1 Sepr., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 299 
HANDLING HEAVY PIPE TOBACCOS, 
By R. 8S. NEVILL, 
Tobacco Expert. 
THERE are several causes why the pipe tobaccos grown in Queensland have not 
the desirable qualities of the best American, and some of them are chargeable 
to the manner of handling after the crop is grown. Many farmers seem to 
think that the period of careful management is over when the harvest time has 
come, when really it is the time for greatest care and intelligent work. Open 
sheds are not the best; the tobacco is thus exposed to all sorts of weather, and 
conditions cannot be controlled; it cures unevenly and irregularly, producing 
many sorts in the one shed. The tobacco should not be crowded in the shed or 
on the sticks, as it cannot get ventilation, and cures green, and consequently 
' bad flavour, and if the weather be hot it is liable to scald and become dead and 
worthless. Tobacco has not finished its cure as soon as dried out; it still 
retains objectionable matter that must be either modified or eliminated altogether, 
and this is accomplished by continued hanging. ‘ 
Heavy tobaccos put into the bulk as soon as dried do not have the aroma 
that is in those that have been hung for two or three months longer. It may 
be stripped and put into hands, but should be re-hung to finish the cure; in fact, 
it is preferred that it should be stripped soon after it has dried. 
In stripping, the green or greenish should be put in hands to itself, and 
they should be small, not more than twelve or fourteen leaves each, and hung 
where light and air can get to it; if the hands are large, the leaves in the centre 
will not bleach out, but remain green. It is best to tre all of the tobacco in 
small hands, as it will continue the cure more uniformly, can be ordered more 
iregularly, and handled more neatly. 
Assorting should be carefully done, that the tobacco may have a uniform 
appearance, care being taken to put nothing with the best grade, or No. 1, that 
does not belong there; carelessness in this often causes a lower figure to be paid 
for it, and sometimes gives trouble with the purchaser, when he has to reassor it. 
Every hand should be tied with a leaf of the same colour as the tobacco in that 
hand, not necessarily a good leaf, but the hand should be and look uniform. 
Please the eye and you please the purchaser, and the grower that establishes a 
reputation for neat and proper handling of his crop always gets top prices, for 
alate buyers want his tobacco, as it gives them no trouble. 
Before bulking, it should be thoroughly dried out in the heads, and bulked ag 
it comes into condition, and not when it is drying out, for then the stem may be 
surcharged with moisture that will be taken up bythe leaf, and the whole get too 
soft and funk. 
The proper condition for bulking is when it is just pliable and the midrib 
or stem will snap halfway down the leaf. The proper condition can be deter- 
mined by taking the tails in the hand and Squeezing them together; if they fall 
apart slowly after removing the pressure, it is right for bulking, butif they stick 
together it is too soft, and had better be left hanging 
In bulking, the floor should be well off the ground, and so arranged that 
the dampness arising from the ground cannot penetrate through to the tobacco. 
The bulks should be large, not less than 8 or 10 feet wide, and as long as may 
be convenient; this allows the tobacco to Sweat uniformly and continuously, 
not being disturbed by weather conditions ; Whereas narrow bulks sweat fitfull : 
some days lightly, and on other days not at all, owing to the state of the weather. 
This is important, as tobacco that does not Sweat properly does not develop 
desirable qualities. The bulk should be well covered at sides and on top. 
The bulking should be done about the time summer weather is beginning, 
that the tobacco may not be chilled when it goes in the bulk, and the weather 
conditions can be depended on for favourable results, 
It should remain in bulk four to six weeks before prizing. It must be 
borne in mind that the sweating of these tobaccos is an entirely different process 
to the sweating of cigar leaf, 
