218 TOBACCO LEAF. 



It should never be forgotten that the object in 

 curing is not so much to dry the leaf as to fix, as far as 

 possible, the qualities of the leaf as to color, strength, 

 elasticity and flavor. Even the texture may be improved 

 by judicious management in curing. To begin the fires 

 too early, makes the leaf starchy and stiff. To make 

 the fire too hot in the beginning, makes a bluish, unde- 

 sirable color. The desired flexibility and softness of the 

 stem, fiber and tissue of the leaf cannot be secured 

 unless the curing process is made gradual. To make 

 hot fires under the plants, before they have sufficiently 

 yellowed, would be to impair the value of the article 

 fully one half, if not more. Gentle fires for the first 24 

 hours are positively necessary, to bring about the best 

 qualities in the leaf. To delay firing too long would 

 increase the liability of injury from "house burn." 

 Care should be taken that the fires are managed so as 

 not to emit much blaze, for there is always a danger of 

 setting the dried tobacco on fire. Tobacco cut in wet 

 weather, when full of sap, requires a longer time to 

 cure. The danger from " house burn " is also increased. 



Sometimes, after the tobacco has been cured, it is 

 necessary, in humid weather, to keep up fires to prevent 

 a change of color by the running of the sap in the 

 leaves. Piebald or yellow tobacco should be dried out 

 whenever it grows very limp. Otherwise, the color will 

 change to a red, or a reddish-brown, or yellow. When 

 all the stalks and stems are thoroughly cured, the 

 tobacco may be packed down, and in this way all colors 

 may be preserved. Small barns for fire curing are better 

 than large ones, because they can be filled in a short 

 time, and the curing will begin with all the plants 

 simultaneously. The quality of the crop will be made 

 uniform as to color and softness of leaf. 



Open fire heat is preferred for all tobacco to be 

 shipped abroad. The pores of the leaf are filled with a 



