THE ORINOCO TOBACCO. 



397 



a year ; curing for exportation as in Cuba or Venezuela. The 

 plant grows to the height of about six feet, bearing leaves 

 lanceolate in form, about thirty inches long, and from eight 

 to twelve inches wide. The tobacco fields are very irregular. 

 After it is cut it is placed on poles in the field, and after- 

 wards carried to the drying sheds. It is gathered in the dry 

 season in September. After curing, it is removed to the 

 packing house and baled in packages, and then transported 

 on mules to the coast for shipping. A large portion of the 

 crop is shipped to Portugal. It is a dark maroon-colored 

 leaf, and contains a large proportion of the nicotine oil. It 

 is a high-flavored tobacco, and on this account is used for 

 cigars and cutting. 



Burton says of the tobacco of Brazil : 



". The tobacco of the Rio de Pomba, especially the c Fumo 

 crespo, 5 is a dark strong leaf, well fitted for making < Caven- 

 dish ' or c Honey-dew ; ' the weed flourishes throughout 

 Minos Gerals. The soil will be much improved by compost ; 

 and the produce by being treated in Virginia style delicately 

 dried in closed barns with fires." 



VENEZUELAN TOBACCO. 



The Orinoco tobacco grows from four to five feet high, 

 bearing large ovate 

 leaves, and is in all 

 respects a fine qual- 

 ity of tobacco. The 

 plant is grown dur- 

 ing 

 the 



used chiefly for 

 cigars, and is ship- 

 ed to Northern Eu- 

 rope. It is packed 

 in carrottes, and 

 then baled. In color 



ORINOCO TOBACCO. (VENEZUELA) 



all seasons of 

 year. It is 



it is dark mahog- 

 any, and of good 

 body and texture. 



The leaf is about eighteen inches long, 



