All cigar leaf tobacco is sun-cured, and as a 
general rule pipe smoking and chewing tobacco 
are cured by artificial heat. 
For the purpose of drying and curing by 
artificial heat, the leaf is hung up in specially 
constructed curing houses or sheds. It is found 
that after the exposure to the sun for the first 
process of “yellowing” tobacco leaf still con- 
tains 1 lb. of water approximately in each 
plant. The first part of the process of curing 
consists in drawing off this superfluous mois- 
ture. Dry heat is applied at a temperature of 
90° F. to 120° F. for about 16 to 80 hours to 
effect this. A further exposure of about 48 
hours at a temperature of 125° or so is neces- 
sary to complete the curing, and fix the color. 
The stems and stalks being thicker take a 
longer time and generally require 9 to 10 hours 
further exposure and a temperature which may 
range as high as 175° F. before they are fully 
cured, the temperature being graded hourly 
until the maximum necessary is reached. 
The process of curing varies considerably in 
different states. Some growers prefer to put 
the tobacco into the sheds immediately after 
cutting, and allow very little exposure in the 
fields. The temperature is usually kept 
steady at about 90° F. Again the process is 
different according to the quality of tobacco 
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