500 



FIELD CROPS 



hung in the barn, to prevent the leaves from sticking together. 

 Good ventilation at the sides and top of the barn must be 

 provided. 



Ordinarily, the tobacco is air-cured, though in damp 

 seasons some artificial heat may be necessary. In dry 

 weather, the ventilators are left open day and night. On 

 damp days, they should ordinarily be open during the day, 

 though they may be closed at night. If the air is very damp, 



Fig. 149. A tobacco curing barn with horizontal ventilators. The method of 

 hanging the leaves in the barn is shown. 



the ventilators may be kept closed for as long as forty-eight 

 hours, or until the saturation point is indicated by the 

 "sweating" of the tobacco. They must then be opened and 

 charcoal fires built to create a circulation of air, else "house- 

 burn" and discoloration of the leaves may result. Two 

 months are ordinarily required for curing, though the process 

 may be completed in less time if artificial heat is used. 

 Rapid curing, however, is likely to result in poor color of the 

 leaves. 



