ngs, 100x60 feet, with usually four rows of racks, and
two gangways for working. On the rack the surface moisture
dries from the leaf; and at the proper time it is again
piled, racked, and so on for three or even four times. The
racks are of rough boards, and the floor of the houses is of
earth. After piling and racking for three weeks, the leaves
are stripped from the stalk and put into 'hands,' and they
are then 'bulked' and lie thus about three months, when the
tobacco is boxed. From the time of cutting, from four to six
months are required to make the leaf ready for the
manufacturer. "Piling" appears to be the most delicate part
of the cure, and they have often to work all night to save
tobacco that threatens to overheat."

In Mexico the leaves are hung up on bast[80] strings, dried in the
shade and then sent to the chief depots, where, when they have
undergone fermentation, they are sorted, and tied up in bundles. In
Persia, the plants are carried to the shed and heaped, and in four or
five days the desired pale yellow color is further developed. The
stalks and center stem of each leaf are now removed and thrown away,
while the leaves are heaped together in the drying house for another
three or four days, when they are fit for packing.

[Footnote 80: The inner bark of the lime-tree.]

[Illustration: Stripping.]

In Turkey the bunches of leaves are exposed to the sun to dry, and
some months' exposure is necessary before they are sufficiently
matured for baling. Rain sets in at a later period, and the tobacco
becoming moist and fit for handling, is then removed from the
threads, and made into bundles or "hands" of about sixty leaves each
and tied around the stems.

After the leaves are thoroughly cured they are in condition for

STRIPPING.

The leaves of the tobacco are easily affected by the humidity of the
atmosphere and during damp weather every opportunity is improved by
the grower for taking down the tobacco preparatory to stripping. After
taking down from the poles the plants should be packed in order to
keep moist until stripped. The tobacco should not be removed from the
poles when it drips or the juice exudes from either the stalk or the
leaves. If stripped in this condition the leaves are apt to stain and
thus become unfit for wrappers. The operation of stripping consists in
taking the leaves from the stalk and tying them i