CUBING TOBACCO. 



curing process. The rate at which the water passes off 

 gradually increases from the time the leaves are well 

 wilted until they assume the brown color. The water 

 appears to be set free by the leaves, rather than ex- 

 tracted from them by drying. The changes in color of 

 tobacco leaves during the curing process are not the 

 result of drying, but of certain changes within the 

 leaves themselves. Riper tobacco yields a lighter color 

 of cured leaf than that which is less mature. Leaves 



FIG. 62. BUD WORM (Heliothis armiger). 



in its cell underground; male 



that become spotted with yellow before cutting, will 

 produce a cured leaf that is mottled with varying shades 

 of brown. The lower leaves on the plant usually cure 

 lighter than the upper ones, because they are riper. 



The period of most rapid escape of water from cur- 

 ing tobacco is in the browning stage, i. e., while the 

 color is changing from yellow to brown, while with 

 tobacco that is well wilted at the time it is hung, the 

 15 



