B. T. I.— 285. 



THE RELATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE 

 LEAF TO THE BURNING QUALITIES OF TOBACCO. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Of the many requirements for a first-class smoking tobacco, whether 

 for pipe or cigar, good burning qualities may be said to be most im- 

 portant. Not only are these essential in themselves, but the character 

 of the combustion and the conditions under which it takes place 

 constitute one of the principal factors which control the aroma. 

 The widest variation is found among samples of tobacco as regards 

 the burning qualities, and it frequently happens that an entire crop 

 of the best quality in other respects is rendered almost valueless be- 

 cause it will not burn. The ultimate cause of this variation in 

 burning qualities must be sought in differences in chemical com- 

 position. Experience has shown that the chemical composition of 

 tobacco, as reflected in its burning qualities, is greatly influenced 

 by the character of the soil, the climate, wet and dry seasons, and the 

 kind of fertilizers applied to the soil. Moreover, there is good reason 

 to believe that certain strains or types of tobacco possess the power of 

 appropriating from the soil those constituents conducive to a good 

 burn, while other closely related types under the same conditions are 

 lacking in this power. 



It is evident, therefore, that an accurate knowledge of the chemical 

 characteristics of good and bad burning tobaccos is of fundamental 

 importance in deciding upon the proper selection of soils and fertiliz- 

 ers in order to get the best results. It is highly probable also that such 

 information would prove of great assistance in tobacco breeding in 

 establishing strains possessing specially good burning qualities. Fi- 

 nally, it is well known that independently of the successful growing 

 of a good tobacco crop the curing and fermentation are important 

 factors in developing a good burn, and with a more complete knowl- 

 edge of the chemical changes taking place in these processes further 

 improvements in the methods now in use may be expected, for with 

 better information as to the changes to be effected it will be much 

 easier to develop the best methods for obtaining these results. 

 31112— No. 105—07 m 2 7 



