bundles and returned to the sweating depart- 

 ment to undergo further fermentation and to 

 allow for a thorough interchange of the aroma 

 of the different blends. In due course the 

 bundles pass to the stemming department for 

 the removal of the midribs which usually form 

 nearly one-third of the entire weight. The re- 

 sulting half leaves are then arranged in piles 

 of 50, each pile forming a "book." 



From the stemming department the books 

 pass to the drying room where any superfluous 

 moisture is removed by hot air currents. 



From the drying room the books pass to the 

 ordering room where they undergo inspection 

 for color, size etc., and subjected to further 

 treatment if necessary. Here they are finally 

 packed in cases and stored for several months 

 to allow perfect and uniform blending after 

 which they are ready for shipment to the fac- 

 tory. Filler leaf for the finest cigars may 

 stand in these cases for two or three years. 



Leaf which is intended for chewing or pipe 

 smoking is not subjected to so great an elabora- 

 tion of processes as cigar leaf, as the matters 

 of uniformity of color, and delicacy as well as 

 individuality of aroma are not of such great 

 importance. Usually such tobacco leaf is fer- 

 mented in bulk, and the removal of the stems 

 is done before the principal fermentation. 



83 



