The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-31

the language of our informants. the
gentlemen to whom these people are
much indebted for their enterprise in
establishing an extensive mandatory
for its conversion into cigars and
cigarettes; the large sums ofmoney
expended in advertising, thus increas-
ing the demand; and, in addition, the
introduction OF schools in their midst,
the first ever established in that set
Element.
PREPARATION OF THE LEAF. -
1t is only when the leaf has hung
in the sheds about ten days that
change is made in the usual mode of
curing. Instead of allowing it to be.
come thoroughly dry on the poles,
the stalks are taken down from time
to time, las fast as the Leaf becomes
brown, and while the stems are yet
green,l and stripped of such leaves as
are in proper condition to manuiac-
ture into perique. Thus far in the
process of making this kind OF tobacco
our perique grower is only a farmer.
But right at this point the revenue
laws step in and declare that if the
process is continued every farmer be-
comes manufacturer, and as such
must pay the government special
tax of ten dollars year; give bond
in the sum of $1,000; keep such
books as the government may
prescribe; make monthly reports to
the collector OF internal revenue;
make statements, inventories, and
swear to all and singular of many
things of which he knows nothing. To
a business man, engaged in the man.
ufacture of tobacco, the revenue laws
are full OF perplexities; but to the un-
lettered perique grower, who neither
reads: writes nor understands the En-
glish language, they are sublimely
incomprehensible. Having satisfied
the government, he continues the
work Of harvesting his crop. Men,
women and children now throng the
sheds, and the work of stemming,
twisting into plugs and putting in
press is carried on with the utmost
rapidity. The presses are only
strong wooden boxes, open top and
bottom and holding about fifty
pounds of tobacco. The only power
applied is a wooden lever about
twelve feet long, weighted at one end.
Every day, at first, these presses
must be examined, the tobacco re-
packed and placed I'M position, go
that the juice or gum contained in
the leaf will be made to saturate the
whole mass. Gradually the whole
mass becomes black, The examina-
tions less frequent, and in tie course
OF few weeks the work of curing is
completed without the use of any
sweetening, coloring, fiavoring or
mixture OF any kind, not even drop
of water. Perique is cured and pre-.
served by the gum contained in the
natural leaf. The next process is put.
ting perique into carrots, usually of
four pounds each. This work is per.
formed at leisure and extends
through the whole year. It is not
fit to put on the market until it is
fully one year old, and is much better
when double that age.
Although the perique grower man.
ufactures all his tobacco and pays the
government tax of sixteen cents
per pound for the privilege of so do.
ing, yet he finds no purchasers worth
mentioning, except among tobacco
and cigarette manufacturers, who re-
manufacture it into fne-cut smoking
tobacco, or cigarettes, upon which
they pay the government an addi-
tional tax. Fully nineteen-twentieths
Of all the perique tobacco grown is
sold by the iarmer manufacturer to
the city manufacturer, thus forcing
the payment OF double tax upon the
same tobacco; nor is there any way,
under existing laws, to prevent this
injustice, which tails principally upon
the poor farmer.
The principal points OF excellence
claimed for perique are as follows:
l. Its great strength makes it valua-
bic tor mixing with lighter tobacco,
especially in the manufacture of cigar
cites. 2. 1t is free from the acrid,
biting taste so common in other
kinds of tobacco, having rich, fra.
grant odor, combined with smooth,
delicious taste. When smoked in
cigarette form, through corn husk
mouth-plece. it cannot be excelled by
the finest Turkish tobacco. Recently,
an enterprising firm of this city have
been putting perique cigars upon the 6.