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The Press ok "Pilon." 



The Press is made in one of the sections of the Tobacco-house, and 

 of the required size. The section in which the Press is constructed 

 must be well closed to exclude the outer air. Long logs are placed 

 parallel to, a little apart from, each other, and on these a kind of floor 

 is made of either board or wattles, at a height of about one foot. The 

 floor so formed is covered with thatch or dry plantain leaves, and the 

 Tobacco can now be placed in it. 



Conditioning or Fermentation. 



1. Mancuernas, or pairs of leaves. 



As soon as the poles are carried to the House filled with the 

 Tobacco, cut and arranged as before described, they are placed on the 

 horizontal rails or " Barrederas " closely packed together. They are 

 left in this state for three days, if it be in the months of October, Nov- 

 ember or December, but in any of the following months they must be 

 kept so packed for not more than one or two days. 



When the leaves become yellow they are said to be ripe and then 

 the poles must be separated a foot from each other. 



There are two methods of treating the Tobacco when in this con- 

 dition : — 



Method A. — Allow the poles to remain the foot apart till the stalks 

 and the midribs or middle veins of the leaves get dry, then carry up the 

 poles to the upper "barrederas" and again pack closely, if there be want 

 of room; but if room be not needed, then they may be put a foot 

 apart. 



Method B. — Separate the leaves which may be sticking together 

 and place the poles filled with the Tobacco out in the sun for three days, 

 being very careful tot to allow the rain to wet the Tobacco, and replace 

 them in the house every day at about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon to 

 avoid the dew. Horizontal bars of a kind similar to those used in a 

 gymnasium are made on which to place the poles filled with the Tobacco. 

 At the end of three days the poles are placed on the upper " barrederas" 

 and there allowed to dry properly. The poles may be closely packed if 

 room be needed, but this should never be done unless the "middle vein" 

 or midrib be thoroughly dry, 



I prefer this method to the former, because there is no fear of 

 "Sahorno" (putrid fermentation), and the Tobacco acquires a better 

 colour. 



Considering the advantages of this method it is 'almost superfluous 

 to advise the adoption of it in preference to the former. 



2. When the method is adopted of cutting the whole Plant. — The 

 bundles or "matules," when brought in from the field, are unloaded at 

 the House, and should be opened out at once and the Tobacco scattered 

 about as widely as possible to allow it to cool to prevent its sweating. 

 When cool and there is no risk of sweating, the stalks of two plants are 

 tied together at the root end with any kind of string, fastening four 

 stems to one string, which should be just long enough to allow the 

 Tobacco to be hung up on the pole, like the " mancuernas." In case 

 the Tobacco plants be rather large, instead of two, only one should be 

 tied at each end. The string should be tied below the upper leaf, on 



