by the descendants of the old French Colonists. 
The properties which it possesses are essential- 
ly due to the peculiar method of curing and 
fermentation and not to any peculiarity in the 
leaf itself. It is the only tobacco in the United 
States that is grown and put in its final condi- 
tion for the consumer by the farmer. It is 
said that the output of genuine Perique is small, 
being well under 50,000 lbs. annually. But 
there is a good deal of substitute Perique sold 
in lieu of the genuine kind. 
The tobacco is raised on a black, deep, ex- 
ceedingly rich soil. The leaf is medium im size, 
about 18” long, and a rapid grower. The stem 
is small, the fiber tough and gummy. 
In curing no artificial heat is used. The 
leaf is hung in sheds for about 10 days. It is 
then stripped into half leaves. These are taken 
in bundles of about 20 each and converted into 
rough “twists.”* A dozen or so “twists” are 
packed in a box 11” square the weight being 
about 50 Ibs. The contents of the box are then 
submitted to a pressure of about 7000 lbs. for 
at least 24 hours. The tobacco is then taken 
out and the twists again opened up. The leaves 
are exposed to the air and sunlight until an 
exudate appears on them and is reabsorbed. 
This is done over and over again for at least 
10 days or until in appearance the tobacco 
126 
