THE CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 153 



the pi-oduct derives its name, first started its culture. This locality, 

 described in George W. Cable's " Bona Ventura," lies but a few 

 feet above the swamps of the east bank of the Mississippi river, 

 and were it not for the levees along that stream, the whole country 

 would be under- water for a portion of the year. 



Considering its reputation and its widespread popularity, the 

 total amount of this tobacco produced is very small. In fact, 

 during the past two years, because of the unsatisfactory price 

 ofiered, the production has dwindled to nearly nothing, but through 

 the securing of several contracts, the industry has received new 

 life, and this year the finished product will amount to about eighty 

 thousand pcjunds, with the prospect of a large increase during the 

 next few years. 



The soil is a dark gray, well drained, fertile, friable one, 

 containing a large proportion' of very fine sand. 



But one variety is grown and this, as well as the finished 

 tobacco, is known aa Perique. The plant is a rapid grower, pro- 

 ducing leaves from medium to large in size, with a large stem or 

 midrib. The leaf is tough, gummy and elastic, and when first 

 dried is dark brown in colour. 



The seed beds are made either in an open space in the f(jrest, 

 or on the sheltered side of a building. Several months before 

 sowing time the bed is thoroughly fertilized with stable manure, 

 and well worked up ; after this several re- workings aie made before 

 sowing season. The bed is never- burned. 



When the land has been well prepared, the plants are set out 

 on ridges ab(3ut three feet apart, and are placed two to three feet 

 apart irr the rows. The cultivation, worming, and suckering are 

 about the same as for other pipe tobaccos. An average of from 

 twelve to fifteen leaves are left on the plant. 



When the plant has assumed the speckled appearance indicative 

 of ripeness, it is harvested by being cut ofl' near the ground 

 with a hatchet, the sand lugs being left on the field. Heavy dews 

 are greatly desired during the ripening period, the moisture of the 

 leaf causing the production of a large amount of gum and rich 

 juice. The cutting is done during the hottest portion of the 

 day, and the plant at once carried to the barn. A sharpened 

 piece of cane is then pushed into the stalk so as to form a hook, 

 by means of which the plant is hung on ropes stretched throughout 

 the curing bar-n. 



As rapidly as the leaves dry they are stripped fr-oru the stalk. 

 The first leaves are ready to strip in about eight days, and the last 

 in another eight. The midrib is removed from the leaf as soon as 

 possible, and the stripped leaf made up into small rolls. These 

 rolls are placed in boxes holding about fifty pounds, and, by means 

 of weights on a fifteen foot lever, a pressure of about seven thousand 

 pounds is applied. This force expresses a por'tion of the juice. 

 Every day for a week or two the pressure is reruoved, and the 

 leaves allowed to absorb the oxidized juice. After the first week 

 the pressure is left on for longer and longer- intervals, and at the 

 end of three months the tobacco has become oily black in colour, 

 and developed a rich spirituous aroma. 



After being removed from the press the tobacco is made up 

 into cylindrical rolls called " carrottes ". After the leaves have been 

 aired, a cloth twenty-four by fifteen inches is laid on a table, and 



