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CIRCULAR 435, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Flue-cured tobacco is delivered by the growers to the auction-sales 

 floors with a moisture content of from 20 to 25 percent, and in some 

 cases in excess of 25 percent. This moisture content tends to prevent 

 breakage in handling. The tobacco is arranged in flat baskets about 

 4 feet square which are placed in rows on the auction-sales warehouse 

 floor. As the buyers pass along between the rows they examine each 

 lot, frequently pulling hands from the pile on each basket. If the 

 tobacco were not soft and pliable there would be considerable injury 

 by breakage (fig. 4). 



Flue-cured tobacco with a moisture content of 20 to 25 percent 

 would mold if packed directly in hogsheads. To avoid this, the 

 tobacco is removed from the floor as soon as the sale is over and is 

 delivered to the redrying plant of the buyer. There it is assorted and 



Figuee 4.— Baskets of tobacco on warehouse floor ready for sale at auction. 



blended according to grade and run through a redrying machine. 

 Practically all the original moisture is removed in this machine and a 

 desired amount is added to condition the tobacco for packing without 

 breakage and to allow it to go through the natural fermentation process 

 or sweat while in storage without damage by mold. This redrying 

 process also distributes the moisture uniformly. 



Redrying machines consist of a series of large chambers in which 

 the temperature and humidity are regulated. A chain conveyor 

 moves slowly through this series of chambers. Generally the hands of 

 tobacco are hung on sticks about 4 feet long and the sticks are placed 

 on the chain conveyor. As the tobacco on these sticks enters the first 

 chamber, fans force a current of hot dry air through it, eliminating 

 practically all the moisture. In the next chamber the temperature 

 is lowered somewhat, and in the succeeding chamber or chambers, 



