190 SOUTH AFRICAN TOI'.ACCOS. 



different tobaccos obtained from new countries like the Transkei 

 and Rhodesia. It is of interest to compare the amount of 

 nicotin and ash in these tobaccos with the results given above. 



The following results are the average of at least three 

 determinations. It may be stated that the determinations made 

 in each case did not materially differ from one another :— 



Nicotin Ash 



Locality, etc- per cent- per cent. 



Virginian Leaf (Hester), flue-cured 



Rhodesian grown 2.14 12.15 



Turkish Tobacco ( Rhodesian grown ) 2.52 10. ..^5 

 Pondo Tobacco, EUiotdale District, 



Pondoland 1.45 14-58 



Kafir Tobacco, Willowvale District. 



Transkei 1.13 14.26 



Karoo Tobacco, Oudtslioorn 4.92 19.16 



Cango Tobacco, Oudtshoorn 1.44 12.02 



It is of interest to compare these latter results with the 

 composition of some of the more famous varieties of tobacco, 

 most of which contain 17.2 per cent, of ash, whereas the per- 

 centage of nicotin varies. 



Best Havana Tobacco contains 2.5 per cent, of nicotin. 



Brazil ,, ,, 2.0 ,, ,, 



Sumatra ,, „ 4.12 „ 



Kentucky „ ,.4-53 



Maryland ,, ., 1.26 ,, 



Domingo „ ,, .82 



Ohio „ ., .68 



In all tropical and subtropical countries much has been done 

 in recent times for the improvement of tobacco by proper selec- 

 tion of varieties suitable for climate and soil. In the Transvaal, 

 too, much has been done already through the energy of the 

 Director of Agricidture to improve the cultivation of tobacco. 



It is to be hoped that in those parts of South Africa which 

 have summer rains, Transkei, Natal, Transvaal and certain parts 

 of Rhodesia, the cultivation of tobacco will receive more atten- 

 tion than it does at present. There is no doubt that by proper 

 cultivation a very superior tobacco can be produced in these 

 countries which will stand comparison with the best tobaccos 

 grown in the tropical and subtropical countries which at present 

 supply the European market. 



The following is the method adopted by the writer in deter- 

 mining nicotin in tobacco. : — 



The tobacco leaves are first dried at a temperature of be- 

 tween 60° and 70°, or in a desiccator, to remove all moisture. 

 The ribs are then removed and the leaves crushed in a mortar to 

 a fine powder. Twenty grammes of this fine tobacco powder 



