he old wears out. The
crop is gathered first in May, and then in September.

PERSIAN TOBACCO.

[Illustration: 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 var