246 TOBACCO 



The temperature is now raised to 140 F. and main- 

 tained at this level for five hours, when it is raised 

 in a further period of three to four hours to 145 F., 

 when the tobacco should appear dry and curled at the 

 tips. 



In order to dry the stems thoroughly and sterilize the 

 tobacco the temperature is further rapidly advanced to 

 170 F., and kept at that temperature for from ten to 

 twenty hours until the whole leaf, including the stalk, is 

 dry and brittle; when curing is finished the fires are drawn, 

 and as the temperature falls to 120 F. doors and venti- 

 lators are thrown open, and the tobacco left until it has 

 absorbed sufficient moisture to enable it to be handled 

 without breaking. 



Before leaving curing one word is necessary, viz., to 

 see that mats are always in position half-way between 

 the lowest tier and the flues, as any dry leaf falling on 

 the red-hot iron flues will set the whole barn in flames. 

 Several barns are destroyed every year for lack of 

 this simple precaution. 



Bulking. 



If the weather is exceptionally dry the conditioning of 

 the tobacco can be hastened by sprinkling water on the 

 floor when the inside temperature has cooled down to 

 below 120 F., but under ordinary conditions this is 

 seldom necessary. 



The barn is then emptied from below upwards, the 

 tobacco removed from the bamboos, and each curing 

 bulked separately, butts outwards, but never left loosely 

 exposed to the air. 



The bulks require a little attention to see that they do 

 not become mildewed or heated, and in a few days they 

 may be graded, and the leaves tied into hands and re- 

 bulked or sold to the local factory. 



In conclusion, the w r riter would state that the main 

 obstacle to the further extension of the tobacco industry 

 in Nyasaland is the difficulty planters are experiencing in 

 obtaining a quick market at remunerative prices for our 

 rapidly increasing tobacco crop. The length of time it 



