BACKWOODSMAN’S TOBACCO.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1924, Page 1

BACKWOODSMAN’S TOBACCO.

(Bv An Australian Bushman in “Daily .Mail”). Alany old, smokers in civilised parts imagine they have nothing to learn about tobacco. Alany experienced Australian* hushnien could teach them otherwise. The town smoker knows tobaccos by the packet. The hackwoodsman knows it by the leaf. Wild tobacco, without duty and without price, is in reality a shrub. The leaves of this plant resemble those of tobacco plants, luit are smaller. The leaf gives oir a nicotine oil, is pleasant to taste, and burns well.

Another perfect substitute for nicotine lies in a wild weed closely resembling English water-cress. It abounds in most shallow water and marshland. Gathered hy the handful and dried in rho sun for a couple ol days, it smokes with all the flavour of host Cavendish.

Sonic varieties of sunflower leaves and certain wild lettuces may also lie pressed into service as a passable tobaeco substitute, while coltsfoot leaves make a good smoking weed either alone or when mixed with tobacco. It must not be presumed that because backwoodsmen have several smoking ‘‘weeds” dose at band they merely gather and dry the leaves liefore tilling their pouches. Bushmen, as a rule, show great discrimination in their smoking anti are adept at “ curing.” After the leaf is gathered it is allowed to wilt hut not dry. In fermentation process damp sacks are thrown over the leaves in a warm and shady place for about a week. Then follows the drying in some airy place until the leaf shows a leathery texture. The midribs and stalks are now removed and the leaf is arranged in layers and springled with heated treacle, rum, and, if possible a little saltpetre. The whole is then packed in a box and pressed until the curing is complete. Very little extra trouble is involved in the making of “plug” tobacco.