104 TOBACCO LEAF. 



cultures of the bacteria active in the sweating of the 

 better tobacco, and Behrens, who has most recently 

 looked into the subject, by way of investigation, is, 

 though rightly conservative, strongly inclined to accept 

 the practicability of Suchsland's suggestion. 



Clearly, the matter is one of vital importance to 

 American growers and manufacturers. It is worthy of 

 the simple, preliminary experiments that packers and 

 makers can carry out, as well as of the more perfectly 

 controlled investigations of our tobacco experiment sta- 

 tions. If, by proper inoculations and maintenance of 

 established conditions of moistening with water, or 

 other more suitable liquid, and of temperature, we can 

 impart to local tobacco the flavor and aromatic smoke of 

 Cuban and other tropical tobaccos, it will be possible to 

 dispense with a large part of the present importations 

 for fillers. 



