TfTE CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 33 



If a tobacco be intended for i-liewing, it must have a certain 

 toughness so that it will hold together while being masticated, and not 

 break up into small flakes in the mouth. Chewing tobacco must also 

 V>e lieh in flavour. A tobacco that has a high absorptive capacity is 

 eagerly sought after fur this purpose, for the I'eason that large 

 quantities of flavouring licpiids and sauces are added. It is this 

 ability to hold so large a quantity of flavouring sauces that gives to 

 the White Burley its popularity. 



Tobacco intended for pipe smoking and fcjr cigarettes njust be 

 free from the gumminess so sought for in chewing toliaecos. This 

 gumminess would interfere with the cutting or granulation of the 

 leaf by machinery. The liright toliaecos ai'e at the" present time the 

 fashion foi' cigarettes. 



It is seldom that the desired standaid of flavour is found in any 

 <.)ne tobacco, and it becomes necessary to blend oi' mix difl'ereut 

 grades. Often this lilending is done from the standpoint of economy, 

 when a certain proportion of a perfect flavoured, but high-priced, leaf 

 is used to give quality and character to a cheajjer tobacco with all the 

 requirements except the flavour. In some brands the Perique is 

 largely used for this purpnse. At other times the Ijlending is 

 conducted on the principle that, if but one tobacco be used, and 

 at any time this particular tobacco becomes unnbtainalile, the 

 sulistitution of an entirely diflFerent tobacco at such a time would ruin 

 the established leputation of the brand by changing its character. 

 Four or five, or even more, different grades of leaf are blended 

 together, and the suhstitution of a different grade for any one of 

 them does not radically change the character of the blend. 



The colour of the tobacco demanded is largely subject to fashion, 

 and may change at any time, but the aroma sought for remains the 

 same. Smokers are more and more demanding a certain standard of 

 excellence in this particular. Brain workers, and those living a 

 sedentary life, prefer a mild tobacco, while those living a rugged out- 

 of-door life — as sailors — seek a strong, stimulating tobacco. The 

 colour of a tobacco is not necessarily indicative of its strength. A 

 mild tobacco may be thoroughly fermented until it is dark in colour, 

 while a strong tobacco may have the feinientation cut short and be 

 light in colour. A heavy dark leaf is, however, likely to be rich in 

 nicotine and other similar products. The colour of the wrapjjer on a 

 cigar is not a good feature by which to judge the strength and quality 

 of the smoke. Cigars are often encased in all colours of wrappers 

 when made, and assorted accoi-ding to colour later. A cigar should 

 be selected by the sense of smell ; a tol.iacco that has a pleasant ai'oma 

 will u.sually be agreeable if the burning qualities are also good. 



The palate and olfactories learn to accommodate themselves even 

 to a pool' smoke, and for this reason it is often a slow process to 

 educate a nation to use a new good tobacco in preference to a badly- 

 flavoured tobacco that has become established. A smoker may, 

 because of his perverted taste, judge a bad tobacco to excel what is in 

 truth a better tobacco. 



The Tobaccos Called for by Difi'erkn't Countries. 



The Germans demand a tobacco from 18 to 26 inches in 

 length, with fine stems, sweet flavour, and strong and elastic filire. 



