REHANDLING AND FERMENTATION 



OF TOBACCO LEAF PRIOR TO 



MANUFACTURE 



We have seen how the tobacco passes from 

 the grower to the manufacturer or leaf dealer. 

 Before it is fitted, however, for manufacture 

 into cigars or other finished products the leaf 

 must go through many processes, the most im- 

 portant of which is fermentation. These pro- 

 cesses, which are usually known as rehandling, 

 are carried out in special buildings which are 

 called leaf houses and stemmeries. The pro- 

 cedures in different leaf houses may vary some- 

 what, but the general principles and objects in 

 view are the same in all. Moreover, the treat- 

 ment is different, according to the ulterior dis- 

 position of the leaf, i. e. whether intended for 

 cigars, pipe smoking or other product. 



The general treatment as carried out in large 

 establishments is about as follows: 



The leaf as soon as it is received whether in 

 casks, cases, bales, or otherwise is opened up 

 and inspected in the casing room. Large con- 

 cerns which manufacture or deal in cigar and 

 other kinds of leaf, sort out the different kinds 

 suitable for each class of product, i. e. wrap- 

 pers, fillers, binders, cigarette leaf, plug leaf, 



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