Tobacco Cultivation and Manufacture. 297 



for 2 or 3 hours, increase to 105*^ for 2 hours, then to 1 10" 

 for an hour, after which continue with 2" increasing per 

 hour until 120'' is reached. Keep the heat at this 

 point until the leaves are cured and then raise, gradually 

 165*', which will be quite sufficient to cure stalk and 

 stem without risk. 



If cured properly, many of the leaves will be of a 

 mahogany colour or a little paler, while the remainder 

 will run from the bright colour of cedar to a cherry red. 



Dark shipping tobacco may be cured with flues better 

 than in any other way. No wood fire but heat with flues 

 is all that is wanted to cure without prejudice to the 

 quality of the tobacco. 



The first step m curing is called the steaming or yellow- 

 ing process. Tobacco grown in medium or not very rich 

 land will require from 30 to 48 hours' steaming at about 

 go*' F. to yellow it sufficiently, but tobacco from a richer 

 soil, haying more sap, takes a longer time ; here the ex- 

 perience of the curer must be his guide. 



The next step is called fixing the colour. When the 

 tobacco is sufficiently yellow, increase the heat to 95*^, 

 this will not force the tobacco and will prevent sweating, 

 which might redden and spoil the crop. In case of any 

 sweating, however, which should be carefully looked for, 

 open the doors and windows and let these remain open, 

 allowing free ventilation through the barn until all appear- 

 ance of sweating has disappeared. The thermometer 

 will indicate a fall of 10° more or less, but only a 

 little cooling is advisable. After the disappearance of 

 sweat, close up the openings and raise the heat to loo* Fj 

 for 2 or 3 hours. Then advance to 105*^ F. for 2 hours 

 next raise the heat to 1 10^ for one hour, after which con- 



PP2 



