i8 



gent and almost overpowering. There is a very strong odor of ammo- 

 nia, which makes it difficult to breathe. 



The bulk is watched very closely, and as the temperature rises it is 

 torn down, each hand of tobacco is taken up and shaken thoroughly to 

 dry it a little, to cool it slightly, and to open the leaves so that tlrey 

 will not stick together. Before the sweat is completed the bulk is 

 pulled down and built up eight or ten times, according to the condition 

 of the tobacco. It is impossible, even for an expert curer, to give 

 explicit directions as to when the bulk should be turned, as it depends 

 entirely upon the condition of the tobacco and the temperature it 

 attains, and these must be determined by the operator. 



The temperature must rise gradually, and if it is found to be rising 

 too rapidly the bulk is torn down and a fresh one built up. Sometimes 

 the bulk is not up over twenty-four hours before it is torn down again 

 and built up afresh. If the tobacco is in high case — that is, quite 

 moist — the bulks have to be turned over frequently in order to prevent 

 too rapid action and to shake out the leaves which would otherwise 

 stick together. If a bulk, as seldom happens, should dry out, it is 

 turned over and mixed with a bulk which is in high case. The tobacco 

 should never be sprinkled in this stage of the process^ to bring it into 

 case. 



The temperature of the pile is allowed to rise gradually until it occa- 

 sionally reaches 140° F. The fermentation is then at its highest. From 

 this point the temperature subsides until the fermentation is complete 

 and the bulk attains the normal temperature of the room. This maxi- 

 mum temperature must not be reached too quickly, and it must be man- 

 aged differently with the different tobaccos. The fermentation must be 

 carefully controlled and not allowed to go too far with the wrapper 

 leaf. With the filler, the further it goes and the more intense the action 

 the stronger and finer will the tobacco be for its purpose, if the work is 

 judiciously done. As a matter of fact, it is not unusual to resweat the 

 filler leaf to bring out the strong, rich properties which it is desired to 

 develop. As the fermentation does not extend to the bottom of the pile, 

 it is customary to put 8 or 10 inches of trash, which has already been 

 sweated, on the bottom. 



After the sweat the tobacco is brought into proper case and is then 

 very carefully sorted. The wrapper leaf is sorted into four grades of 

 light wrappers and four grades of dark wrappes, according to the length 

 of the leaves. These are placed in small boxes on either side of the 

 operator, and when a box is full the leaves are taken out and the Cuban 

 tobacco is put up into "carottes" (cylindrical rolls). The carottes are 

 made up into bales similar in every way to the Cuban package, the 

 wrappings being imported from Cuba for the purpose. 



The filler leaves are frequently resweated and are usually petuned, a 

 process which makes them very much heavier, darker, and stronger. 

 The petuning is either done by spraying, which is the best way, or by 

 dipping the tobacco. The essential part of the petuning liquid is a 

 thick infusion of tobacco stems of the finest quality obtainable. To this 

 is added molasses, cider, Jamaica rum, or sour wine. Frequently other 



