OTHER FARM CROPS 615 



in the leaf. The yellow color is essential. Without it the leaf cures 

 black. If the leaf dries too rapidly, and yellowing does not occur, 

 it cures green. The whole curing process is a delicate one, requiring 

 constant vigilance. The control of temperatures, ventilation, and 

 humidity are a matter of practice which will have to be determined 

 in each locality. In general, the temperatures should remain low 

 until the leaf has wilted and should never be allowed to go so high 

 as to set the green color in the leaf. The temperature should exceed 

 humidity from 10 to 15. If the degree of humidity approaches 

 nearer to that of the temperature, pole rot, stem rot, white vein, 

 molds, and other maladies of the curing barn can not be kept out. 

 In 1906 it is said that 20 per cent of the whole tobacco crop of the 

 United States was affected from these causes. In a humid climate 

 artificial heat in the curing barn is absolutely essential for this cause 

 alone, even if its possession did not double the capacity of the curing 

 plant. 



As soon as the web of the leaf has passed from the yellow into 

 the brown, the temperature should be greatly increased in order to 

 dry out the stem and veins. The heat does not injure the leaf after 

 the color is once set. As soon as the veins are dry, or as soon as the 

 green coloring has disappeared in them, the leaf is cured and is ready 

 for removal. With artificial heat the curing process may be finished 

 in from twelve to fourteen days. Without heat it will require 

 twenty-four to twenty-eight days. Artificial heat in the curing barn 

 is an insurance and is a very important part of the investment. 

 It insures even color, freedom from disease, and doubles the capacity 

 of the establishment. The tobacco is now ready to take down, assort, 

 and bundle for fermentation. After the unit is emptied it is ready 

 immediately for a new filling. The tobacco will keep in the pile bet- 

 ter than it will hanging in the barn on account of danger of molds 

 should a period of wet weather ensue. 



Sorting and Bundling. The tobacco having been taken on the 

 poles to the sorting room, the poles are bunched close in storage stalls 

 of a construction similar to those in the curing barn. Before the 

 leaf is removed from the string it should be roughly sorted into thin, 

 medium, and thick leaves, all damaged leaves being placed with the 

 filler leaves irrespective of thickness. If the tobacco on the pole is 

 mainly thin leaves, the medium and tliick or broken leaves should 

 be stripped from the string, and vice versa, care being taken not to 

 tear or break the leaf in pulling it off the pole. The thin, medium, 

 and thick leaves should be placed in separate compartments. The 

 pole having been culled, the string is taken off the pole and the 

 leaves drawn off from it. As rapidly as assorted, the different grades 

 should be bundled into hands. A hand consists of from 50 to 100 

 or more leaves. The stems are gathered in the palm of the hand be- 

 tween the thumb and forefinger, all butts being kept even. When 

 the hand is from 2 to 3 inches in diameter, it is tied by bringing one 

 leaf up over and twisting it around the butts, the loose end being 

 tucked into the hand. As soon as from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of 

 tobacco of any one grade has been assorted, it is ready to ferment, 



