298 TiMEHRI. 



tinue with 2° gradually increasing, watching it caretully 

 until 120° F. is reached. This is the curing process; 

 the condition of the tobacco often indicates to a skil- 

 ful eye the necessity for a lower or higher temperature. 

 It is safe at the stage of 110° F. to advance 2° every 

 hour up to 120° for medium tobacco; if the tobacco is 

 cured, advance 5" per hour up to 160°^ even to 170^, 

 which will be sufficient to cure stalks and stem, without 

 risk. Anything exceeding 170° may cause scorching 

 and spoil the crop. 



If the tobacco is cured and the weather is too dry to 

 remove it, place green bushes over the f^oor and sprinkle 

 water over them ; if the weather is damp, there will be 

 no necessity for this. It is however of importance to 

 have ready some means beforehand so that the tobacco 

 may be removed next morning. 



How to raise strong and healthy Tobacco seed for 



extending Cultivation. 

 Before topping the tobacco, seleft some strong and 

 healthy plants out of the many in cultivation, which are 

 not subje6l to high winds ; take care not to top these, 

 but remove the greater number of leaves from the stem 

 so as to allow them free growth. Leave only three 

 branches on the stem, according to its growth ; pick off 

 all leaves, especially those growing between the capsules, 

 and when these are brown cut the tops off, hang them in 

 the house until well dried, with the top downward. This 

 gives strong and healthy seed. 



Packing of Tobacco. 



White oak or our colony's Dahly and •* Long John " 

 (having no odour whatever) are suitable for the packing 

 of tobacco. 



