Abstract: A method for quickly conditioning a mass of tobacco uniformly throughout the mass with steam for the purpose of moisturizing and heating the tobacco evenly throughout.A probe is provided to be inserted within the mass of tobacco for drawing a vacuum while steam is applied to the tobacco mass.A temperature sensor is mounted on the probe to indicate the temperature of inner mass of tobacco.Steam is applied until a desired temperature is sensed at the sensor. The application of steam is continued at that temperature for a period adequate to moisturize and sterilize the tobacco throughout.

Abstract: A digital display updated by inputs from a manual control having a plurality of tactile detents. A counter is loaded with a predetermined number and then decremented at a fixed rate until the number reaches one. The fixed rate is either the program cycle time of a microprocessor embodiment or the clock time of a circuit embodiment. Whenever a detent of the control is detected, the then current value of the counter is added to or subtracted from the display and the counter is again loaded with the predetermined number.