28 PROFITABLE FAlixAlING. 



furiiace and pipes, the wood is burned as cut in the forest or old field, and the 

 "W'hole process of curing is less costly and less laborious, and the tobacco cured 

 therewith free from dust, and has a sweeter flavor. The flue, process possesses so 

 many advantages over all other modes of curirig tobacco, is so safe, if properly ' 

 ^constructed, and free from smoke, that when its merits become better Jcnown it 

 A^ill come into general use and supersede all other modes. 



The first step in curing is called the steaming or yellowing process. Medium 

 tobacco will require from twenty-four to thirty hours' steaming at abott ninety 

 degrees to yellow sufficiently; but tobacco with more or less sap, larger or smaller, 

 will require a longer or shorter time to yellow. Here the judgment of the curer 

 must be his guide. Inexperienced planters would do well to procure the services 

 of an expert curer, if they have tobacco suitable for fine yellow. The planter . 

 saves in enhanced value of his crop many times the money paid to the curer, and, 

 besides, by close attention, he may learn in , one season to cure well himself. 

 Theory alone, however good, and directions, however minute, will not do here, 

 but it is practice that must qualify one to cure well. 



When it is remembered that no two plants are exactly alike, no two barns 

 precisely similar in every particular, and that the weather raay changfe every hour, 

 is it reasonable that a fixed programme can be followed for every curing with any 

 ■certain-hope of success? The experienced know better! On work so variable^ 

 only general directions can be given. The planter here must use his head as well. 



The next step is called fixing the color. When the tobacco is sijfiiciently 

 yellowed, best leaves, of a uniform yellow, and the greener ones of 'a light pea- 

 gr.een color, it is time to advance the heat to one hundred degrees; observing the 

 ieav:es'closely to detect sweating, which will soon redden and spoil the color, unless 

 driven off". To do this, open the door and let it stand open, and if after an houi 

 or more the sweat has not disappeared, ope-n a space between the logs on "^opposite 

 sides of the barn to let in more air, and 'permit it to remain open until the 

 tobacco has dried off all appearance of the sweat. To dry off the sweat speedily, ' 

 sprinkle dry straw or hay over the floor and set fire thereto, u^sing just enough 

 straw to accomplish the desired result. Right at this point more curings are 

 spoiled than at any other stage of the process. It may be well to remember Avhat 

 is a fact, that at least five curings are spoiled by proceeding too fast, to one failure 

 from going too slow. Now stick a pin here. 



But to go back to the barn, where we have just dried the leaf, and where the 

 thermometer indicates a fall of five or ten degyees — ^but this need not concern the 

 curer to put him out of hope, for a little cooling under the circumsta*nces was 

 neoessary — we close lip the opening and raise the heat to one hundred degrees. 

 But a skillful curer detect the first indications of sweat, and prevents it by regu- 

 lating the heat an4. ventilation. 



Keep the heat at one hundred degrees for four hours, and then advance two 

 and a half degrees every two hours, until one hundred and ten degrees are reached. 

 Here you have reached the most critical point in the d^if&cult process of curing 

 bright tobacco. The condition and appearance of th& tobacco must now be 

 the curer's guide. No one can successfully cure tobacco until he can distinguish 

 the effects of too much or too little heat in the appearance of the leaf. Too 

 little heat, in fixing the color, operates to stain the face side of the leaf a 

 dull brown color, and is called "sponging," and may be known to the novice ty 



