TOBACCO. 207 



120° F. and held until the leaf begins to dry. This condition 

 is indicated by the leaves curling in towards the midrib. The 

 temperature is then increased to 125° F., and held until the 

 leaf appears to be dry, when the colour will be fixed. 



To dry the leaf thoroughly the temperature is increased to 

 130° F. in two hours, and held at this point for about four 

 hours, and then raised to 135° F. in one hour and held for 

 four hours, when the web of the leaf should be quite dry. The 

 ventilation is then reduced, and the temperature increased 

 about 5° per hour up to 160° F., and held at that point until 

 the midrib is dry enough to snap when bent between the 

 fingers. If the whole plant is being cured the temperature 

 should be increased to 180° F. , and kept for eight to ten hours 

 to dry out the stalk thoroughly. 



From four to six days are required to cure a barn, depend- 

 ing principally on the length of time required for the tobacco 

 to yellow. The above temperatures are onlv given to serve as 

 a guide, and each grower niust modify them to suit the con- 

 ditions which, according to his judgment, are existing at the 

 time he is curing. 



It might be well to point out that the rate of curing is 

 influenced considerably by the temperature of the outside 

 atmosphere, which replaces the air in the barn during ventila- 

 tion. It will be found that higher temperatures are required 

 in wet weather than in dry weather, and that lower tempera- 

 tures are required in cool weather than in warm weather. 



Manaoement after Curing. — Regardless of the method 

 used in curing, tobacco can be either increased or decreased in 

 value by the method of handling employed after the leaf is 

 cured. If properly handled, the colour and quality of the leaf 

 will improve, but if improperly handled considerable loss must 

 occur. 



The proper method of handling tobacco is to bring the leaf 

 into condition after curing and place it in bulks or stacks of 

 convenient length and width and about six feet in height. 

 Bulking can either be done with the leaf on the stick or by 

 removing the leaf. In either case the leaf should be roughly 

 graded and the leaf of different colour and textiu'e placed in 

 separate bulks. 



The bulks of tobacco should be carefully watched, and 

 should the leaf begin to heat or mildew through being in too 

 high condition the tobacco should be rebulked. 



