HOW IT SHOULD BE GROWN. 49 



After lying in the field for a day to ivilt or 

 wither, the leaves, having been arranged in 

 small neat heaps on the ground, must be re- 

 moved to a well-ventilated covered place or 

 drying-house ; this may either be a shed built 

 on purpose or a cottage kitchen, but the hop- 

 oasts, which already exist in our hopping dis- 

 tricts, would serve admirably; any barn, pro- 

 perly ventilated, could be used for the purpose. 



There are different methods of curing the 

 leaves. In some places the sweating process is 

 assisted by means of open fires on the floor ; in 

 others steam is used ; the country-folk in Ger- 

 many dry their tobacco simply by hanging it 

 under the eaves of their cottages. In Belgium, 

 where the cultivation of tobacco is can-ied on by 

 small householders, the pi-oprietor's whole family 

 is employed in the work of cultivating and 

 curing. The picking is performed by adults, 

 while the children, seated on the ground, string 

 the leaves singly, which are then hung up like 

 illamination lamps, to be cured under thatched 

 sheds and in the open air. 



HeiT Mandis gives a graphic description of 

 the inexpensive and apparently satisfactory 

 method in use in Hungary. 



D 



