150 rilE rrLTVRE OF rOBACCO. 



Viy the aii'-curing procesw, in the same niaiiiiei' as other cigar leaf. 

 When all the leaves ai'e harvested, the stalks are cut down and 

 ploughed under or hauled to a pile to decay. 



About a thousand pounds of this shaded tobacco ai'e produced to 

 an acre, and it sells for fi'om two shillings to sixteen shillings a pound. 

 The value of an acre ci-op may be estimated at from one to two hun- 

 dred pounds. In Florida this shaded tobacco is largely grown and 

 handled by companies that produce several hundred acres a year. 

 They aie highly capitalized and can attbrd to pay theii' managers and 

 experts high salaries. The profits ai'e immense. The high price of 

 this leaf is paitially owing to its real value, and partially to the fact 

 that the United States does not produce all of this type of leaf required, 

 and the dome.stic article is protected by a high duty. 



It is an interesting sight to walk thi'ough a large field of shaded, 

 irrigated Sumatra, and see the magnificent plants eight or nine feet 

 high, the large delicate leaves interlacing in everv direction. 



TOBACCO AS AN INSECTICIDE. 



Stems, stalks, and wiirthless tobacco can be made to serve a 

 useful purpose in the destruction of insect pests. The stems, thickly 

 scattered around on the eaith in the greenhouse or the plant bed, will 

 largely prevent the attacks of plant lice. A decoction of tobacco 

 .sprayed on plants, will destroy the majority of tender skinned insects. 

 To secure a decoction of the pioper strength, boil the stems or leaf 

 in water for a length of time, and then dilute it with enough cold 

 water to make two gallons of the preparation for every pound of 

 tobacco used. This can be used in stronger or weaker forms as the 

 conditions seem to require. The fumes of tobacco if confined in a 

 room for a sufficient length of time will largely check the ravages of 

 many insects. 



Tobacco makes an excellent dip to use for all animals for the 

 destruction of ticks, lice and other parasites. A pound of tobacco 

 stems to each two gallons of the dip is the proper strength. 



The woolly aphis, or American blight, does great damage to the 

 apple tree, and, while it is easy to destroy all the aphides on the body 

 of the tiee, the difficult matter has been to find something that will 

 destroy them on the roots, where they will survive and breed new- 

 multitudes for the destruction of the tree. Tobacco stems buried in 

 the soil around the base of the tree are the best remedy to be used in 

 this case. If the season be dry, the tobacco applied in the form of a 

 decoction will give the best results. Tobacco stems around the base 

 of trees do much to prevent the attacks of the different climbing 

 insects, and at the same time are useful as a fertilizer. 



PERIQUE TOBACCO CULTURE. 



Produced by Longfellow's historic Arc<idians on a .soil created 

 by the muddy Mississippi, cured by unique and laborious methods, 

 the fragrant aromatic Perique is shipped to all portions of the 

 globe, to charm the senses of lovers of the " weed." Grand Points, 

 in St. James's Parish, Louisiana, is the centre of the industry, and 

 it was here that a hundred years ago, Pierre Chenet, from whom 



