206 Note on the Sowing of the Sheeraz Tobacco, 



this season of the year heavy dews fall at night ; while exposed to 

 these, the colour of the leaves changes from gr,een to the desired 

 yellow. During this stage, of course, no water is given to the soil. 

 W hen the leaves are sufficiently yellow, the plants are taken from 

 the earth, early in the morning, and while they are yet wet with the 

 dew, and heaped on each other in a high kupper-house (a shed, the 

 walls, &c. of which are made with light thorny bushes, or the like,) 

 where they are freely exposed to the wind. While there, and gene- 

 rally in four or five days, those leaves, which were still green, be- 

 come of the desired pale yellow colour. The stalks, and centre 

 rib of each leaf are now removed, and thrown away. The leaves 

 are again heaped together in the drying-house for three or four 

 days more, when they are in a fit state for packing. For this oper- 

 ation the leaves are carefully spread on each other, and formed into 

 a sort of cakes, four to five feet in circumference, and three or four 

 inches thick, great care being taken not to break or injure the 

 leaves. Bags made of strong cloth, but thin, and very open at the 

 sides, are filled with these cakes, which are pressed very strongly 

 down on each other ; the leaves would be broken if this were not 

 attended to. When the bags are filled, they are placed separately 

 in the drying^house, and turned daily, until they are to be sent 

 away, when a second bag like the first is sometimes put on. 



If the leaves be so dry that there would be a risk of their break- 

 ing during the operation of packing, a very light sprinkling of water 

 is given them to enable them to withstand it without injury. The 

 leaf is valued for being thick, tough, and of a uniform light yellow 

 colour, and of an agreeable aromatic smell. 



In the vicinity of Sheeraz, November and December are cool ; 

 January and February more so; these may be considered the 

 winter months. In December and January snow falls not unfre- 

 quently ; the hills are covered with it for some months, but it seldom 

 lies any considerable time in the plains. March and April may be 



