•208 CHAPTER XII 



For handling tobacco in this manner a packing shed with 

 conditioning cellar should be provided. The shed would be 

 used for bulking and grading and the cellar |or conditioning 

 the leaf. The size of the bujlding would naturally be altered 

 to suit the requirements of the individual grower. If the grower 

 prefers to use steam for conditioning tobacco, the cellar could 

 be dispensed with and a room suitable for his purpose w^ould 

 be provided. The method of handling tobacco under this system 

 is as follows : — As the tobacco is cured it is bulked until curing 

 is completed. Each stack should be examined at regular 

 intervals to ascertain the condition of the leaf, and if in too 

 high condition the bulk must be turned. After curing is 

 finished the tobacco first cured would be graded and either re- 

 bulked or baled. Any leaf from the bulks which was too dry 

 for handling would be lowered into the cellar or placed in the 

 steaming room to be brought into proper condition. 



In grading, the leaf would be sorted into the several grades 

 of brights, mediums and darks. Damaged, perished, or green 

 leaf would be placed in separate grades. After grading is 

 finished, or when sufficient leaf of each grade is ready, the 

 tobacco would be packed for market. In preparing the leaf 

 for market, each package should contain only one grade of 

 tobacco. 



Leaf which is harvested ripe but cures out with a greenish 

 colour can be greatly increased in value by this method of 

 handling, as bulking removes the green colour and improves 

 the aroma of the tobacco. Bulking also tends to develop a 

 uniform colour in leaf which is lacking in this respect. Care 

 must be taken in bulking tobacco to obtain the best results. 

 If the tobacco is too dry, the leaf does not improve as it should, 

 and if too moist mildew may develop, or the bright leaf may 

 become darker in colour. \Vhen in proper condition for bulk- 

 ing or baling, the web of the leaf and lower half of the midrib, 

 from the tip to the butt, should be supple, but the upper half 

 of the midrib should be only slightly pliable. 



The Culture of Turkish Tobacco. 



Turkish tobacco is grown in the areas of French Hoek, 

 Paarl, Wellington, and Stellenbosch. 



Climate. — As Turkish tobacco is sun-cured, it is essential 

 that there should be no rainfall during the curing period ; for 

 this reason it is at present limited to districts having a winter 

 rainfall and fairly dry summer. The rains should cease about 



