2 74 The Soverane Herbe 



snuff-box belonging to him be taken as proof of 

 the fact. 



Most Popes have found pleasure in the nose- 

 refreshing weed, and the present Pontiff maintains 

 the priestly practice ; his snuff, specially manufac- 

 tured at Baltimore, is the finest now made, and 

 scented with attar of roses. 



Formerly snuff was prepared from the leaf of 

 tobacco. Now this waste of good smoking material 

 is avoided, and better ' sneeshin ' obtained by grind- 

 ing up the stems or midribs. The leaf, which is 

 unavoidably scattered on the floor of the factory and 

 warehouse, is carefully collected and scraped together. 

 Nothing is wasted in a tobacco factory, and all the 

 bits are utilized for snuff of the baser and darker 

 sorts. Light-coloured dry snuffs, such as Scotch, are 

 the purest, and ground from the central stalk only. 



For dry snuffs the stalks, stripped from the leaf, 

 are chopped up, placed in wooden bins, moistened, 

 and allowed to ferment for weeks or even months, the 

 mass being frequently stirred to insure thorough 

 fermentation. It is then gently roasted until dry, 

 and ground into powder in mills. 



Moist snuffs are ground when the stalks are damp, 

 then fermented, and finally mixed with certain salts, 

 scented and moistened to the required flavour and 

 degree. 



Formerly snuff was abominably adulterated. The 

 diseased livers of cows and pigs are said to have been 

 dried and ground into a ' snuff,' which sold largely. 

 Nothing is now permitted to be added to snuff but 

 waters and scents. Unscrupulous makers used to 



