84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



as when cured on the stalk, and they show more of a greenish 



cast. 



Mr. George P. Smith. Would you apply heat during the 

 first stage of the curing ? 



Dr. Gaenek. The matter of applying artificial heat is not 

 entirely settled, and should be tried out very carefully, but 

 in the first stage there is no danger from pole sweat, as there 

 is no danger of the leaves not drying out fast enough, and 

 there is, therefore, not much use for heat, unless the weather 

 is cold. In the first stage it is the temperature that is im- 

 portant, and in the second stage the humidity ; and as excessive 

 humidity is the cause of pole sweat, artificial heat is, therefore, 

 the remedy for that trouble. If there should be a cold night 

 during tlie first stage of curing it would be well to have just 

 enough heat in the barn to keep the chill from the tobacco, to 

 prevent the temperature falling much below 50° F. Do not 

 allow the curing to be checked by too rapid drying or by too 

 low a temperature. If the weather is Avet we need both heat 

 and ventilation in the first stage. In the second stage the im- 

 portant point is to dry the leaf, and it cannot well be dried too 

 rapidly. This is contrary to the views held by many, but if 

 the first stage is j^assed through successfully, you can make 

 good any shortage in the second stage by regulating the fer- 

 mentation. Take a leaf of green tobacco, put it in a hot oven 

 and. leave it for five minutes and it will never cure, but will 

 be in exactly the same condition after it has been hanging six 

 months. 



Mr. Smith. About how long does the first stage take ? 



Dr. Garner. That depends a good deal on conditions, be- 

 cause curing is regulated a good deal by the rate at which the 

 drying proceeds, and more especially by the temperature. To- 

 bacco will cure very rapidly if the temperature is 80° F. or 

 above, but if it remains between 50° and G0° F. the curing is 

 very slow. Under favorable conditions the essential changes 

 in the first stage can take place in from three to five days. 

 After that period no injury is done by too rapid drying. 



Mr. TuADDEUS Graves. The ordinary practice has been to 

 cut olf all ventilation and ap})ly artificial heat for the purpose 



