12 



when the leaves are harvested just before they would be 

 called fully ripe. A green leaf after curing will be 

 tough and leathery, while an over ripe one will be 

 "strawy" and lifeless to the touch. Finally, since the 

 materials which develop the flavour and aroma are 

 derived from the green nitrogenous compounds, the fully 

 ripe leaf will be deficient in those qualities, while the 

 green leaf will possess them much more fully developed. 

 It is evident, then, that the lower, fully matured leaves 

 of the plant when moderately ripe will be best suited for 

 the production of cigar wrappers, bright in colour, and 

 having the necessary elasticity, but neutral in flavour ; 

 while the upper leaves harvested before they have fully 

 matured will give the best fillers having the required 

 flavour and aroma, but being much darker in colour than 

 the wrappers. In curing the "yellow tobacco" for the 

 manufacture of cigarettes, it is necessary that the leaf be 

 fully ripe, for the content of the green colouring matter 

 must be reduced to the minimum, consistent with the 

 required toughness, in order to obtain the cured leaf free 

 from green or brown discoloration. 



Different methods of Harvesting, Hanging and Curing 



The harvesting, hanging, and curing operations 

 vary widely for different types of tobacco. They also 

 vary in different countries for the same type of tobacco. 

 A summary is given below of the different practices, in 

 vogue in various tobacco-growing countries, in connec- 

 tion with these operations. 



Harvi'stinc, : 



A. With the stalk. 



I. I'>v cutting oil" the whole stalk. 



