bundles and returned to the sweating depart- 
ment to undergo further fermentation and to 
allow for a thorough interchange of the aroma 
of the different blends. In due course the 
bundles pass to the stemming department for 
the removal of the midribs which usually form 
nearly one-third of the entire weight. The re- 
sulting half leaves are then arranged in piles 
of 50, each pile forming a “book.” 
From the stemming department the books 
pass to the drying room where any superfluous 
moisture is removed by hot air currents. . 
From the drying room the books pass to the 
ordering room where they undergo inspection 
for color, size etc., and subjected to further 
treatment if necessary. Here they are finally 
packed in cases and stored for several months 
to allow perfect and uniform blending after 
which they are ready for shipment to the fac- 
tory. Filler leaf for the finest cigars may 
stand in these cases for two or three years. 
Leaf which is intended for chewing or pipe 
smoking is not subjected to so great an elabora- 
tion of processes as cigar leaf, as the matters 
of uniformity of color, and delicacy as well as 
individuality of aroma are not of such great 
importance. Usually such tobacco leaf is fer- 
mented in bulk, and the removal of the stems 
is done before the principal fermentation. 
83 
