300 CULTURE, MANUFACTURE, ETC., OF TOBACCO. 



Tlie stem of each plant is severed as near as pos- 

 sible to the ground, and such plants as have thick 

 stems are divided longitudinally, to admit the air 

 and dry them quicker. The plant is then laid gently 

 on the ground, so that the leaves be not damaged, 

 and is allowed to remain exposed to the rays of 

 the sun throughout the day, or until the leaves are 

 entirely " wilted," as it is termed ; that is, till they are 

 flaccid, and will bend any way without breaking. 



The drying of the leaves is effected in houses where 

 free ventilation is secured. They are often simply con- 

 structed of logs of timber, the edges of each one 

 resting at right angles on its neighbour, by which 

 means thorough draught is secured ; the spaces allow- 

 ing the insertion of smaller poles, upon which the 

 plants are hung to dry. In about a month the leaves 

 will be thoroughly dried. Should the weather be wet, 

 as the plant is so easily affected by the humidity of 

 the atmosphere, artificial aid must be ensured by 

 smouldering fires of bark and rotten wood, made on the 

 floor of the drying-house. Sometimes another process 

 precedes this, termed "sweating the tobacco," when 

 the leaves are laid in a heap on the barn-floor, and 

 allowed to partially ferment ; being turned every 

 twenty-four hours, so that they all fare alike. The 

 longer they thus lie, the darker the tobacco becomes. 

 They are then hung on the poles to be entirely 

 " cured." 



The plant is said to be " in case," or proper condi- 

 tion for packing and removal, when the leaves are dry 



