Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce

by E. R. Billings

Shiraz Tobacco, (Persia).

Shiraz tobacco is a native of Persia, and is one of the finest varieties for the pipe to be found in the East. The plant differs from most varieties in the color of the flowers and the form of the leaves. It is not adapted for cigars as it does not readily ignite, and this variety together with Manilla, are known as non-burning tobaccos. After curing, the color is a light yellow, the flavor mild and not unlike Latakia and Turkish tobacco. The color of the flowers like those of Guatemala tobacco, is white, but in other respects nearly similar to other kinds.

AMERSFOORT TOBACCO.

This variety of tobacco is cultivated quite extensively in Holland, in the Veluwe (valley of Guelderland). The plant is of good size and averages 1.580 kilos to the hectare. The cultivation is very carefully conducted on the richest soil. The leaf is very fine and is free from large fibres, fitting it for cigars. Large quantities are also used in the manufacture of snuff. The tobacco plant has been cultivated in Holland since its first introduction, with complete success, producing a variety for snuff unrivaled by any other tobacco grown in Europe.

In color Dutch tobacco is both dark and light; the former being used for snuff and the latter for cigars and cheroots.

ST. OMER TOBACCO.

Tobacco is an important product in France, and affords the government an immense revenue. In the north of France two varieties are cultivated, the Brazilian and the Mexican, but the tobacco is unlike that grown in those countries. Most of the tobacco of France is small and inferior to Havana and Manilla. In the South of France tobacco is cultivated to a considerable extent, but is of inferior quality, lacking the rich flavor of the tobacco of Cuba. The cultivation is permitted only in certain departments, and the cultivators must use only the seed supplied to them by the officers of the regie. This is selected with the greatest care, the kind and quantity depending upon the nature of the land, the soil being carefully analyzed, and cultivation prohibited in soils which do not possess the constituents necessary for the growth of good tobacco. These analyses also determine the quantities and sorts of manure required to bring the land into fit condition. Most of the seed used is the produce of seed imported at various times from North America and Cuba.

The cultivation is most carefully watched, and the statistics available concerning it are of the minutest kind. Not only is the area of each field of tobacco accurately measured, but each plant is noted down, and even each leaf on each plant is accounted for. St. Omer is used chiefly for snuff, sometimes used with other kinds and is much esteemed by the French who consider it among the best of tobaccos.

HUNGARIAN TOBACCO.

This variety is attracting considerable attention, from the fact that it is well adapted for the manufacture of cigars. Like Connecticut seed leaf, the leaves are large and well suited for cigar wrappers. A considerable portion is adapted for other uses, and it is in some respects a good cutting tobacco. When in fine condition, Hungarian leaf burns freely and leaves a clean, light-colored ash. No variety of tobacco grown in Europe is attracting more notice than this, and if good leaf tobacco suitable for cigars can be grown, American tobacco will diminish in proportion. Hungarian tobacco is a favorite with the Italians, and large quantities are sold to the Italian monopoly to be used both for cigars and cutting.