6 BULLETIN 109, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
leaf, it appeared probable, in view of the fact that the infection 
was introduced with the tragacanth paste, that the growth on the 
cigar was confined to the paste present on the wrapper. It was 
thought desirable to try to check up this conclusion by attempting 
to grow these molds on cigars. Accordingly, repeated attempts were 
made to grow the organisms in question on pieces of cigars moistened 
and placed in sterile Petri dishes or test tubes. In some cases these 
pieces molded and in others they did not. Usually the piece at the 
head of the cigar molded without difficulty, while those portions from 
other parts of the cigar molded less readily. 
This seemed to confirm the view that the molds were introduced 
with and in general grew on the paste, and the appearance of the 
mold over a large part of the surface of a cigar indicated the smear- 
ing of excess paste over a corresponding portion of the surface. 
REMEDIAL MEASURES. 
Having located the cause of the trouble in the organisms above 
discussed and having found the point of their entrance, as well as 
the seat of their activities, to be in the tragacanth paste, practical 
remedial measures seemed to lie along the line of sterilizing the 
paste. 
In view of the conditions governing the subsequent handling and 
final utilization of cigars, an acceptable sterilizing agency must 
combine several characteristics. It must be permanent, since cigars 
sterilized for but a short time are liable to mold at a later period 
when conditions of heat and moisture concur with or follow the 
exposure of the cigars to the infecting organisms. The substance 
must be odorless and tasteless; otherwise it will alter the taste and 
aroma of the cigar, points on which smokers, and therefore dealers, 
are very sensitive. It must not alter the color or the luster of the 
wrapper, since on these the selling quality of the cigars in consider- 
able part depends. 
STERILIZATION OF THE PASTE. 
A variety of substances having antiseptic properties were chosen 
for test. In general they were dissolved in water, and the resulting 
solutions were either added to the paste already made or were used 
instead of water in making up the paste. These pastes were then 
inoculated with the molds obtained from the moldy cigars or from 
tragacanth gum. 
A thin paste containing 10 grams of gum in 1 liter of water was 
first used. Hydroquinone, thymol, and sodium salicylate were intro- 
duced in concentrations as strong as could be used without influ- 
encing in an objectionable degree the taste, color, or odor. These 
pastes were then inoculated with Aspergillus candidus and Peni- 
cillium glaucum. In all cultures except that containing 5 ¢. c. of 
