MISCELLANEOUS CROP8. (117 



is not yellowing as it should, place sacks on the floor and soak them with 

 water to produce a moist heat ; or, better still, if a boiler is handy introduce 



steam. When the leaves have assumed a nice yellowish colour raise the 

 temperature to 100 degrees, at the rate of 5 degrees each two hours, and keep 

 at this figure for some six hours. Then raise the temperature to 105 degrees 

 and give a little ventilation top and hot torn, opening the ventilators a few 

 inches. In these directions it is presumed that the curing-room is one that 

 has been erected in accordance with proper plans, such as would be supplied 

 by the Department of Agriculture, a^ stated above. In such a building, 

 both temperature and ventilation could be controlled so as to produce the 

 results desired. 



Having obtained the temperature of 105 degrees with the limited venti- 

 lation mentioned, the conditions should be maintained for three or four 

 hours. Then increase the temperature to 110 degrees, and also increase the 

 ventilation to about one-half of the capacity of the ventilators, and hold 

 at that for three hours. Do not raise the temperature above 110 degrees 

 until the tips of the leaves have dried, however. Next, again raise the 

 temperature to 115 degrees for six hours, giving full ventilation, and then 

 again advance to 120 degrees for two hours with full ventilation. The most 

 critical time is between 110 degrees and 120 degrees. If the heat is too 

 fast the leaf will splotch or blister, and if too slow it will sponge. When 

 the sweat can be observed on the leaf, and it will not go off at once, the 

 temperature must be increased rapidly by 10 degrees, and all available 

 ventilation given ; but if ventilation is given as directed there is little fear 

 of sponging. 



After remaining at 120 degrees for six hours, leave the ventilation at 

 full, and increase the temperature by 5 degrees every two hours to 135 

 degrees ; beyond this do not further increase the temperature until the blade 

 of the leaf has dried out completely. Then exhaust all moisture by raising 

 the temperature every hour by 5 degrees to 180 degrees, and gradually 

 decrease the ventilation until only a very little is left at the top. Keep at 

 the latter temperature until the stems and stalks have completely dried out. 

 Ventilation plays a most important part in successful Hue-curing during the 

 stage from 105 to 140 degrees, and growers should pay particular attention 

 to this matter. The whole process will take five or six days. 



Extinguish the fire as soon as the tobacco is cured, and open the doors 

 and ventilators to cool it off for twenty-four hours. If the weather be very 

 dry, the moisture content of the barn may be increased with the aid of 

 iteam, or by means of water thrown on sacks on the barn floor. When the 

 tobacco is in a condition to handle without the leaves breaking, it should 

 be taken down on the sticks and bulked until the grower is ready to grade 

 and bale for market as opportunity occurs. 



Stripping. 



So much time and labour have necessarily to be expended by growers 

 before the tobacco leaf is ready for stripping and bulking, that the adoption 

 of correct methods at this stage is a matter of enhanced importance. Yet 

 there are those who quite fail to realise the extent to which the quality may 

 be influenced in the processes of stripping and bulking, and who are conse- 

 quently disappointed at the eventual refusal of buyers to take the leaf at all, 

 or at the very low price offered. A few suggestions should, therefore, be 

 helpful to growers. 



