52 TOBACCO CULTURE. 



barns will please note that sheds front and rear as described 

 with this building, are necessary. 



BARN CURING- 



Two methods of barn curing are practiced for most 

 varieties of tobacco. These are: (i) natural curing, and (2) 

 fire curing. As a rule, the latter method is followed only 

 with Bright tobacco, and heavy shipping tobacco, while the 

 natural method is that commonly used with other varieties. 

 However, artificial heat is generally recommended, and it is 

 used by successful growers especially for cigar tobacco. 



By either method, slow drying during the first, or "yel- 

 lowing" stage is important. After this yellowing, the more 

 rapid the drying, especially with yellow tobacco, the better. 

 In curing heavy shipping tobacco, the practice now is to 

 keep up only heat enough to prevent house-burning or pole 

 sweating. The fires are often drawn so that the leaves may 

 come in case, or be pliant. 



The barns should be as nearly air-tight as possible. 

 They should be provided with thorough ventilation and con- 

 venient means for controlling the same. Ventilators in the 

 ridge pole, which may be operated by pulleys from the 

 ground, are very desirable. Horizontal ventilation, or ven- 

 tilating shutters in the sides of the barn, is more desirable 

 than the usual vertical openings. Tight construction of the 

 barn, and provision for ample ventilation, easily controlled 

 give results that are usually better than where the ventila- 

 tion is more or less a matter of guess work. 



