TOBACCO. 123 



tions will not allow even the bacteria to develop, and 

 the crop dries but does not cure. 



CUEING BABNS. 



To keep the atmosphere inside of the barns at the 

 best temperature and proper degree of moisture, vari- 

 ous devices have been invented. Cupolas on top and 

 ventilators on the sides of the barns, also fire places 

 are among the accessories used. Formerly it was suf- 

 ficient to air- dry the weed, but the more esthetic taste 

 is not satisfied by such a process now. It is the first- 

 class product that brings the good returns, hence no 

 manipulation from the beginning to the end can be 

 allowed to go amiss. By repeated trials some good 

 buildings have been constructed for the curing of this 

 product. The most complete and perfect that has 

 been employed is one invented by W. H. Snow, of 

 High Point, North Carolina. In this process the leaves 

 are stripped from the stalks in the field. They are then 

 taken to the barn and strung on wires. The wires be- 

 fore being filled with leaves have been passed through 

 pieces of wood the size of a paling picket. These car- 

 riers, as we may call them for convenience, are then 

 placed into a frame that can be hoisted to any height 

 in the barn. The advantages of the Snow method of 

 curing tobacco may be briefly stated as follows : 



1. The bottom leaves ripen earlier, so these can be 

 removed first from the stalk, thus giving a longer time 

 to harvest the crop, and the upper leaves ripen more 

 fully. 



2. The crop can be stored in a much smaller barn 

 without danger of molding. 



3. The product is more uniform in color and quality. 



4. As flues are used there is no danger from fire, 

 and the heat is more uniform. 



