3 1 



slowly, so as to kill the leaf tissue gradually, and, more 

 important still, plenty of ventilation must be provided 

 to take away the moisture. If the heat is increased too 

 rapidly while the leaf is still full of sap, a greenish black 

 discoloration will develop, which is known as "scalding" 

 or "blistering". 



The temperature should be maintained at from 130 

 to 140 F until the leaf is completely dried out, which 

 will require about ten to eighteen hours after the com- 



Photo taken by Mr. I. B. De Majumdar. 

 Flue curing sheds in the Cooch Behar State Tobacco Farm. 



pletion of the yellowing process. All danger from 

 sponging or scalding is now past, and it only remains 

 to dry out the stems. The ventilators are now closed, 

 and the temperature raised up to 165 or 175" F at the 

 rate of about 5 degrees an hour. This latter tempera- 

 ture is maintained till all the stems are completely dried 

 out. 



