120 TOBACCO. 



tation that it would degenerate into a putrid one. The 

 leaves should have a soft silkiness, but should have no 

 positive signs of water on them after they have been 

 dyed. 



" When the tobacco is in a good state of softness, the 

 next operation is the ' cabeceo.' This operation consists in 

 uniting the leaves by the heads putting them perfectly 

 even, and joining together a uniform number of each class. 

 The leaves should be collected in the palm of the left 

 hand, drawing gently the right hand over all the length 

 of each leaf from the head to the point, and tying them 

 at the heads with a piece of yagua or vine, or, as most 

 people do, by binding one of the leaves round the head of 

 the bundle. This operation is generally made in the 

 evening, and the following morning they should be placed 

 in the bales, as it injures the tobacco to allow it to dry in 

 manojos before putting it into bales, for, if too dry, fermen- 

 tation is retarded, or is incomplete in the bales. 



" We have described the manner of washing or dyeing, 

 in making the gavillas, and tying them in bundles as the 

 most practical vegueros do. In this part we should not, we 

 think, advise any innovation, except that of using old 

 seasoned tobacco instead of fresh for making the infusion, 

 and substituting a decoction made by boiling, instead of 

 an infusion in cold water. But we strongly advise a 

 reform in the sorting and the classification ; and a fixed 

 number of each class of leaves should be put in each 

 gavilla, as a basis from which to start all calculations 

 for mercantile transactions. We believe, therefore, it 

 would be convenient to fix, after the following order, 



