a 
3868 QUALITY OF INDIAN TOBACCO. 
exotic varieties during the squally weather prevalent about 
the time the leaf is approaching maturity.” 
Robertson, in replying to the assertion that the tobacco of 
India contains little if any nicotine, says: 
“Tt appears to me that there must be some mistake as to 
the tobacco containing little or no nicotine. Very many have 
tried the tobacco, and pronounce it to be good, with, however, 
the fault of being exceedingly strong. Now, the strength of 
tobacco comes from its nicotine, and if the specimens I sent 
contain no nicotine, whence the strength? I believe that 
nothing destroys tobacco so much as moistening it. How, 
then, are acetic acid and chloride of soda to be used in the 
curing? If the process of desiccation had been carried on 
too quickly, the tobacco would have been of either a green or 
greenish-yellow color. If too slowly, it would have been 
black, like much of the country tobacco. I perceive that the 
amount of nicotine in a great measure depends on the extent 
to which the leaf is allowed to ripen. The riper the leaf the 
more the nicotine. The amount of nicotine does not appear 
to depend on the amount of curing. The soil the tobacco 
was grown in is a hardish red moorum soil, containing much 
iron; probably that may account for the red coloring matter 
being so much developed. I intend to have some of each 
description of the tobacco leaf analyzed, and also intend to 
submit the soil in which it was grown to the same process. 
I have had some of the cigars packed up for some months to 
test how far they are proof against insects. None have been 
attacked by insects. Some Manilla cigars, some Trichinopoly 
cheroots, all packed up at the same time, have, however, been 
entirely destroyed by insects. 
“Tt is clear from the reports that both in Guzerat and 
Khandesh, Havana and Shiraz tobacco will flourish, and that 
they may be introduced without difficulty. The ryots, it is 
said, preferred the new kinds to their own, and desire their 
introduction, the ee varieties commanding a higher 
tas in the market. The chief drawback is the want of 
nowledge and appliances for the proper curing of the leaf. 
This, indeed, is the great drawback throughout India. In 
the district of Kaira the seed is always sown in nursery beds 
in the month of July, and transplanting commences about 
the end of August, the operation continuing for about two 
months. The tobacco planted on the dry soil called ‘koor- 
mit’ ripens and is fit for cutting in January and February; 
that which is grown on irrigated land during March and 
