20 



ground, for if so hung they are liable to mould and rot during wet 

 weather. 



The practice of many planters of stringing from 150 to 250 leaves 

 on a single stick is a ver}' bad one, for when strung in this manner 

 no air can circulate through them and to prevent them from moulding 

 or rotting it is necessary to place them in the sun for several days. 



Curing is a process through which the cells of the leaf must pass. 

 It is influenced by the structure of cells and climatic conditions. The 

 time necessary for the curing of a tobacco leaf depends upon its ripeness 

 and condition of the weather during the curing. When the curing leaves 

 are exposed to the sun for any length of time the sap is evaporated, 

 the chlorophyl in the leaf cells is killed and the leaf is dried instead of 

 cured, which ruins its flavor, color and suppleness. If rain or dew falls 

 oa the tobacco while it is curing it will be much darker in color. 



CURIXG SHEDS. 



Very little attention has heretofore been given to this subject and 

 chere is certainly great need for improving the present methods of 

 curing tobacco in these Islands. But few of the planters have con- 

 structed proper curing sheds, and the larger part of the tobacco crop 

 is cured, or dried, in the sun and afterwards placed in, around, or 

 under the dwelling houses of the planters. This is a bad practice, as 

 many of the leaves that would make a first-class cigar wrapper, if 

 cured properly, are ruined by these methods; and, on account of the 

 great variation in the color and texture of the leaves, the manufacturer 

 is compelled to buy a large number of bales of tobacco in order to secure 

 the wrappers required in the production of first-class cigars. 



To properly cure a crop of tobacco, so as to get a uniform color, 

 is a delicate and important operation. It should be remembered that 

 the object of curing is not to dry the leaf, but to fix the qualities of 

 the leaf as to color, strength, elasticity, flavor, and aroma. These desirable 

 qualities can not be secured in the cured tobacco if it is allowed to cure 

 or dry in the sun. 



It is impossible- to properly cure tobacco without first having a well- 

 ventilated curing shed. It is within the means of most tobacco planters 

 to construct such a shed. The materials used in building curing sheds 

 are bamboo and cogon, and these are available in every tobacco district. 



The curing shed should be located on slightly elevated ground, where 

 there is no danger of overfiow or standing water. If a better form of 

 shed is desired the harigues (posts) should be of hard wood, set deep in 

 the gi'ound, and well braced as a precaution against heavy winds. The 

 sides of the shed should be about 3 meters high, and the harigues 

 placed along the sides 3 meters apart. The roof may be made of cogon 

 or nipa, and the sides of finely woven bamboo, with large windows one 



