kinds of tobacco) than tabacco leaf cured by 

 open fires. 



Air exposure of 6 to 8 weeks (sometimes ex- 

 tended to 3 or 4 months) is necessary when 

 tobacco is cured by exposure to the sun and 

 air. It is claimed, however, that this method of 

 curing preserves far better the natural flavor 

 of the leaf; and, where flavor and aroma are 

 highly important, this method is always pre- 

 ferred. Hence all cigar leaf tobaccos are cured 

 by exposure to natural sunlight and not by 

 artificial heat. 



"Air" curing as distinct from sun curing is 

 generally done in open sheds which are thor- 

 oughly ventilated and kept as far as possible 

 at a temperature of about 75 F. The leaf is 

 usually allowed to cure while attached to the 

 stalk, but Florida curers generally prefer to 

 strip the leaf and treat it separately. The 

 finer classes of pipe smoking tobaccos are air 

 cured. 



After the curing is completed the color of 

 the leaf is usually fixed. Generally speaking, 

 the riper the leaf the lighter will be its color 

 when cured. Thus the bottom leaves of the 

 plant will be lighter in color than the upper 

 leaves because they are more mature. 



(For references see end of Chapter VIII) 



66 



