Tobacco Cultivation and Manufacture. 295 



the stalk ; a damp day is the best for this operation, as 

 the moisture in the air prevents the leaves from crumb- 

 ling. 



They must be assorted in the following classes : — 

 1st. The best quality and colour, 

 2nd. That which is inferior. 

 3rd. The ground leaves. 

 Each kind by itself is made into heads (manoques) 

 and is now ready for fermentation. 



Fermenting of Tobacco. 

 For this purpose is required an airy house or barn. 

 Make a bank in the barn as long as desired, and to the 

 width of two leaves. Lay them point to point or head 

 to head to the height of three feet from the floor. 



As soon as they are put one upon another and covered, 

 they become hot, sweating in the meanwhile; this is 

 called putting the leaves under press. As only a certain 

 moderate heat for the tobacco in press is required, care 

 should be taken not to have it too hot, lest the Tobacco 

 be burned, in consequence whereof as soon as a strong 

 heat is observed, which can be ascertained by putting 

 the hand between the tobacco, allow them to have air 

 for two hours, thereafter continue just as before, untij 

 the heat or sweating is over. They sweat more in damp 

 than in fair weather. 



When rain is falling the windows should be opened 

 on the east-south-east side, closing those on the west- 

 north-west side, taking care when the east-south-east 

 wind is too strong not to open the windows on that side, 

 lest the leaves dry up and interfere with the fermenting 

 process. 

 The tobacco lying near the top undergoes a natural 



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