All cigar leaf tobacco is sun-cured, and as a 

 general rule pipe smoking and chewing tobacco 

 are cured by artificial heat. 



For the purpose of drying and curing by 

 artificial heat, the leaf is hung up in specially 

 constructed curing houses or sheds. It is found 

 that after the exposure to the sun for the first 

 process of "yellowing" tobacco leaf still con- 

 tains 1 Ib. of water approximately in each 

 plant. The first part of the process of curing 

 consists in drawing off this superfluous mois- 

 ture. Dry heat is applied at a temperature of 

 90 F. to 120 F. for about 16 to 30 hours to 

 effect this. A further exposure of about 48 

 hours at a temperature of 125 or so is neces- 

 sary to complete the curing, and fix the color. 



The stems and stalks being thicker take a 

 longer time and generally require 9 to 10 hours 

 further exposure and a temperature which may 

 range as high as 175 F. before they are fully 

 cured, the temperature being graded hourly 

 until the maximum necessary is reached. 



The process of curing varies considerably in 

 different states. Some growers prefer to put 

 the tobacco into the sheds immediately after 

 cutting, and allow very little exposure in the 

 fields. The temperature is usually kept 

 steady at about 90 F. Again the process is 

 different according to the quality of tobacco 



