The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-18
p.,,eua Tobacco--where and How It 4,
~S---A Made

p.,,eue Tobacco-Ehere and How 1t ts
Made. Ii
A correspondent of the New Orleans Republican,
writing from st. James, Louisiana, gives the Iol
lowing interesting facts relative to the grown anu
manufacture Of Perique tobacco:
The cultivation and manufacture OF this lux
my was first commenced In this Parish over
sixty years ago by man named F1erTe CnenSt,
more familiarly known to the inhabitants by the
name of "Old Perique," many of whom suppose
to this day that this was his true name. Inc
wufd Perioue, which is o nickname in Spanish
for PerIigo or Peter, was given to Cnenet Dy
some Of the early Spanisrds, and IN order 70 , @s,
tinguish the tobacco manufactured by him Eom
Others It was called Perique's tobacco. In 1ew
wears the tobacco Of Old Perique obtained some
local reputation, and in few years others COM
menced the production OF 1t, rnf! az tne 3reaA-
ing out of the rebellion there as some little de-
mand for it in New Orleans, tit outside OF the
State of Louisiana it was entirely unsnewn Dur
ine the war the demand for tobacco among the
soldiers Of both armies save an importance 10 tnis
ariicla which it had never before reached, until
in the armies and navies Of the Southwest Per1que
tobacco became much sought after, and at one
period sold at the enormous inquire OF % oO per
pound. The increasing demand for Per1que mas
caused great increase In the amount producea.
Although but o very small quantity OF land is
as vet cultivated IN tobacco, it ID believed tnat
thatime is not far distant when LOUISIANA Perque
win be known all over the world, ana tn0qsanos
of acres will produce this popular weed Hereto
fore it has been raised only in small quantities. on
accnunt of the difficulty of saving the leaf after it
is ready for manufacture, oil the old tobacco
makers declaring that any one who attempts IL on
a large scale viii surely fail Notwithstanding the
croaEings of the old hands in the business, this
year Mr.. Albert Ferry, young creole OF mus
parish, IN connection with an enterprls1ng genue-
man from the North, has attempted to produce
and manufacture crop OF ninety acres, peneyng
shat any kind of business that can be carried on
successfully on small scale can be made pronta-
tle IN : proportionate degree by extending lts
limits.
N, remains to be seen which is right. The
season has been one OF the worst Known ana tne
quantity Of tobacco will be very small, although
the quality is.good. The mode Of preparing and
rIanufacturing this wonderful tobacco ls SIM
ph1ity itself, and remains the same now as when
told Perique" adorned this earth In the month
of July it iscut and hung up in long sheds pre-
pared for the purpose. When properly dried II is
atemmad and twisted into plugs OF about haF
pound weight each. These plugs are then placed
into boxes, holding about forty pounds eacn, ana
by means OF along lever, one END OF WHICH ,as Is
pressing is produced. For the first week the plugs
must be taken out daily and reworked, after which
the operation becomes less fequent until al the eno
OF thirty days the tobacco Is consldered ready 1or
uuttine.inlo carrots. Thes1 carrots or plugs are
usually about fourteen inches long and two and
half inches In diameter, weighing four pounds:
After forming them in this shape thcy are covered
with canvas and lashed firmly with heavy ccrd
from end to end. In this condition IT Is auoWeo
to remain for several months, and is often thus
sent to market. When taken from the rope the
tobacco is in At condition for use, but If kept for
year its A&yoris greatly improved. 0n account OF
the fine favor OF this tobacco, many persons sup
pose that il is not pure but sweetened and flavor
Cd In the manner Of other chewing tobacco. But
such is not the case. The regular Perique tobac-
CO is the simple leaf, and nothing more Its fra,
GRANGE is obtained by care in manufactur1ng, ana
Is derived entirely from juices contained IN the