The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-10-01
CURING SEED LEAF TOBACCO
Avoid Too Rapid Drying, Also Excessive
Dampness -Ventilafing Tobacco Barns.


After the crop IS safely housed comes
the anxious work of curing it properly
Throughout the seed leaf sections this Is
still done by ar curing alone, which Is
accomplished by regulating the air and
moisture 10y opening or closing doors or
shutters in the barn. The process has
been improved by greater care in the
construction Of barns, but it Is 1t best
crude and imperfect method. With y
view to atlording assistance IS here re-
produced from American AgTlculturist
the following advice:
The first point to avoid is the too
rapid drying of the leaf. Drying is not
curing, and the terms are in no way
synonymous The change Of color and
condition in the leaf Is Largely due to a
process of fermentation which takes
place i'll the hanging tobacco, and for
which certain amount Of moisture III
the leaf is necessary. If the leaf is dried
too rapidly, this fermentation is either
prevented altogether or checked to some
extent thereby affecting the result dis
astrously.
As far as possible the air in the shed
during the whole curing process should
be kept in such condition that the to-
bacco will never become quite dry and
brittle 1t should never crumble when
handled To this end, after the first two
weeks following the hanging, the sheds
should be kept tightly closed during dry
weather, and if opened it should be at
night or for awhile upon damp and misty
days. If the buildings are kept close,
the great amount Of moisture eyaporat-
ed from the tobacco will keep the air
sufficiently damp even i'll dry weather.
The second principle is to keep the air
in the shed from excessive dampness
which, with heat, causes a destructive
fermentation, or rotting, which is entire
ly different from the fermentation of
the curing process. For this reason the
building should be kept well opened
and ventilated the first week or two aft
er hanging, that the fresh currents of
air may carry Oft the large amount of
moisture eyaporating from the tobacco
and also check any tendency to excess
i've heating During the whole time Of
curing, after any protracted time Of
damp or warm, musgy weather, the
sheds should be opened until the tobac.
co is partially dried off To carry out
both these principles the shed should
be SO constructed is to permit of its be-
ing tightly closed and also of It's being
opened and thoroughly ventilated.
Light should be carefully excluded dur
ing the curing process, especially in its
later stages, as it is found that strong
light has an injurious effect upon tho
color Of the leaf
The tobacco barn is commonly ven
tilated by opening doors running the
full length Of the sides. Jacob thinner,
an authority on this crop in the Miami
valley, says a better plan is to have the
tobacco barn as alright as possible by
mailing strips over all cracks, except
to cut away six inches lengthwise at
bottom to admit fresh air ana leave an
open space at top under the caves, thus
providing constant circulation of air.
Screen space at bottom with wire net
ting to keep out vermin. If the weather
is very dry when the tobacco is harvest
ed, Mr.. thinner would wet it before
hanging i'll such barn. If the weather
becomes very wet with dense fOgs and
much rain so that the crop may rot in
stead of cure, put in small coal stoves
every 20 feet Of the length Of the house,
with pipe through the roof Keep up a
gentle heat to dry the air somewhat,
but admit enough fresh air to maintain
its free circulation.