82 BOAllD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



one grown during a dry season. If tobacco grown in a dry 

 year is picked, it may be too heavy when cured. This is one 

 reason why picking gives good results with shade-grown to- 

 bacco, for the leaf is naturally thin, and curing on the stalk 

 might give a product without sufficient body. 



As regards quality, there is no doubt but that picked tobacco 

 cures down with dilterent properties from that cured on the 

 stalk, and it is for the trade to say whether the leaf is better 

 suited to their needs. In general appearance the picked to- 

 bacco as it comes from the barn is less attractive than when 

 stalk cured. It undoubtedly has more of the so-called " gum," 

 giving it greater elasticity, while the grain is generally not so 

 prominent. The most important remaining difference is in 

 the colors obtained. These are usually of a duller cast, con- 

 taining a greater proportion of green thus somewhat resem- 

 bling Cuban tobacco. The value of a tobacco crop depends not 

 only on the total weight obtained and the quality of the differ- 

 ent grades, but also on the percentage of first-class wrappers, 

 and there is no doubt but that picking yields a larger percent- 

 age of wrappers than stalk curing. Again, the actual number 

 of cured leaves obtained by picking is increased in addition to 

 the increase in body, and, in fact, our experiments with broad- 

 leaf during the past season indicate that the total increase in 

 cured weight under practical working conditions amounts to 

 about 20 per cent. 



As to the curing of picked tobacco, the process is of course 

 much more rapid than is stalk curing, and, consequently, less 

 complete. The leaf proper cures quickly, though the stem 

 remains green for a considerably longer time. If picked 

 tobacco is to be valued more highly by the trade, it will prob- 

 ably be due to the increased amount of gum and elasticity 

 and to the colors obtained. The question of the effect of arti- 

 ficial heat on the colors of picked tobacco is one of great im- 

 portance, and I am of the opinion that heat properly applied 

 will give more desirable colors. As regards pole sweat, while 

 the period of danger is shorter, we have found that picked 

 tobacco will sweat more readily than that cured on the stalk, 

 so that it must be closely watched, even if the weather does 

 not indicate danger from this cause. Judging from our ex- 



