244 Tobacco as a Farm Crop for England. 
These gases were found to be mixtures of CO, COj, N, and hydro-carbons. 
They were not completely analysed, but the object of the experiment was 
kept in view, and the oxides of carbon were determined. The COj was 
absorbed by potash and the CO by cuprous chloride. In this way was 
obtained the amount of carbon oxidized within the leaf itself. The following 
are the results : — 
Cubic centimetres of Gases collected from 1 gramme of Leaf burnt . 
IN Vacuo. 
No. 2. No. 3. No. 4. Xo. 5. No. 6. No. 7. 
99-9 94-8 lOi-7 149-0 137-9 136-1 
Percentage of Carbon Oxidized by Heating in Vacuo. 
No. 2. 
No. 3. 
No. 4. 
No. 5. 
No. 6, 
No. 7. 
CO 
3-38 
•56 
3-30 
•49 
3-63 
•59 
4^46 
•80 
4^70 
•89 
4-33 
•82 
Total 
8-94 
3-79 
4^22 
5^26 
5-59 
5-15 
The results of these experiments point in the direction anticipated, viz., that 
the amount of carbon oxidized in the leaf itself is greater in the foreign and 
fermented tobacco than in the English and unfermented. A larger quantity 
of total gases is given off and the amount of both CO2 and CO is greater. 
This may be due to the difference of the constitution of the leaves, especially 
between fermented and unfermented, but it may also arise, and probably does 
so, from the presence of nitrates to a small extent, and more so to the 
presence of substances introduced at the time of curing. However, too much 
importance must not be attached to these figures at present. The experiment 
requires further investigation and probable modification before results of 
definite value can be obtained. By some such experiment it might be 
possible to measure the internal combustibility of tobacco, and this would be 
an important test. The above experiment tends to show that this can be done, 
and it is mentioned here as a preliminary experiment of some interest.^ 
Taking the whole of the results into consideration, the opinion may be 
expressed that they are not, by any means, all unfavourable. It would be 
out of place at the present time to discuss the probability of tobacco-growing 
in this country becoming a financial success, and it would be presumptive on 
the above few results to attempt to prognosticate. The object of these analyses 
and experiments has been to show the comparative qualities of English and 
foreign tobaccos. This object has been attained as far as the present samples 
are concerned, with the result that some of the most serious faults have been 
laid bare. If the causes of these faults are prevented and guarded against, 
there is no telling what the result may be. The English leaves are veiy 
heavily handicapped on account of not having undergone the process of 
fermentation and curing, and consequently at present cannot be fairly judged 
as a tobacco. Wliat the action of fermentation, storing, &c., will be upon 
ihem, it is not easy to say. One thing is jiretty certain — that the leaves 
would imi)rove, and they might produce a good tobacco, at any rate better 
than some of the inferior qualities imported. It must not be forgotten that in 
the above experiments they iiave been compared with good foreign samples. 
The English leaves are favourable as to size and general ai)pearauce, but 
