TESTING THE BURNING QUALITY OF TOBACCO. 33 



continue to burn for u much longer period, thereby giving results 

 altogether out of proportion to the true burning qualities of the 

 tobacco in question. Another serious objection to the method is found 

 in the interference of the veins of the leaf; for it seldom happens 

 that the glow can cross these veins except around the outer edges of 

 the leaf, while in the cigar the veins always run longitudinally and 

 so do not interfere with the burn. 



The rational ^^rocedure would seem to be to test the burn of the 

 leaf when wiapped in some such form as is actually found on the cigar, 

 but without the use of binder or tiller. We have devised a method of 

 this kind in which the leaf, after being properly wrapped and dried, is 

 burned with the aid of a slow current of air. The current of air com- 

 pensates in a measure for the absence of the tiller and binder, while its 

 use obviates the unavoidable irregularities of the latter. A detailed 

 description of the apparatus used and the method of carrying out the 

 operation will be found on page 37. This test, combined with the 

 smoking of the cigar, has enabled us to accurately classify a large 

 number of samples of wrapper leaf with respect to their burning 

 qualities. 



THE SMOKING TEST. 



It is evident that no two persons would smoke a cigar in exactly the 

 same way, nor would the same individual smoke two cigars under 

 exactly similar conditions. It is necessary, therefore, to use some 

 rc^eans of smoking the cigars artiticially in order to eliminate the per- 

 sonal equation and secure uniformity of conditions. Dr. K. H. Jen- 

 kins, in the Annual Report of the Connecticut Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station for 1892, has described an apparatus for smoking cigars 

 which was devised by Mr. S. L. Penfield, of Yale University. The 

 " pull '" on the cigar is secured by means of an aspirator which is filled 

 by a continuous inflow of water and emptied at regular intervals by a 

 siphon. We have moditied this apparatus in a number of details in 

 order to adapt it to our needs, and we give herewith a description of 

 the form and dimensions which we have finally adopted for use in 

 our investigations. In this apparatus as many as four cigars may be 

 smoked simultaneously, while held in such a position that they may 

 be readily compared throughout the operation. 



By reference to the accompanying illustration (fig. 2) it will be seen 

 that the holders (a, h, c, and d) for the cigars are so arranged that 

 they all lie in the same vertical plane, each one 2 inches above and 

 havino- its horizontal arm 2 inches shorter than the next lower. A 

 screen with a white covering is placed immediately in the rear of the 

 holders to serve as a background, thereby facilitating observation of 

 the character of the ash. Between the flask bearing the holders and 

 the aspirator and connected with these by means of ^dass tubing is a 

 18270— No. 100—07 3 



