The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-18
Perique Tobucco--Iyhcre and Ilnyv IL Is
Made.

Periquo Tobucco--yyhcre and Ianw Il is
Made.
A correspondent OF tho Now Orleans Republican,
writing from st. James, Louisiana, gives tho fol-
lowing interesting facts relative to tho growth and
manufacture Of Pcrquo tobacco:
The cultivation and manufacture Of this lux
ury was first commenced in this Parish ovor
sixty years ago by man named Pierre Chenet,
more tamilinIly d known to tho inhabitants by tho
to this dny that this was his truo name. Tho
word Periquo, which ia nickname in Spanish
somo Of the carly spaniards, and in order to dis
tinguish the tobacco manufactured by linn from
others, it was called Perique's tobacco In fnw
years tho tobacco Of Old pcrique obtained some
local reputation, and in a few years others com.
menced tho production oil it, until at the break
ing out or the re6elllon thoro was some little de-
mand for it i'll Now Orloans but outside of tho
State OF Louisiana 1t was entirely unknown. Dur
ing, the war the demand for tobacco among the
article which it had mover before reached, until
IN tho armies md navios Of tho Southwest Periquo
tobacco became much sought after, and at ono
period sold at tho enormous figure Of 50 so per
pound Tho increasing demand for Perique has
caused great increase i'll tho amount produced.
IS stgRSuFh gss , Put very small quantity Of land is
the time is not far distant wllci. Louisiana Percue
Of acres will produce this popular weed. Hereto
forc it has been rniscd only in small quantities. on
account of the difficulty OF saving the leaf aftor it
large scale will surely fail. Notwithstanding tho
croaklngs OF tho Old hands in tho business, this
year hir. Albert Ferry, young creole of this
parish, in connection with an enterprsing gentle
man from the North, has attempted to produce
and manufacture u crop of ninety acres, believing
that any kind OF business that can be carried on
successfully on small scale can be made proRta-
bio in proportionate degree by extending its
limits.
It remains to be seen which iH right The
season has been ono of the oist known, and tho
quantity of tobacco will be very small, although
tho quality is good. The modo OF preparing and
tobacco Ia
pliclty itself, and romans tho samo now as when
'Old Periquo" adorned This oarth. In tho month
OF July 1t ia cut and hung up in long sheds pre-
paIcd for tho purpose. When properly dried Il ia
stemm I'd aud twisted into plugs of about half
pound weight each. These plugs are thon placed
into boIes, holding about forty pounds each, aud
by means OF long leyor, ono end Of which is
pressing is produced. For tho first wook the plugs
must DO taken out daily md reworkcd, after which
tho operation Incomes loss frequent until at tho end
or thirty days tho tobacco is considered ready for
putting into carrots. These carrots or plugs aro
usually about fourteen inches long and two and q
half inches in diameter, weighing four pounds
After forming them i'll this shapo they are covered
with Canvas and lnshed firmly with heavy cord
from end to ond. In this condition il il allowed
to remain for several months, and is often thus
sent to market. When iaken from tho rope tho
tobacco is in fit condition for use, but if kept for
year its flavor is greatly improved. On account OF
the hne flavor OF this tobacco, many poreons aup-
poso that 1t ia not pure, but swectened and flavor
ed in the manner OF other chewing tobacco. But
such is not the caso. Tho regular Perique tobsc
co is the simple Loaf, and nothing mora. Its fro
grance is obtained by care in manufacturing, and
weed.