14 
EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO. 
The reader will please note the difference in compo¬ 
sition of tobaccos grown on rich and poor soils respect¬ 
ively. But one analysis was made of the acids present in 
tobacco. By qualitative test there were found acetic, 
pectic, citric, malic and oxalic acids. Resinous and fatty 
substances were found in considerable quantities. Of 
their nature little is known. The active principle of 
tobacco is a volatile, highly poisonous liquid alkaloid, 
known as nicotine (C 10 H 14 N 2 ). Nessler says that this 
substance increases as the plants ripen, but again decreases 
when the plants are allowed to become overripe. When 
the tobacco is smoked the nicotine is partly decomposed, 
and the resulting products, together with those of the 
other constituents of the leaf, unite with the nicotine, which 
is unaltered, to produce the physiological effects which 
occur while smoking. If the tobacco burns well, a greater 
amount of nicotine is decomposed; but when it burns 
poorly, even though the sample may contain less nicotine, 
a less quantity is decomposed, and a greater narcotic 
effect is produced on the human system. The amount of 
nicotine present in the plant depends upon several considera¬ 
tions. The climate, the soil, the treatment during growth 
and curing, have each an influence. The finer tobaccos 
usually contain the smaller percentages. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
1. For conclusions, with reference to particulars in 
growth and after-treatment, see Bulletin No. 4 and First 
Annual Report, 1888. 
2. Cigars manufactured from the crop of 1888 have 
been tested by many persons. The uniform testimony is 
that Colorado-grown tobacco makes a cigar of fine flavor 
with excellent burning qualities. 
3. The chemical examination of the samples grown 
shows, by comparison with Connecticut grown tobaccos, 
