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The World's Commercial Products 





INTERIOR OF A FERMENTATION HOUSE IN SUMATRA 



be quite absent from leaf intended for pipe or cigarette tobaccos, since the gum would 

 seriously interfere with the cutting of the leaf when placed in the machines. 



As might be suspected, x it is not often that a single tobacco possesses all the desirable 

 properties demanded by. both the manufacturer and the consumer. In fact, it is very seldom 

 that such an ideal leaf is met with, and it is necessary to blend or mix different grades until a 

 satisfactory article is obtained. Several motives induce the manufacturer to blend his tobaccos 

 extensively. Much of the mixing is, as just stated, carried out with the object of producing 

 as perfect a tobacco as possible, or one to meet the requirements of special tastes. On the 

 other hand, it is a very common practice to add a comparatively small proportion of an expen- 

 sive, first-class, and highly flavoured tobacco, such as Perique, to varieties which are deficient 

 in desirable qualities, with the result that a perfectly satisfactory article of medium quality 

 is obtained. No small part of modern blending, however, is the direct result of the caprice 

 of the taste of the 'consumer. Fashion plays a considerable part in the choice of tobaccos, 

 and constitutes one of the many difficulties which have to be met by the manufacturer. Should 

 the latter place upori the market brands of tobacco which consisted of one variety only, it 

 would be 'highly probable that, should that . particular variety of leaf become scarce at any 

 time, the substitution for it. of a different variety would ruin the reputation of the brand. To 

 avoid tfiis undesirable state of affairs, the manufacturer places upon the market brands which 

 are largely blended from various tobaccos — as many as five different, varieties being sometimes 

 used— in order that, should any particular leaf become scarce, the substitution of another 

 variety will not be markedly noticeable. 



