TOBACCO. 205 



In flue-curing, the aim of the tobacco-grower is to hasten 

 the yellowing of the leaf, and when the proper yellow colour 

 is obtained, to cure out the tobacco so that it still retains the 

 desired colour. To secure this end five things are necessary : 

 (1) Suitable soil, (2) proper cultural operations, (3) suitable 

 climatic conditions during the growing season, (4) the leaf to 

 be harvested at the proper stage of ripeness, (5) correct man- 

 agement of the barn during curing. 



Many formulas have been given for curing tobacco by this 

 method, and any one of them is correct under certain con- 

 ditions; but, unfortunately, it is not possible to alter all con- 

 ditions to suit any particular formula. Tobacco grown on 

 different types of soil, and often tobacco grown on different 

 parts of the same field, requires different periods of time to 

 yellow and to dry out. The same applies to the leaf harvested 

 at different periods from the same plants on any given soil. It 

 can therefore be seen that the formula which is correct in 

 one case would be slightly wrong in another. Although no 

 fixed and definite formula can be laid down, it is possible to 

 give some general directions which, with good judgment, the 

 grower can modify to suit his particular conditions. In flue- 

 curing tobacco, which has been harvested by the single-leaf 

 method, there are three stages to be observed — viz., yellowing 

 the leaf, fixing the colour, and drying the leaf and midrib. If 

 the whole plant is harvested a further stage is required to kill 

 the stalk. 



The barn should be filled in one day with leaf of the same 

 texture and in the same stage of ripeness, so that all the leaf 

 in the barn will yellow at practically the same time. When 

 filled, the barn should be tightly closed to prevent the escape 

 of moisture, and a small fire started in each furnace. When 

 the fires are started a thermometer and hygrometer are placed 

 in the centre of the barn on a level with the first or lower tier 

 of tobacco. The hygrometer is used to indicate the amount of 

 moisture in the atmosphere of the barn, and is of great assist- 

 ance during this stage of curing. 



At first, only small fires are required, but these are gradu- 

 ally increased until the thermometer registers about 90° F. 

 It is imiperative that low temneratures be maintained at first, 

 as high temperatures would kill the leaf prematurely before it 

 changed from green to yellow ; tobacco so cured has practically 

 no value. A temperature of 90° F. is maintained until the leaf 

 begins to yellow around the edges and at the tips, when the 



