Tobacco Leaves Part 3

The varieties of tobacco raised are mainly of the native American species; but in some states (in Florida particularly) plants are raised from imported Cuban and Sumatran seed, in an endeavor to produce cigar leaf equal in quality to the leaf now imported from these places which commands a high price in the trade. The raising of cigar leaf tobacco from foreign seed began in Florida about 1902; and, although on the whole, the cultivation has been very successful, yet it cannot be said that the hoped for results have been fully realized. It was claimed for the Florida grown Sumatran leaf that in many ways it surpa.s.sed the native Sumatran leaf.

Certainly the experimental samples of this Florida leaf exhibited by the U. S. at the Paris Exposition of 1900 were judged to be superior both in appearance and style and other matters. However, this superiority does not appear to have been upheld, for in the trade the native grown Sumatran leaf still holds its rank.

Similarly in the case of Florida grown Cuban leaf which at the same Exposition was voted as equal to the native. The native leaf, however, whether due to the soil or not, has a finer flavor and aroma, and the best grades of native grown Cuban tobacco still hold the palm as the premier cigar tobacco of the world.

The leaf raised in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Ma.s.sachusetts, and New York State, is generally used for the cigar trade (see the chapters on cigars). Ohio and Florida (Cuban seed) leaf mostly used as cigar fillers; Connecticut and Florida (Sumatran seed), Pennsylvania and New York leaf mostly as wrapper leaf, the inferior leaves being used as fillers. Wisconsin leaf is used princ.i.p.ally as cigar binder leaf. The total amount of cigar tobacco raised is roughly about one-fifth of the entire tobacco crop.

The southern states produce the bulk of the export dark, heavy leaf. West Kentucky and Tennessee particularly, as well as Virginia, the Carolinas and Maryland, export considerable quant.i.ties. This tobacco is fire-cured.

For the domestic trade, however, (pipe-smoking, chewing and cigarettes) the tobacco grown in these states is flue-cured, the princ.i.p.al product being of a bright yellow color, characteristic of this region.

This "yellow tobacco belt" extends from the coast across to the North Carolina Mountains, through Tennessee and South Carolina, Southern Virginia, Southern Ohio, a few parts of Kentucky, some of Eastern Missouri and Arkansas. The best soils are those which are of a light sandy or sandy clay nature and they need not be deep or rich. In this region the very finest pipe-smoking tobaccos are raised. Whilst the U. S. has not been able to produce a cigar wrapper tobacco equal in quality to the Cuban or Sumatran, in pipe-smoking and cigarette tobaccos she stands without a rival.

There are about 100 different varieties of tobacco grown in the U. S., many of these being approximately the same and are synonymous.

Subvarieties are easily obtained by crossing. Cross-fertilization easily takes place where different strains are produced in the same locality. On this account when it is desired to keep a variety pure, care must be exerted to see that seed is collected from pure strains. On the other hand, the ease of producing new varieties gives opportunity to the various State Agricultural Experimental Stations to try out new strains for desirable qualities. The enumeration of the differences between the various varieties would be tiresome for the reader, yet it will be well for the user of tobacco to know some of these varieties, their characteristics and other particulars concerning them. These are given here:

LEADING VARIETIES OF AMERICAN TOBACCOS

BURLEY. The variety known as _White Burley_ has a long broad leaf, whitish in appearance when growing. The points of the leaf hang down towards the ground when growing, often even touching the ground. The leaf is thin in texture, has a mild flavor, low nicotine content and good absorbing qualities. It is one of the most popular tobaccos in the U. S. and is used for pipe-smoking and chewing tobaccos and cigarettes. It cures to a bright yellow brown color.

There is a variety known as _Red Burley_ which has a thin leaf narrowing from center to top. The leaves are of a characteristic cinnamon color and are more elastic than those of _White Burley_. Burley tobacco is raised princ.i.p.ally in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and Indiana.

CONNECTICUT SEEDLEAF. Large, strong leaves, thin and elastic, silky in texture, small fibers, sweetish taste and light in color.

Used in the cigar trade as fillers and wrappers and grown in New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and to a smaller extent in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois and Florida.

CONNECTICUT BROADLEAF. A modification of the above, the leaves being broader in proportion to their length. They are up to 35 inches long and 22 inches wide. Largely used in the cigar trade as filler and wrappers.

Both the Connecticut Seedleaf and Broadleaf are superior to the imported Sumatran leaf in flavor and aroma, but are inferior in elasticity and covering qualities.

Grown princ.i.p.ally in Connecticut and New York States.

ORINOCO. There are 3 varieties of this name: (1) _Short Orinoco._ Broad leaf, upright growth and open habit, light colored, much ruffled. Grown in Virginia and Missouri. (2) _Big Orinoco._ Short, broad leaf. Grown in Virginia, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. (3) _Yellow Orinoco._ Long, narrow, tapering leaf with fine texture. The sweetest variety grown. Grown in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Missouri.

Orinoco tobacco leaf is used largely for plug and smoking tobaccos and for the export trade.

VIRGINIAN. Sun and air-cured tobacco. Leaf is medium in size. Very bright brown color. Is rich in gums and oils which makes it sweet and fragrant and gives it a pleasant taste. Hence it is a favorite chewing tobacco.

PRYOR. There are several varieties under this name: (1) _Medley_ or _White Pryor_ has a very broad leaf with silky texture and tough fiber. (2) _Blue Pryor._ Large, long fine leaf and good color. (3) _Silky Pryor._ A long sharp-pointed leaf; grows thin on the stalk; very tough and pliant. (4) _Yellow Pryor._ Heavy, wide leaf, fine bright color, tough and weighs well.

Pryor is used princ.i.p.ally for the export trade and to some extent also in the home trade both for cigar and plug and smoking tobaccos. It is grown generally throughout Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana, the White variety being extensively grown in Virginia.

LITTLE DUTCH. A very favorite pipe-smoking tobacco. It has a small nicotine content (less than 1%). The leaf is small; narrow, thick and short; dark brown in color, glossy surface and sweet in taste. It is grown extensively in the Miami Valley of Ohio.

SUMATRA SEED. Grown princ.i.p.ally in Florida from imported Sumatran seed.

The leaf is light in weight and color, not long compared with other seedleaf varieties. Very narrow and with fine ribs. Used in cigar trade and grown extensively also in the New England states.

CUBAN SEED. This has the usual qualities of Cuban tobacco but with inferior fragrance and aroma to the native grown. Princ.i.p.ally raised in Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Florida for the cigar trade.

PERIQUE. A special variety of tobacco grown only in a small area of Louisiana. The leaf is medium in size, has a fine fiber with small stems.

Tough, gummy and glossy. It is grown in a deep, rich soil and grows very rapidly. Its special characteristics are acquired in the curing, which is a special process peculiar to itself, and which will be described in the chapter on Manufactured Tobaccos.

REFERENCES

_Yearbooks of the United States Department of Agriculture._ 1914 and previous.

HOAGLAND, I. G. _The Tobacco Industry._ In _Quarterly of the National Fire Protection a.s.sociation_. 1907. Vol. I, Nos. 2 and 4.

JACOBSTEIN, M. _The Tobacco Industry in the United States._ New York, 1907.

BILLINGS, E. R. _Tobacco; its history, varieties, culture, manufacture and commerce._ Hartford Conn., 1875.

CHAPTER V

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE TOBACCO PLANT

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MATTERS CONTAINED IN TOBACCO AND THE PARTS THEY PLAY. a.n.a.lYSIS OF VARIOUS TOBACCOS. NICOTINE.

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE TOBACCO PLANT

The tobacco plant when subjected to chemical a.n.a.lysis is found to contain all or most of the following substances:

_Mineral Bases._ Potash, Lime, Magnesia, Oxides of Iron and Manganese, Ammonia, Silica.

_Mineral Acids._ Nitric, Hydrochloric, Sulphuric and Phosphoric.

_Organic Base._ Nicotine.

_Organic Acids._ Malic, Citric, Acetic, Oxalic, Pectic and Ulmic.

_Other Organic Substances._ Nicotianin, Green and Yellow Resin, Wax and Fat, Nitrogenous Substances and Cellulose.

The substances which differentiate tobacco from other plants and form its chief characteristics are Nicotianin, Nicotine and Malic Acid.

The percentage in which the important substances exist in tobacco is given below:

Nicotine From 1 to 9% Malic and Citric Acids From 10 to 14% Oxalic Acid From 1 to 2% Resins, Oils and Fats From 4 to 6% Pectic Acid About 5% Cellulose From 7 to 8% Alb.u.menoids About 25% Ash From 12 to 30%

When tobacco is burned, chemical changes occur; the organic and other compounds are decomposed. The volatile matters pa.s.s off in the smoke if the combustion is complete, and the mineral ash remains. In ordinary pipe or other tobacco smoking, however, the combustion is not complete and many decomposition products remain with the mineral ash.

In tobacco smoke the following can usually be found: Furfurol, Marsh Gas, Hydrogen Sulphide, Hydrogen Cyanide, Organic Acids, Phenols, Empyreumatic Oils, Pyridine, Picoline Series and possibly some Nicotine.

The ash left after complete combustion is important, as much of the smoking qualities of the tobacco depends on its const.i.tuents. An average sample gives the following a.n.a.lysis (in 100 parts):

AVERAGE MINERAL CONTENTS OF TOBACCO ASH