TOBACCO 



543 



usually advantageous to fill the barn promptly so that all 

 of the tobacco may at the same time reach a similar stage 

 in the curing process. The changes brought about in the 

 curing and subsequent fermentation of tobacco are largely 

 the result of chemical ferments or enzymes. 



533. Further treatment on the farm. After curing is 

 completed, tobacco cured on the stalk must be stripped 

 from the stalk, and the 



leaves tied into bundles, 

 after great pains have 

 been taken to assort them 

 into their different grades, 

 which are usually four or 

 five in number. 



Subsequent treatment 

 of tobacco, including sev- 

 eral steps in the ferment- 

 ing of certain types, are 

 usually performed in the 

 factory, and hence are 

 not discussed here. 



534. Yields and prices. 

 A fair yield of cured 



tobacco in the dark-tobacco district of Virginia is 800 

 pounds or more per acre. The same figure represents 

 somewhat above the average yield of the bright-tobacco 

 region of North Carolina. In Kentucky a good yield 

 of Burley tobacco is from 1000 to 1500 pounds per acre. 

 In Florida, shade-grown Cuban or Sumatra tobacco is 

 expected to yield between 1200 and 2000 pounds per 

 acre. 



FIG. 221. DIAGRAM SHOWING THAT 

 BROAD TOBACCO LEAVES AFFORD A 

 MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF WRAPPERS 

 THAN DO NARROW LEAVES. 



