OPEN FIRE CURING 



473 



modate the stick and are far enough apart vertically so the tiers 

 will not crowd each other. 



Air is admitted freely through side ventilators. Top ventilators 

 are provided for the part of the crop put there. In dry weather the 

 ventilators are kept open day and night, but on damp nights they are 

 closed (Fig. 201) . In very dry weather it may be necessary to close 

 the ventilators during the day and open at night to keep the tobacco 

 from curing too fast. In damp, drizzly weather it may be better to 

 keep the ventilators closed day and night until the tobacco begins to 

 sweat, when ventilators had better be opened. If the trying weather 



FIG. 201. Barn for curing white Burley tobacco, Kentucky. 



continues it may be necessary to make a fire under the tobacco of 

 coke or charcoal. 



Open Fire Curing. In the dark tobacco districts the tobacco is 

 hauled to the house after wilting or possibly after being placed on 

 the scaffold to yellow to some extent and crowded closer together 

 than in air curing. Very little regard is paid to ventilation in the 

 barn. About five days after housing the yellowing process is com- 

 pleted and firing is begun. If indications of heating and consequent 

 house burn occurs, firing should be started earlier. The fire is built 

 on the ground directly under the tobacco. Slow fires are kept up for 

 the first two or three days to continue the yellowing process. Hotter 



