million pounds (136 million kilograms) could be 

 sold weekly but the redrying plants can process 

 only 85-90 million pounds (39-41 million kilo- 

 grams) weekly. 



Cigar Leaf Areas 



These tobaccos are not redried. The leaves are 

 normally taken directly from the curing barns to 

 packing houses and built into bulks to undergo a 

 fermentation process. As is the case with any 

 tightly packed vegetable matter, the center of the 

 bulk will become hot and the leaves will begin to 

 deteriorate. The bulks are kept under close watch, 

 and the temperature in the center is monitored. 

 Every few days the bulk will be dismantled and 

 rebuilt until all leaves have been placed in the 

 center. The tobacco is then further sorted, sized, 

 and packed into bales for storage in a cool place. 

 Fermentation reduces the nicotine and moisture 

 content of the leaf and also gives the tobacco a 

 more uniform color. The process continues 

 during the storage period but at a much slower 

 rate. 



Storage warehouses are one story buildings 

 constructed to provide good ventilation and easy 

 access for moving the heavy hogsheads. Tobacco 

 usually requires 1 to 3 years of aging before it 

 is ready for manufacture. During this period the 

 tobacco continues a slow natural fermentation 

 which gives it a sweeter, mellower flavor. 



■ 





W WW'S 



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Hogsheads of tobacco in storage. 



Storage 



Most tobacco is still packed for storage in 

 hogsheads. These are round wooden barrel-type 

 containers about 4 feet (120 centimeters) in 

 diameter and 4 (120 centimeters) to 5 (150 

 centimeters) feet in height. Theirorigin goes back 

 to medieval days where they were smaller and 

 used for storing liquids. The container was 

 modified for tobacco in early colonial days 

 because it was easy to construct and could be 

 rolled along the roadways to the ports. A modern 

 hogshead of prepared tobacco will weigh 950 to 

 1,200 pounds (420.3 to 543.6 kilograms) depend- 

 ing on the type of tobacco and method packing. 

 Many firms now use a smaller wooden or card- 

 board case containing about 450 pounds (204.1 

 kilograms) of tobacco. Thechief advantage of the 

 case is the ease of loading shipping containers. 

 Rectangular cartons save as much as 28 percent 

 in space and are easily adapted to automated 

 loading and storage systems. 



Cigar tobacco is stored in bales. 



Hogsheads of tobacco wait for shipment to a storage ware- 

 house. 



19 



