1 6 



C Fire-curing. 



(«) Wilting. Variations the same as air-curing. 



(b) Time of using artificial heat. 



i. Fire used only during very moist weather, 

 to prevent pole-burn. 



2. Fire used only after the leaves are coloured 



by air-curing. 



3. Fire used to start a sweat, then drawn, and 



again used, after the desired colour is 

 attained by air-curing. 



4. Artificial heat applied continuously 



(c) Method of applying heat. 



1. By open fires. 



2. By stoves and flues 



((f) Kind of fuel. 



1. Coal. 



2 . Wood . 



Harvesting. — About the two kinds of harvesting, 

 viz : (a) cutting off with the stalk, and (b) gathering the 

 leaves singly, there has been much discussion from a 

 practical as well as from a scientific stand-point. Each 

 has its advantages and disadvantages. The second 

 method is followed in the case of the Turkish, the Cuban, 

 and other high priced varieties of Tobacco. 



The advantage of the first method is that it saves 

 labour, and is less expensive than the other. The chief 

 disadvantage is that all the leaves on the plant do not 

 ripen at the same time, so that the tobacco has to be 

 harvested at such a time as will give the greatest number 

 of the best leaves at the proper stage of ripeness, thus 

 necessitating a considerable sacrifice in both bottom and 



