METHOD OP CULTURE. 351 



Germans are among the most thorough cultivators of the 

 plant in Europe, and every operation in the field is done at 

 the proper time and in the right manner. After it is cured 

 they prepare it nicely in rolls and carots, the latter for man- 

 ufacturing into snuff. The tobacco fields are faithfully 

 tended, and the utmost pains taken to secure large, well- 

 formed leaves. The fields present a much more even appear- 

 ance than similar fields in France, where the tobacco grown 

 is small and uneven. The South German growers of tobacco 

 are without doubt the most successful tobacco-growers in 

 Europe, not excepting the Hollanders, who raise an excellent 

 tobacco for snuff. The time of gathering the leaves is the 

 occasion of quite a merry-making among the growers and 

 villagers, and is considered an event of considerable import- 

 ance. Fairholt says : 



" The time of harvesting the leaves is an interesting period 

 for a stranger to visit the villages, which put on a new aspect 

 as every house and barn is hung all over with the drying 

 leaves." 



German tobacco cures well, and some of the finer sorts 

 make excellent cigar wrappers and are much esteemed 



T^t 



-*& 



GERMAN TOBACCO FIELD. 



throughout Europe. The following account of the cultiva- 

 tion and production of tobacco in the different German 



