230 TOBACCO LEAF. 



ing, and a greater amount of care and intelligence than 

 the average Wisconsin tobacco grower has been accus- 

 tomed to devote to his crop. But 'what is worth doing 

 at all is worth doing well,' and as a rule, a business 

 will prove most profitable when conducted in the best 

 manner." 



On a single morning during the curing season, a 

 very perceptible odor of pole bum pervaded the build- 

 ing, and the wet bulb depression was considerably less 

 than one degree. But fire was immediately started, and 

 in twenty-four hours the ominous odor was almost en- 

 tirely dispelled, while the psychrometer registered a frac- 

 tion over one degree. A very slight amount of pole- 

 burned tobacco was found in the crop, but not more 

 than is usually found in dry seasons, while the general 

 quality, so far as the curing was concerned, was pro- 

 nounced superior. 



The heating apparatus for this purpose may be like 

 that used in the Snow barn (see Fig. 43), or in the Yel- 

 low tobacco barn (Fig. 3D). Another arrangement is 

 that suggested by G-off, as shown in Fig. 58, which is 

 especially adapted to tobacco barns now in use. It can 

 be put in at a first cost of $25 to $75, according to the size 

 of the house. The increased value of a single crop saved 

 from a severe attack of pole burn by this system would 

 more than repay the cost, and if, by being able to ex- 

 clude hot and dry winds, the crop may be cured slowly 

 in dry seasons, the apparatus may be made to pay for 

 itself every year. We are not aware that the experiment 

 has ever been tried in this country, but it would be feasi- 

 ble to provide pans, or tubs, of water on the floor of the 

 tobacco house, which, by evaporating, would furnish 

 the necessary humidity during a hot and dry period 

 that otherwise might cure the tobacco too quickly. 

 With the heating apparatus, tobacco may be hung a 

 little closer than would otherwise be prudent, thus 



