236 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTCJlilST. 
[Oct. 1, 1900. 
the stalks and pilefl in heaps. It is explained that 
it is tak.^n down dui-ing a warm damp spell. Sup- 
posing the damp spell did not occtiis 1 uppreliend 
it couid be produced by injecting hoc vapoui- into 
the barn or shed. The heaps are then covered over 
with sacks or cloth to keep them in "order" which 
means a moist condition iu which the leaves will 
not break. The leaves are then packed in boxes 
lined with strong tough paper, which is also tightly 
wrapped over the top before closing. In this state 
a great deal is sold to the curing or manufacturing 
establishments. Some growers, it is added, care- 
fully sort the leaves and get 3 cents a lb. more for 
it. Here it will be seen is uo question of fermentinij 
for the grower, that being done by others 
In the matter of fermenting there appear several 
methods, of which the following is the firs^t. Tlie 
sweating is done in wooden cases lioldiug 300 lbs. 
of tobacco. About half an inch blank is left between 
the boards to allow moisture to escape. The boxes 
are then filled with leaves packed with thick ends 
outwards; they are then tightly pressed down to 
exclude air as much as possible and the top is 
screwed on the box. The boxes are piled up in the 
warihouse, and there left all through the winter 
and the following summer ; being merely changed 
in order once or twice, i o , the bottom box is placed 
at' top and all the bo.xe.s turned upside down. I'his, 
iu brief, is apparently the simplest method of all. 
It is added that the warehouse temperature is kept 
nre'tty uniform during the winter and sometimes 
the tobacco is overcured, and sometimes undercured. 
'•jVothiuc in point of fact is done save to maintain 
the temperature of the room moderately uniform." 
In Florida, however, where the Cuba and Sumatra 
kinds are somewhat extensively grown, the process 
is entirely different. To begin uith, the leaves are 
gathered as they ripen and not all at once ; this 
for the Sumatra kind ; the Cuba plant is cut as already 
described. When dried, as in the case of other 
kinds the leaves are piled for the ferment, and this may 
be done on the floor or in bins. The room is then 
kept very moist, and the temperature also very 
high by artificial means, as may be gathered from 
the following " The temperature of the room_ is 
kept quite high and the vapour from the bulk which 
is being worked over is very pungent and almost over- 
nowering. There is a strong odour of ammonia which 
makes it dilhcult to breathe." The bulk is watched 
incessantly and as the temperature rises the tobacco 
piles are torn down and rebuilt, each hand of tobacco 
being shaken out to cool it, prevent sticking and 
dry It somewhat. Before the sweat is completed the 
piles are pulled down in similar fashion eight or ten 
times 'ihe exact time when they should be pulled 
down' and rebuilt depends entirely on the rise of 
temperature and the condition of the tobacco, which 
can only be determined by the operator, but the 
temperature of the pile is allowed to rise gradually 
until it occasionally reachea-lSO P., this representing 
the maximum, from which the pile slowly recedes 
until the temperature of the room is reached, and 
this temperature of 180 F. must be reached gradually. 
For the wrapper leaf, the temperature should not 
eo too far, but for the filler, the further it goes and 
the more intense the action the stronger and finer 
will be the tobacco, if well done. When the process 
is completed the leaves are very careiully sorted 
into crades and packed into either bales or Garottes 
cylindrical roll.). The fillers, that is, the leaves 
reserved for the interior of cigars, are frequently 
re-sweated in order to bring out the tuUest quality 
and also pduned. What may bo the scientilic 
meaning of petuned (the word itself) I am unable 
to say, or what language it is derived from, " buc 
Hophistication " will fit the case very well, as the 
followins shows:-" The essential part of the peUming 
li.iuid is a thick infusion of tobacco stems of the 
finest quality obtainable. To this is added molasses, 
cider, Jamaica rum or sour wine." Other matter is 
also added, but is a secrol, o£ the Oubau maka'iJ 
^hich they are unwilling lo divulge. 
After this the bales are piled in the warehouse, 
and the temperature of the room kept rather cool, 
and tlijre ihc tobacco should remain at least t«o 
years, " and the longer it is left to age the better 
it becomes." Other modifiBd methods there are, 
but it would appear much depend.s on the ferment, 
and pulling the piles to pieces the moment there 
is any danger of over-fermentation: and likewise 
p'-eventing a too rapid fermentation. In every case 
the leaves would appear to be bulked to a consider- 
able extent either on the floor, in bins, or hogs- 
heads ; and when the tobacco has run the course 
of the ferment it is bo far complete. 
In the case, however, of the celebrated Virginia 
tobaccos, the moditication is so considerable as to 
constitute another method. The leaves are taken 
straight away to the barns and hung up. These 
barns have fines running through them, and the 
moment the leaves are hung quite tresh, the tires 
are lit up and heat gradually increased without 
check day or night until it reaches 80 or 90 de- 
grees and maintained at that until the leaves turn 
a bright yellow, which is in the course of from 18 
to 36 hours, and requires very close watching for 
the correct colour. After this stage is reached the 
temperature is increased hourly five to 10 degrees 
until it reaches 115 to 120° at which it is held until 
complete cure of leaf is effected, after which the 
temperature is slowly run to 160-175"^ for the pur- 
pose of curing the stalks. 
TYPES OF TOBACCO EXPORTED. 
The United States export an immense lot of 
tobacco to many countries : among them I find the 
following (the observations appear to me not altogether 
devoid of a species of humour) : 
1. " The German type is a very fat heavy-bodied 
leaf, strong, tough, and elastic ... a fat leaf is always 
demanded." 
2. " The Italian type is a little lighter in colour 
than the German, very smooth and silky, not so 
fat, but of good length. 
3. "The Austrian type is slightly lighter in colour 
than the Italian, but the two types grade into each 
other so that no sharp lines can be drawn." 
4. "The French type of tobacco is lighter in 
colour . . . thinner of body, not so fat ; baa little 
elasticity, and in most ways is a poorer grade of 
leaf than the three types just described." 
5. " The Spanish trade takes a large quantity of 
nondescript and low-grade leaf and luges of all types, 
colours, and textures, very little good leaf is called 
for." 
Lastly come our gallant Jack Tars, thus :— " The 
heaviest type of tobacco goes to England for use 
in Navy Wug. Sailors require stimulants, and the 
heaviest of tobaccos carrying a high per cent, of 
nicotine are used in Navy Plug." NIOOTIANA. 
■ — Pioneer, Sep. 15. 
CHILE PEPPER CULTURE. 
Mr. .J.B. Neff, of Anaheim, California, discoursea 
on Chile pepper culture, in the Califonia Cultivator, 
on the basis of his own experience as a successful 
producer of hot stuff. 
Hoin Plants are groirn.—A hot bed is made by 
excavating about 16 inches deep ; fill in to within 
4 inches of the top with damp stable manure, tramping 
down very solidly. Spread about 4 inches of sandy 
loam over the manure. The seed is sown quite 
thickly over the loam, and then about i inch of loose, 
sandy soil placed evenly over it, and all kept damp. 
When the plants have two or three leaves, thin to 
IJ inches apart each way. The plants must be 
watered v^hile in the hotbed by sprinkling. Great 
care should be taken to protect from frost. 
Soil and Preparation— B.ich, sandy soil is the best 
for the Chile pepper. It should be ploughed deeply, 
and be put in a state of thorough cultivation. Eidges 
should be made 3 feet apart, and the plants set 
2J feet apart on the ridges. All plants must be on 
