898 PERSIAN TOBACCO. 
and about ten inches wide. The planters cure by air-drying 
in sheds, and afterwards it is tied up in hands and baled for 
export. For their own use, they have adopted the method 
of the Brazilians, sprinkling the leaf with water containing 
the juice of the poppy. 
The flavor is rich and mellow; a little more oily than 
Havana leaf. It is used for the manufacture of cigars. 
Orinoco tobacco makes very fine flavored cigars, burning 
freely, and leaving a pearl-colored ash; it is considered by 
the Venezuelans to be much better than any variety grown 
in South America. In cultivating it the planters use no fer- 
tilizers whatever, taking up new land as the old wears out. 
The crop is gathered first in May, and then in September. 
PERSIAN TOBACCO. 
Shiraz tobacco is a native of Persia, and is one of the finest 
varieties for the pipe to be found in 
the East. The plant differs from most 
varieties in the color of the flowers and 
the form of the leaves. It is not adapted 
for cigars as it does not readily ignite, 
and this variety together with Manilla, 
are known as non-burning tobaccos. 
After curing, the color is a light yellow, 
the flavor mild and-not unlike Latakia 
and Turkish tobacco. The color of the 
flowers like those of Guatemala tobacco, 
is white, but in other respects nearly 
similar to other kinds. 
AMERSFOORT TOBACCO. 
This variety of tobacco is cultivated quite extensively in 
Holland, in the Veluwe (valley of Guelderland). The plant is 
of good size and averages 1.580 kilos to the hectare. The 
cultivation is very carefully conducted on the richest soil. 
The leaf is very fine and is free from large fibres, fitting it 
for cigars. Large quantities are also used in the manufact- 
ure of snuff. The tobacco plant has been cultivated in 
SHIRAZ TOBACCO, PERSIA. 
