CUEING TOBACCO. 



223 



and also check any tendency to excessive heating. Dur- 

 ing the whole time of curing, after any protracted time 

 of damp or warm, muggy weather, the sheds should be 

 opened, until the tobacco is partially dried off. To 

 carry out both these principles, the shed should be so 

 constructed as to permit of its being tightly closed and 

 also of its being opened and thoroughly 'ventilated. 

 Light should be carefully excluded during the curing 

 process, especially in its later stages, as it is found that 



FIG. 61. TRAVELING CUTWORM. One and one-half times natural size. 



strong light has an injurious effect upon the color of the 

 leaf. 



Even under the most favorable conditions, a suc- 

 cessful cure will depend largely upon good management. 

 Tobacco is very rapidly dried out by means of a constant 

 current of air, especially if this air is heated, undergoes 

 very little if any chemical change, and retains to a 

 greater or less degree its green color. Moreover, since 

 the process of fermentation in bulk, accompanied by 

 heat, depends upon and must be preceded by the 

 changes in the leaf produced by gradual curing, it 



