80 THE CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 



allowed at different stages. In fact, nv set lules can be gi^en, and 

 tlie foi'mula may be varied for each barn cured. This is a matter 

 for the judgment of the man in charge, and to give a large 

 number of different methods would fmly confuse the reader. Tins 

 method of curing cannot well be learned from a written description. 



The leaf must be forced to sweat, and will do sn at a tempera- 

 ture of from 110° to 120". Whenever the sweat commences, the 

 temperature most be maintained until it is completed. This sweat 

 will carry out of the plant many disagreeal)le substances that would 

 be harmful to the quality of the toliacco. As soon as the leaf 

 indicates that the sweating is at an end, by drying off, the fire 

 must be lowered, the ventilatoi-s opened, and the barn cooled off. 

 Sometimes the temperature is i-un up to 120", and then lowered to 

 105°, by ventilation, several times in successioir. If the barn be 

 so dry that the sweat will not commence, assistance may be rendered 

 by moistening the air by means of pans of water or the placing of 

 wet grass ini the fiiH.r. 



If the temperature of the liarn be furced ton rapidly the sap 

 will be dried into the leaf, and this will Ije shown by the presence 

 of red blotches or spots. If the tempei'ature l>e not advanced 

 I'apidly enough the leaf will " sponge." By this is meant the 

 presence of brown poi'ous places on the surface of the leaf. If the 

 temperature is advancing too ra|)idly the fact will be indicated by 

 the browning and cuiling of the edges and "tails" of the leaf. A 

 high temperature too early in the process will cnuk or scald the 

 leaf. Often the tails of t)ie lowci' tier nf leaves in the barn will 

 l)e .scalded, and for this reason it is Ijest to place the worst leaves 

 on the liottom. 



No sticks or leaves must be allowed to fall against the flues, 

 fnr in the last stages of the cming the toliacco will easily catch 

 iire. 



About thiee cords of dry wood are iv-'ijuired for each thousand 

 pounds of tobacco cured, and this means a considerable item of 

 expenditure in localities where fuel is c,\|iensive. Woft coal may be 

 sulistituted, and with it the fii'e is nioie easily controlled than 

 with the wood. 



As soon as the tobacco is c\u'ed the Hres ar'e extinguished, and 

 the dooi's and ventilators opcdied. Tlic moistures of the air will 

 soon bring the leaf in " ordi'r " or condition for handling. If the 

 weather bi' wet the barn slejuld not be opened, for it would 

 damage the tobacco, in that it would bei'onie too moist. If the 

 cured leaf does l.jecome too moist it must be again dried with a 

 new fire. If the air be ^■ery dry the moisture content of the bai'n 

 may be increased, and the "ordering" pi'ocess hastened by the use 

 of water on the liarn floor, or the jilaciiig of moist grass u])on the 

 flues. 



As soon as the tobacco is in condition, it is taken down and 

 bidked without being renio\ed fi'om the sticks. A few da\s of 

 ))ulking will straighten out the leaf and improve its ap]ieaiance. 

 Next the tobacco is hung in the packing house. It is hung verv 

 closely so as to be influenced by weather conditions as little as 

 possible, [jater in the .season it is taken down, graded, tied into 

 "hands," and again I'edmng or bulked until the grower wishes to 

 market it. Care is always taken that it does not become in too 

 moist condition for this would darken the coloiu' .and reduce the 



