14 



jected to the sweating process. This operation begins when the tobacco 

 is in the proper '^ order" or '^case," being brought into this condition 

 naturally on a damp day, or by an exceedingly cautious moistening, 

 avoiding any visible water on the leaves. The amount of water applied 

 must just suffice to bring on moderate imbibition. The total amount 

 of water necessary to bring on a normal sweat is from 18 to 25 per cent 

 of the moistened leaf. A portion of this water (about one-fourth) is 

 again lost during the sweat. 



The sweating of the Florida leaf in bulk requires from six to eight 

 weeks, the original crude and rank smell of the cured tobacco being 

 gradually changed to the i^roper aroma of the finished tobacco, and 

 the glossy appearance and the texture^ being well brought out. Light- 

 colored wrappers require a slower and cooler fermentation than the 

 dark-colored leaves used as dark wrappers or fillers. 



Rise of temperature. — When the cured tobacco is sold by the farmer 

 a large number of leaves are tied together at the base, forming '^ hands." 

 At the beginning- of the sweat such ''hands" are well shaken in order 

 to open all the foliage and admit air to every part. Then commences 

 the moistening, when necessary, which is done by exposing the "hands," 

 under continuous shaking, to a current of steam issuing from a pipe; by 

 spraying with a fine spray; or by dipping, in which case the bases of 

 the ''bauds" are plunged into water and shaken, the adhering water 

 being soon drawn by capillary attraction into the leaf. These "hands" 

 are then packed, with the butts outside, in piles 4 to 5 feet wide and 12 

 to 15 feet long. The rooms, which contain a large number of such piles, 

 are kept warm, aud steam passes freely from a number of pipes into the 

 air of these rooms to secure uniform moisture, as otherwise the warming 

 piles would soon become too dry. The temperature of these piles rises 

 in from one to two days considerably above the temperature of the fer- 

 menting room and may reach 52° C (126° F.) or higher. Repacking 

 becomes necessary in from three to four days in order to check the rise 

 in temperature and to shake out the leaves. The lower "hands" are 

 now i^laced on the top and the outer ones in the center in order to give 

 all leaves an equal chance to improve. The temperature now rises 

 more and more slowly, the next repacking not being necessary before 

 about seven or eight days. Altogether the piles are repacked from 

 five to eigbt times. When the temperature rises too high the color or 

 the aroma may be injured, hence frequent examinations are necessary. 

 These examinations are made by pushing the hand into the piles, a 

 decision being reached by the sense of feeling.^ 



Oxidation. — Tobacco manufacturers are well aware of the fact that 

 a moderate quantity of air should gain access to the interior of the 



1 The texture, or grain, of the leaf means to tobacco manufacturers small points 

 plainly visible on the extended leaf. It appears that these points are the bases of 

 the gland hairs, most of which break off in the curing and sweating processes. 



'^ For details relative to the treatment of the fermenting tobacco heaps the reader 

 is referred to Farmers' Bulletin No. 60 and to the next report on tobacco. 



