266 TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 







DISTRIBUTION OF THE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS IN THE PLANT. 



From the investigations heretofore made concerning the distribution of the different constituents, it would 

 appear that they are very unequally distributed throughout the different organs of the tobacco plant. 



The results of Nessler have, as already stated, shown that nicotine is present in larger quantity in the substance 

 of the leaves than in the ribs. Buchner (Buchner's Repertorium, xxxii, 38) found it in abundance in the seeds of 

 the plant. In the leaves from plants grown under different conditions of soil, climate, and mode of cultivation, 

 the percentage of nicotine varies greatly, as will be seen from the following analyses by Schloesing (Ann. Chim. 

 Phys. [3] xix, 230) : 



PROPORTION OF NICOTINE IN LEAF TOBACCO, COMPUTED ON THE LEAF, DRIED AT 100 C. 



Percentage 

 Variety or source. of nicotine. 



Havana 2.00 



Virginia 6.87 



Kentucky 6.09 



Maryland 2.29 



Cigars (French, at 15 centimes) 2.00 



Department Lot (French) 7.96 



Department Lot-et-Garonne (French) 7. 34 



Department Nord (French) 6.58 



Department Ille-et-Vilaine (French) 6.29 



Department Pas-de-Calais (French) 4.94 



Alsatia 3.21 



Snuff 2.04 



The amount of nicotine varies in different samples even among those from the same locality, and is influenced 

 greatly by the character of the fermentation which the tobacco has undergone, as well as the length of time it has 

 been kept, and the degree of exposure to which it has been subjected. 



Nitric acid is very unequally distributed in the plant, being, as will be seen from the following table by 

 Schloesing, (Ann. Chim. Phys. xl, 479), much more abundant in the midrib than in the substance of the leaf. 



PROPORTION OF NITRIC ACID IN TOBACCO, COMPUTED ON THE LEAF, DRIED AT 100 C. 



Percentage of 

 nitric acid Percentage of 

 in the leaf nitric acid 

 deprived of in the midrib. 

 FRANCE: the midrib. 



Department Nord 1.49 5.00 



Department Pas-de-Calais 1.74 5.99 



Department Ille-et-Vilaine 0.48 2.10- 



Department Lot 0.60 2.08 



Department Lot-et-Garonne 0.90 1.98 



Alsatia 0.23 0.46 



ALGIERS : 



Algerie des colons " 0. 74 6. 10- 



Alge'rie des Arabes 0. 14 1.04 



EUROPE : 



Holland 2.00 5.12 



Hungary (Szegedin) 0.39 3.11 



Hungary (Debreczyn) 0.02 0.43 



Macedonia 0.02 0.25 



EXOTIC : 



Maryland 0.09 0.74 



Kentucky 0.97 5.67 



Havana 0.14 0.72 



Brazil 0.08 1.80 



Paraguay 1.80 4.70 



Java 0. 02 0. 15 



According to Schloesing, the percentage of nitric acid in the midrib diminishes as the latter contracts on 

 approaching the apex of the leaf. The small lateral ribs contain nearly the same amount as the substance of the 

 leaf. By the fermentation of tobacco, as in the manufacture of snuff, the percentage of nitric acid remains unchanged. 



Pectic acid is contained in larger proportions in the ribs than in the substance of the leaves. 



The mineral ingredients are distributed unequally in the different parts of the plant, as will be seen from the 

 following table (PELOUZE ET FREMY, T. iv, p. 637) : 



PROPORTION OF ASH IN TOBACCO, DRIED AT 100 C. 



Per cent. 



Leaves and ribs 17 to 24 



Stalks 6 to 16 



Roots 5 to 14 



860 



