CURING. 135 



many others. The burning quality is improved by 

 macerating in or sprinkling with solutions of carbonate 

 of potash, acetate of potash, acetate of lime, or saltpetre, 

 &c. Badly-burning cigars inserted for a moment in such 

 solutions are much improved. Tobacco treated with 

 acetate of lime yields a very white ash. The colour is 

 sometimes improved by fumigating the leaves with 

 sulphur, and by the application of ochre and saffron. 



Although it may be said that fine tobaccos generally 

 do not require any impregnation with foreign matter for 

 the sake of flavour, yet the manufacturer frequently 

 endeavours to give the leaf a particular aroma. An 

 inferior tobacco, however, which often would not find a 

 market, is sometimes so much improved by artificial 

 means, as to compete successfully with the genuine fine 

 article. It is said that in Germany indigenous tobacco 

 is often so much " improved " that the cigars made from 

 it, after being covered with a fine tobacco leaf, are sold 

 as genuine Havanas. A special preparation of tobacco 

 for snuff is seldom attempted by the cultivator. With 

 reference to the preparation of tobacco for export, the 

 sorting of the leaf is of the utmost importance ; only first 

 and second sorts should be exported. It would be well 

 to remove the midribs, whereby the cost of transport and 

 customs duty would be greatly reduced. 



The value of a cigar depends, not only on the intrinsic 

 value of the leaf, but to a great extent on the mode of 

 manufacture. Thus, the raw material may be of good 

 quality, but if the maker does not classify the leaves 

 properly, or if he rolls his cigars too hard, which must 

 vary according to the qualities of the leaves, the cigar 



