Tobacco 



ferments, whilst others incline, to the belief that it arises from 

 insufficient nutrition. This question, however, is far from being 

 settled. 



The Curing Process 



The curing process is one which must be very carefully carried 

 out, for a good quality tobacco may be ruined by a lack of skill 

 at this stage. The curing is not merely a drying process, but 

 the exact chemical changes which take place are. very im- 

 perfectly known. It appears tolerably certain, however, 

 that the ferments or " enzymes," which, during the sub- 

 sequent "fermentation" of the leaf, give rise to chemical 

 changes which develop' the aroma of the finished 

 tobacco, are formed during the curing process ; and 

 it follows, therefore, that unless the curing is 

 carried out with great care, the fermentation can- 

 not be of a satisfactory character. In the 

 case of certain tobaccos, such as the 

 popular bright yellow varieties, aroma is 

 not so much sought after as lightness 

 of colour, and, in the preparation of 

 these tobaccos, the curing is effected 

 at such a high temperature as to 

 destroy practically all the en- 

 zymes, so that there is but 

 little fermentation in the 



slender 

 stalks. The 

 leaves are de- 

 voured by "horn 

 worms," which 

 are so called on ac- 

 count of a prominent 

 horn attached to the 

 posterior end of, the 

 body, and other caterpil- 

 lars (Heliothis armiger) de- 

 stroy the terminal bud of 

 the plant. The latter pest is 

 an object worthy of particular 

 notice, since it is the same 

 which, under the name of the 

 " cotton boll-worm," causes such 

 terrible losses to cotton planters 

 These and many other insect pests jj 



cause considerable trouble to the to- 

 bacco grower, but he has a valuable 

 remedy to hand in an arsenical com- 

 pound known as Paris Green, which is 

 sprayed or dusted over the plants affected, 

 and is fairly effective in destroying the 

 parasites. There are also many fungal dis- 

 eases, both of the living plant and also of 

 the cured tobacco. One of the most important, 

 which has caused enormous damage, is known 

 as the " mosaic disease," since it causes the 

 leaves to present a mosaic appearance as a result 

 of irregular light and dark patches on the living 

 leaves. This disease has been shown to be infectious, 

 and is carried through the fields by the fingers of work- 

 men who " top " the plants by nipping the buds (see 

 above). The disease has been attributed to various causes. 

 Some believe that it is the result of bacteria and poisonous 



subsequent process. On the 

 other hand, it is most 

 essential that cigar leaf 

 should possess as fine 

 an aroma as possible, 

 and hence to allow 

 of this being per- 

 fected during 

 fermentation, 

 the curing 

 must be 



A BRIDAL PIPE FROM 

 HOLLAND 



