No. 4.] HARVESTING AND CURING TOBACCO. 83 



jKM'iciu'c this past season, it is doubtful whether picked broad- 

 leaf can he cured successfully without artificial heat. How- 

 ever, the whole subject of curing picked tobacco (except shade 

 grown) is still largeh' in the experimental stage, and much yet 

 remains to be done before final conclusions can be drawn. 



Summary. 



Now, to summarize very briefly, I Avould divide the curing 

 process into two stages ; the first, which is by far the more 

 ini}>ortant, including those changes occurring before the leaf 

 dies; the second, the further changes taking place after the 

 leaf is dead. 



In the first stage, under favorable conditions, the leaf under- 

 goes a slow process of stars'ation, which is absolutely necessary 

 for good curing. Care should be taken that the leaf is not 

 killed by too rapid drying before the process is complete. The 

 tobacco should be allowed to dry out gradually, and the rate 

 of drying can be controlled by regulating the ventilation, ex- 

 cept in very wet weather, when artificial heat is also required. 

 Again, the temperature in the barn should not go much below 

 50° F., for under these conditions the tobacco sim})ly dries 

 out without curing. The use of artificial heat is the only 

 means of keeping the right temperature in the barn in cold 

 weather. If the leaf is prematurely killed in the first stage 

 by haying down, no amount of sweating or fermenting can 

 fully correct the damage. 



The change from the first to the second stage of curing, 

 wliich is the point at which the leaf dies, is indicated by the 

 yellowing of the leaf. There is less danger from too rapid 

 drying of the tobacco in the second stage. On the other hand, 

 the principal danger after the yellowing of the tobacco is from 

 pole sweat, caused by too much moisture. The on]y means of 

 controlling ])(ile sweat is by the use of artificial heat combined 

 with ventilation. 



Comparing the methods of harvesting by picking the leaves 

 and by cutting the stalk, the picked leaves after curing are 10 

 to 15 per cent heavier than when cured on the stalk. They 

 have more body and more of the so-called " gum " and elas- 

 ticity. The colors of the picked leaves are usually not so clear 



