Tobacco requires just the right amount of water- 

 improper drainage can result in total loss. 



A single acre of flue-cured tobacco yields 100,000 

 to 150,000 leaves. Each week, two to four mature 

 leaves are "primed," that is, pulled from each 

 plant. The harvesting period usually runs five to 

 eight weeks. Before it is over the leaves will 

 probably have been examined ten times before 

 they are ready to be primed. This is the standard 

 production routine for Bright tobacco, an essen- 

 tial and laborious chore. After that comes the 

 precise, tedious work of curing the leaves. 



As a preliminary to curing, about forty hands 

 of three or four leaves per hand are tied together 

 and strung on sticks and hung in "curing" barns. 

 In the past, farmers burned large logs to create 

 the heat vital to the flue-curing process. Later 

 they used coal and today they use oil and gas. 

 The fuel has changed, but the basic technique 

 has remained the same over a century. 



After two or three days and nights of watchful 

 waiting and after the leaves have yellowed, the 

 temperature is increased to "fix the color," and 

 dry out the stems. 



A liealthy crop 

 ie way to maturity 

 'arly in the season. 





