Tobacco as a Farm Crop for England. 
237 
ready ; because some leaves change so much more quickly than others, and 
turn from yellow to brown while the later ones are waited for. 
I did not proceed to cure the stems this time. 
Later Curings. — My third and fourth curings began on September 21st and 
22nd, but the whole of the tobacco hung in a granary without a fire till the 
24th, when as much as there was room for was removed to the kiln, and the 
temperature was raised to between 80° and 90°. 
Third Curing. — The kiln was kept at this heat for about a week, the fire 
being let down every night. At the end of that time most of the leaves had 
changed through yellow to a good brown. I had determined not to try 
for yellow. 
As I had noticed in the earlier curings that some of the leaves dried before 
they had time to yellow, I stood tubs of water on the floor of the kiln, and 
had water boiling on the fire. As some leaves still seemed to dry too quickly, 
I let the fire out, and had the ventilator opened every fine day, and closed 
at night. 
On October 12th most of the leaves were a good, but rather dark brown. On 
the 11th I had noticed mould on some of the stalks, and on ihe 12th a little 
on the stem of a leaf, so I had a small fixe lighted in the evening, and again 
on the 14th and the same on nearly every day to the end of the month. 
Fourth Curing. — The tobacco which was left hanging without a fire [after 
being cut on September 21st and 22nd] I will call my fourth curing. On 
October 12th, I noticed that the leaves were yellowing and browning satis- 
factorily. Nothing had been done to them since they were hung. 
On November 3rd, I found mould not only on the stalks, but on some of the 
leaves, and as I saw signs on the stalks of the first two curings that mould 
was likely to follow if they were left unfired in that cold, damp weather, I 
had the whole crowded into the kiln, and thoroughly dried, at a temperature 
of about 90°. Since then I have had a fire lighted, and temperature raised to 
90° whenever the leaves become very soft, which has been according to 
weather, about once a week, or once a fortnight. 
Stripping and Sorting. — In December I stripped and sorted a part of my 
crop, and having made it into hands, hung it again in the kiln. I have not 
been able to do anything to it since then, beyond having the fire lighted when 
necessary. 
Remarks. — As to growing tobacco in England, there is no doubt that it 
can be grown with the greatest ease. I never saw such a vigorous grower, 
unless it was the maize which grew close by. I consider that my crop, none 
of which was planted before June 17th, and some not till July 14th, and all 
of which ripened, proves that there is time, and to spare, in any English 
summer. 
The Pennsylvanian was a very vigorous grower, and readily took a bright 
Manilla colour on curing, without a fire. It was very difficult, however, to 
get at the suckers, owing to the upright habit of the leaves which clung 
close to the stem. I fancy, too, that the flavour is not so good as the 
Virginian. 
Flavour. — I am told by American growers that I cannot expect tobacco 
grown last year to have attained its proper flavour yet. I may, however, 
say that a leaf of Virginian, cured yellow in the first curing, which I cut up 
and made into cigarettes, was pronounced by more judges than one to have 
a really excellent cigarette flavour. The slower-cured tobacco is darker and 
much ranker, and, as our American friends have warned us it must do till it 
has gained age, bites the tongue. I gave a bit of a leaf and piece of mid-rib 
to an inveterate chewer, and received a favourable report on each. 
Remarks. — If I grow tobacco again, I shall not spend much on charcoal. 
