188 CHAPTER XII 



The tobacco of the Piet Retief District has better body, 

 more elasticity, and more pronounced flavour and aroma than 

 most Transvaal tobaccos. It burns well, and has a higher per- 

 centage of nicotine than the tobacco from the Magaliesberg 

 area. This leaf is used largely for roll and pipe tobacco as well 

 as for snuff. 



All Transvaal tobaccos are air cured, and kraal manure is 

 generally used to stimulate growth. 



The leaf from the Vredefort District of the Orange Free 

 State is very similar to that of the Potchef stroom District , and 

 is used for the same purpose. 



The Oudtshoorn District and the Kat River District are 

 the two principal areas of the Cape where Virginia tobacco is 

 grown. The leaf from the former district is of good size, heavy 

 in texture, inclined to be coarse, burns moderately well, and 

 has a fairly high nicotine content. This tobacco is usually 

 dark brown in colour, and is used for roll, pipe and snuff pur- 

 poses. The Kat River District produces both bright and dark 

 leaf. The tobacco in some cases burns poorly, and for cigarette 

 purposes requires blending with leaf of better burning quality. 

 The dark tobacco is somewhat smaller in size than the Oudts- 

 hoorn leaf, and somewhat lighter in texture and body. The 

 dark leaf from this area is used principally for manufacturing 

 roll and pipe tobacco. 



The Virginia tobacco grown in the Union is well adapted 

 for local consumption, but would scarcely find a large overseas 

 market at present. Once the tobacco-consuming public in other 

 parts of the world becomes accustomed to its peculiar flavour 

 and aroma, the demand would at once be created. 



Rhodesian Virginian tobacco is practically all flue-cured, 

 and varies in colour from lemon-yellow to mahogany and dark 

 brown. The leaf is generally inclined to be small and fine, 

 with good body, low nicotine content, mild in flavour; is 

 aromatic and keeps well. It is used for the manufacture of 

 cigarettes and pipe mixtures, which are sold in competition 

 with similar articles made from American tobacco. As there is 

 a very great demand for tobacco of this type, the better grades 

 of Rhodesian tobacco find a ready market overseas. 



The Turkish tobacco of both the Western Province and 

 Rhodesia has good colour, texture, body and burning qualities, 

 but its flavour and aroma are not so pronounced as that pro- 

 duced in the Levant. The cigarettes manufactured from this 

 tobacco are therefore lacking in the full flavour and pleasing 

 aroma which are characteristic of the imported article of the 

 highest quality. Cigarettes made from South African-grown 



