tion. He conducted a series of experimental 

 investigations in which he searched for and iso- 

 lated the specific microbes found in the best 

 West Indian tobacco. From these he made 

 artificial cultures and introduced them into 

 heaps of inferior, coarse German tobacco which 

 was undergoing curing. His results were such 

 that the smoking quality of the leaf was entirely 

 changed. It could scarcely be distinguished 

 from the best Cuban tobacco and experts and 

 connoisseurs failed to identify the product as 

 German tobacco. A company was formed to 

 exploit the new ideas commercially, but it does 

 not appear to have met with success. Other 

 investigations failed to obtain Suchsland's re- 

 sults and extensive investigation in the Agri- 

 cultural Experimental Station in the United 

 States have not up to now produced any results 

 confirmatory of the theory. 



We can now proceed to follow the course of 

 the tobacco in its peregrinations through the 

 leaf house. 



On their return from the first fermentation 

 the bundles go to the picking department. 

 Leaves which are damaged or unsuitable in any 

 way are here picked out and put aside to be used 

 in the cheaper grades. The leaves are then sub- 

 jected to a thorough cleaning to remove 

 particles of sand, clay, etc., packed tightly in 



