468 BALING. 



and is the manner of putting up tobacco for export in Cuba, 

 Paraguay, Algiers, Hungary, Mexico, Syria, the Philippines, 

 China, Sumatra, Japan, Java, Turkey, and in some other 

 tobacco-growing countries. In Cuba after being formed into 

 hands or " gavillos " and four of these tied together with strips 

 of palm-leaf so as to constitute a " mancja" fifty or eighty 

 of them are packed together, making what is called a " tercio " 

 or bale, the average weight of which is two hundred pounds. 

 Hazard says of the number of pounds produced on the vegas : 



"A caballeria of thirty -three acres of ground produces 

 about nine thousand pounds of tobacco, made up in about 

 the following proportions : four hundred and fifty of desecho, 

 or best ; one thousand eight hundred pounds desechito, 

 or seconds ; two thousand two hundred and fifty pounds of 

 libra, or thirds ; and four thousand five hundred pounds of 

 injwfiado. From these figures, taking the bale at one hund- 

 red pounds, and the average price of the tobacco at twenty 

 dollars per bale, (though this is a low estimate, for the crops 

 of some of the vegas are sold as high, sometimes, as four 

 hundred dollars per bale,) an approximate idea may be formed 

 of the profit of a large plantation in a good year, when the 

 crops are satisfactory." 



In Mexico, after being baled, the tobacco is sent to the 

 government factories, where it is not weighed until two 

 months afterwards. The price is high, varying from twelve 

 to twenty-eight dollars per crate ; and is paid in ten monthly 

 installments. In Persia, when the tobacco is fit for packing, 

 the leaves are carefully spread on each other, and formed 

 into cakes four or five feet round, and three to four inches 

 thick, care being taken not to break or injure the leaves. 

 Bags of strong cloth, thin and open at the sides, are provided, 

 into which the cakes are pressed strongly down on each other. 

 When the bags are filled they are placed in a separate drying 

 house, and are turned every day. Water is then sprinkled 

 on the cakes, if required, to prevent them from breaking. 

 The leaf is valued for being thick, tough, of a uniform light 

 yellow color, and x>f an agreeable aromatic smell. 



In Turkey, the tobacco after remaining in the dwelling- 

 room of the house a sufficient time, is ready for baling. The 



