21 



water, but will never be too dry ; and the curing will pro- 

 ceed smoothly. If the humidity becomes much higher, 

 pole-sweat* will develop on the leaves most advanced in 

 the curing ; while if the humidity falls much below this 

 figure, the leaf will dry out too rapidly. 



We have seen that the ripe leaf is very rich in starch. 

 One of the important changes in the curing is the dis- 

 appearance of this starch, which is consumed bv the 



Photo taken by Mk. I. B. Dii M\jr.\in.\K. 

 Armenian and Jewish girls sorting tobacco in Mr. Xewhall's farm. 



living portion of the leaf itself. Now if the leaf is killed 

 by bruising, by excessive heat, or by too rapid drying 

 out, there is no means of removing this starch, and the 

 tobacco is harsh, lifeless, and "strawy". Along with the 



*This is the chief tobacco-disease and occurs the world over, where 

 tobacco is used without the use of heat. It first appears as dark spots 

 near the midrib or vein, and then spreads rapidly discolouring and rotting 

 the whole leaf. 



