34 



Towards the time that the tobacco-plants are top- 

 ped, the planter selects on his field those parts where the 

 plants are best developed and are likely to produce 

 good seed. 



These parts are then surrounded by hedges and 

 are very carefully tended until the tiny fruit is ripe. When 

 the ripe fruit has been plucked, they are dried in the 

 sun; the husks burst and the grains fall. They are pre- 

 served in hermetically closed bottles. 



§ 3. Formerly sorts of tobacco, originally from Java, 

 were planted. The leaves were too small and not broad 

 enough, they were not in demand in Europe, so that 

 other sorts were used. At first Dutch tobacco was taken, 

 it grew very well, but soon degenerated. Then Havanna- 

 and Manilla-tobacco were tried. The trials with Havanna- 

 tobacco did not answer. The quality changed entirely 

 and consequently became unfit for commercial use. Trials 

 made with Manilla-tobacco had a better result. This sort 

 also degenerated, but this was the very cause of its 

 yielding qualities which made it „par excellence" fit for 

 treatment. It lost its taste and perfume, but preserved 

 its original flexibility, so that it could be used for treating 

 all kinds of tobacco. 



Plants of Deli-tobacco have also been tried with 

 good results. 



§ 4. The grains are directly sown in the plots, 

 mixed with wood-ash. Also, but more rarely, the grains 



