory cause for consuming wood to 

 drive off 473 pounds of water (or 946 pounds, or 124 

 gallons, per acre) contained as moisture in the green 

 stalks, when results would indicate that there is no good 

 reason for the outlay." 



CURING HEAVY SHIPPING TOBACCO. 



If the tobacco has been on the scaffold for four or 

 five days, fires should be kindled under it as soon as the 

 barn is filled. The heat should not be over 90 for 12 

 hours. After that time, it may be carried up gradually 

 to 150. The leafy part and one half the stem should 

 be cured in three days and nights. After this, the 

 tobacco should be allowed to come in "order" (that is, 



