CUBAN" TOBACCO. 29 



a dark to a lighter green; also, b}' folding the leaf between the lingers 

 a ripe leaf will break easily. In the Broaclleaf variety the plants are 

 usually cut, and as all the leaves on a plant are not ripe at one time, 

 it is necessary to harvest the crop when the majority of the leaves are 

 in the proper condition or about the time that the middle leaves are 

 ripe. Overripe leaves lose their elasticity and strength, and are not 

 suitable for cigar wrappers. The plants are speared on 4-foot laths, 

 using a detachable iron spearhead fitted in the end of the lath, as shown 

 in Plate V, figure 1, placing from 4 to 6 plants on each lath. 



The Broadleaf tobacco is air cured, the process taking about six 

 weeks. After harvesting, the plants are immediately hung in the barn, 

 and the temperature and humidity of these sheds must be closely 

 watched and controlled b\ T means of the ventilators.' If the leaf cures 

 too rapidly the ventilators should be opened on moist daj T s and nights 

 and closed on dry days. If the curing process proceeds too slowly or 

 the tobacco is liable to injury from pole-burn or other fungous dis- 

 eases, the ventilators should be opened on diy days and closed on moist 

 days and at night. In long-continued damp spells of weather, when 

 the tobacco can not be dried out by opening the ventilators during the 

 day, small fires of soft pine or charcoal should be used to drive off the 

 excess of moisture and raise the temperature in the barns. 



The Broadleaf tobacco is usually fermented in cases holding about 

 three hundred pounds, the hands of tobacco being laid in these cases 

 with the butts of the hands on the outside and the tips in the center. 

 The tobacco is then pressed down under moderate pressure, the tops 

 of the boxes screwed on, and the cases kept in a room having an even 

 temperature. 



CUBAN TOBACCO. 



Cuban tobacco is grown without shade when used as a filler for 

 domestic cigars. The percentage of wrappers in this outdoor crop 

 is not large, but when the leaves are primed the percentage of wrappers 

 is considerably increased. The preparation and care of the seed beds 

 and methods of cultivation are about the same as in the case of the 

 Sumatra variety. The rows in the field are arranged about 3 feet 4 

 inches apart and the plants set about 14 inches apart in the row. A 

 greater distance results in thick, heavy leaves. If the plants are set too 

 close the leaves are too thin and lacking in body for filler purposes. 



No definite rule can be laid down as to the proper number of leaves 

 to be left on the stalk when the plants are topped. This number varies 

 with the height of the plant and the climatic conditions during the 

 season. From 14 to 16 leaves, however, are considered desirable dur- 

 ing the ordinary season. The suckers begin to appear very soon 

 after topping and should be removed every 8 or 10 days or once a 

 week when rains are frequent. 



