TOBACCO LEAVES 



The leaf is bright green until the cut- 

 ting season, which usually occurs in De- 

 cember. The cutting is done at different 

 periods, according as the leaves ripen. 



In gathering the crop, the stalk is cut 

 into short lengths with two leaves on each. 

 The leaves now are slightly withered, but 

 not dry or brittle enough to break. They 

 are hung on poles, each of which holds 

 about 420 leaves of wrappers, and they 

 are carried to the curing-house, where they 

 remain about five weeks. They are then 

 ready to be assorted and baled, a work 

 requiring not only long experience, but 

 also great skill. During the curing opera- 

 tion, the leaves are often so dry that the 

 lightest touch would convert them into 

 powder. When in this condition the 

 tobacco is never handled. But after a 

 heavy rain, or a period of high hygrom- 

 eter, the leaves absorb moisture from the 



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