161 



Edible Products, 



This is easily recognized when it appears by the black spots that it makes 

 on the still half-green leaves, though the really first indication of 'sweat' is the 

 swelling 1 or thickening of the leaves, their cold, wet feel, and the appearance of mois- 

 ture on the surface ; these spots increase in size until the whole of the leaf is covered, 

 and once this fungus gets a start it will extend its operations into the tobacco that is 

 not too closely packed and eventually go through the whole house. The fungus 

 breaks down the tissues of the leaves and renders them absolutely useless as cigar 

 tobacco, and the very best leaves can in this way be reduced to the status of ' fonque.' 

 The fungus will also make its appearance on partially dried tobacco if the weather 

 suddenly changes to cold and wet after a fairly long dry spell ; if the cold wet weather 

 continues for more than a day it will be necessary to procure several old zinc buckets, 

 knock some holes in them, make charcoal fires and keep moving them about from 

 place to place under the tobacco ; but to ensure no smoke reaching the drying tobacco, 

 the fires should be started at a distance away from the house and not taken in until 

 there is a nice glow. 



If the fungus has been overlooked and has had a good start, it can be stopped 

 by removing the affected bars to temporary barraderas erected outside the house, on 

 the side that gets the morning sun ; three hours' sharp sun, say, from nine to twelve, 

 will be quite sufficient to check it effectually. If bright sun be not forthcoming the 

 charcoal fires must be kept going until the atmosphere in the house is too warm and 

 dry for the fungus to live. The tobacco that is put out to sun should be taken in on 

 the least indication of rain, as the lightest shower will spoil it ; on the whole, it is 

 much the best to be on the safe side by burning charcoal fires inside the house when- 

 ever partially dried tobacco is subjected to a cold, damp atmosphere. It must be 

 borne in mind, however, that whilst, obviously, it is possible for the atmosphere 

 in the house to be too cold and damp, there is also the danger of going to the other 

 extreme ; whenever hot drying winds prevail all the shutters and doors should be 

 closed to prevent the tobacco drying too quickly ; and, on the other hand, they should 

 be closed when warm, dry, calm weather changes to cold and wet. 

 » The last part of the leaf to dry is the base of the midrib, and when it is 



observed that this part of every leaf is dry and shrivelled, the bars may be double 

 packed, that is, the pairs of plant may be closed up, so that each bar may carry the 

 tobacco that was dried on two bars. The double packed bars can then be placed at a 

 distance of 6 inches or 8 inches apart in the room nearest the press, and allowed to 

 remain there until taken down to ferment. This rearrangement is best done when the 

 leaves are not crisp, but soft and pliable ; dry tobacco becomes crisp when the air is 

 very dry and mild after a day's rain, and sometimes before rain ; indeed the softening 

 of the leaves is a reliable indication of an approaching storm. 



The closing up of the dry tobacco is necessary for prolonging the final drying 

 stages and rendering it less liable to be affected by atmospheric changes, and also 

 provides more room and bars for the tobacco that is being brought in from the field 

 as the plants ripen. 



Pressing and Curing. 

 The word ' press ' conveys to the lay mind an instrument constructed with 

 numerous screws for the purpose of exerting pressure upon any substance placed 

 under it ; in reality the tobacco press is nothing of the kind, but is merely a pile 

 (Cuban pilon) of tobacco stacked together to ferment in the same way as a mixture 

 of manure and leaves is prepared in England for making hot beds for cucumbers and 

 melons. In fact, it may be said that any one who has had experience in the work of 

 the forcing department of an English garden could with safety undertake the curing 

 of tobacco after seeing one crop cured by a Cuban ; or, I may be allowed to hope, by 

 following carefully the directions set forth in these notes. For the benefit, however, 



