30 CIRCULAR 435, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



growers on a contract basis specifying prices. Some is raised for 

 them by sharecroppers, and some is handled, packed, and sold for 

 other growers on a commission basis. Connecticut shade-grown is 

 delivered to the packing houses in August, September, and October, 

 the greater part of the crop usually being delivered before October 

 1. Georgia and Florida shade-grown is delivered in July, August, 

 and September, practically all deliveries being completed prior to 

 October 1. 



When shade-grown tobacco arrives at the packing house it is 

 removed from the boxes and placed in bulks about 5 or 6 feet wide and 

 from 12 to 16 feet long, and usually about 8 feet high. These bulks 

 contain from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. Temperature and humidity 

 are definitely controlled in the bulking room. A temperature of 

 75° to 85° F. is usually maintained and the relative humidity is not 



























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Figure 8.— Stenciling United States Department of Agriculture inspection seal and certificate numbers 

 on bales of Connecticut shade-grown tobacco. 



allowed to fall below 70 percent. A perforated metal tube is placed 

 through the center of each bulk for the purpose of inserting a 

 thermometer for inner temperature readings. 



The moisture content of the tobacco when placed in the bulks 

 ranges from 24 to 32 percent. With this moisture content, fermen- 

 tation starts at once and the temperature of the bulk gradually 

 increases until within about a week it reaches a maximum of from 

 110°tol20°F. The maximum temperature attained and the number 

 of days before a maximum is reached vary with the condition and 

 quality of the tobacco and the room temperature. When the tem- 

 perature starts downward the tobacco is turned or is rebulked. In 

 rebulking the position of the tobacco is reversed; that is, the outer 

 layers are placed on the inside and the inner layers on the outside of 

 the new bulk. Fermentation starts again and the temperature 

 again rises, but much more slowly, and it usually does not reach a 



