Dedicated by Royal Command t© H.M. THE QUEEN. 
 
 
 TOBA 
 
 SB278 
 G7B4 
 
 PRICE FIVE SHILLINGS. 
 
®t?e 1. 1. Mill ffithrarg 
 
 Norttj (Harolina £>tat? Hmtierfitty 
 
 SB278 
 G7BI+ 
 
 ,Ul < i,l,^n. T ^,^. l . V .^. S . ITV O.H. HILL LIBRA 
 
 S003 13380 
 
THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE DATE 
 INDICATED BELOW AND IS SUB- 
 JECT TO AN OVERDUE FINE AS 
 ™§£ ED AT THE CIRCULATION 
 
 to i. 1 
 
 JAN 2 7 2004 
 
 MAY 
 
 1 1986 
 
 SEP 2 8 % 
 
 JUN 3 1987 
 
 OCT 2 4 1987 
 
 FEB i v , H 
 
 J UL - 5 198; 
 
ENGLISH 
 TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
ENGLISH 
 TOBACCO CULTURE 
 
 Description of the First English and Irish Tobacco 
 Crops of 1886. 
 
 WITH WHICH IS EMBODIED 
 
 J, Paper 
 
 APPEARING IN THE 
 
 JTouvnal of tije fcatfj anB OTest of XnglanU an& 
 Southern Counties Association, 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 E. J. BE ALE, F.L.S., 
 
 Of the Firm of JAMES CARTER <k CO. 
 
 WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 1887. 
 Ronton : 
 
 E. MARLBOROUGH & CO. 
 
 [All rights reserved.^ 
 
CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, PBINTEHS. 
 CRYSTAL PALACE. 
 
DEDICATED, 
 BY ROYAL COMMAND, 
 
 TO 
 
 HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY 
 QUEEX VICTORIA, 
 
 IN THE FIFTIETH (JUBILEE) YEAR OF HER MAJESTY'S REIGN, 
 
 BY 
 
 HER MAJESTY'S OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 E. J. BEALE. 
 
PKEFACE. 
 
 The condition of British agriculture lias reached such a 
 critical stage, that it is felt no apology is needed to intro- 
 duce to the notice of the Farmer any new form of culti- 
 vation that may be thought to have a reasonable chance 
 of success. 
 
 This being conceded, I feel justified in adding that 
 last season's experiments in the cultivation of Tobacco, 
 in England and Ireland, resulted in a degree satisfactory 
 beyond the hopes of the most sanguine promoters of the 
 experiments, and whilst I would most particularly desire 
 to recommend the exercise of reasonable caution in the 
 matter of the area or extent of future experiments, I feel 
 that those results have more than justified further trials. 
 
 With historical precedents for its forcible exclusion, 
 and with these prohibitions but imperfectly understood, 
 it is not surprising that a certain amount of doubt and 
 discouragement should have found expression ; but I 
 cannot agree with the opinion frequently expressed, that 
 any great difficulty is to be feared in the thorough 
 exercise of the Revenue regulations ; and I venture to 
 repeat here a simple Form of License that I have already 
 suggested to Her Majesty's Government, believing that a 
 license something in the way of my plan would meet all 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 the requirements of the Board of Inland Revenue, and 
 would moreover present the subject to the eye of the 
 British Farmer in a far more popular form than is 
 obtained by the cumbersome system of sureties at 
 present demanded by the authorities before the cultiva- 
 tion of a Tobacco crop is sanctioned. 
 
 License to grow Tobacco undeb Excise Regulations. 
 
 Full Name 
 
 and 
 Address of 
 Cultivator. 
 
 Name of 
 
 Parish in 
 
 which Crop 
 
 is to be 
 
 grown. 
 
 Name and 
 Address of 
 Owner of 
 Land 
 where 
 Crop is to 
 be grown. 
 
 Name and 
 Address of 
 Tenant of 
 the Land 
 on which 
 Crop is to 
 be grown. 
 
 Name by 
 which 
 Field is 
 
 identified 
 by the 
 
 Occupier. 
 
 Acreage 
 intended to 
 be grown. 
 
 Variety 
 intended to 
 be grown. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This Form to be obtainable, for a fee of one shilling., 
 by any one desirous of cultivating a larger area of Tobacco 
 than the law allows to be grown free of duty. Such a 
 License, we presume, would be in duplicate ; the one re- 
 tained by the authorities would contain full particulars of 
 the locality in which the crop was intended to be produced. 
 By this means the Government will have at their finger- 
 ends a complete list that can be readily divided out and 
 placed in the hands of the various Excise officers in the 
 country, whilst the penalties already existing under 
 statute, promptly enforced from any one cultivating an 
 acreage Tobacco crop without being in possession of this 
 License, would very soon make things comfortable all 
 round. 
 
PEEFACE. ix 
 
 The reader will observe that it has only been possible 
 to give an approximate estimate of the average weight 
 per acre of cured Tobacco of the following varieties, i.e., 
 "One Sucker," "Big Frederick/' "Connecticut Seedleaf," 
 " Havana," and "Island Broadleaf," from the fact that 
 the workpeople had begun to pack them down before 
 weighing was suggested. In all other cases the weights 
 are actually correct. 
 
 Up to the period of the publication of this work, there 
 was not in existence any Guide Book or recognised code 
 of instruction for the use of experimentalists. "English 
 Tobacco Culture" is anticipated to supply that want; and 
 I have every reason to hope that the thorough observa- 
 tions and records made by the various noblemen and 
 gentlemen whose experiences are recorded here, will 
 furnish sufficient information to guide the cultivator, and 
 supply a want that is deemed of urgent importance. 
 
 E. J. Beale. 
 January, 1887. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 F.tGB 
 INTRODUCTION ........ 1 
 
 THE HISTORY OF TOBACCO . . . . . .11 
 
 SNUFF-TAKING . . . . . . . .18 
 
 A CONCISE DIARY ON AVERAGE OPERATIONS IN TOBACCO , 
 
 CULTURE . . . . . . . .19 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL VARIETIES OF TOBACCO CULTIVATED IX 
 
 ENGLAND AND IRELAND IN 1886 . . . .21 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF SEVENTEEN VARIETIES 
 
 OF TOBACCO . . . . . . . .2-1- 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTIVATION OF MESSRS. CARTERS' 
 
 TOBACCO CROP . . . . ... . , 58 
 
 HARVESTING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO CROP ... 64- 
 
 CURING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO 67 
 
CONTENTS. xi 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " HANDING " AND FINISHING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO 
 
 FOR MARKET ........ 72 
 
 CONTINENTAL TOBACCO CULTURE . . . . .79 
 
 GROWTH OF TOBACCO BY LORD WALSINGHAM . . .83 
 
 ,, „ SIR EDWARD BIRKBECK . . 86 
 
 ,, „ FAUNCE DE LAUNE, ESQ. . . 89 
 
 ,, ,, C. J. WALLACE, ESQ., IN IRELAND 92 
 
 ,, ,, L. M'CORMICR, ESQ. ,, 94 
 
 THE CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO IN STOCKHOLM ... 97 
 
 THE TOBACCO WORM . . . . . . .100 
 
 A USEFUL TOBACCO BARN . . . . . .103 
 
 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO . 104 
 
 TOBACCO IN NEW ZEALAND, GERMANY, FRANCE, AMERICA, 
 
 AUSTRALIA, SPAIN, ETC. . . . . . .113 
 
 USEFUL HINTS CULLED FROM THE BRAINS OF AMERICAN 
 
 CULTIVATORS , . . . , . . .118 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 TOBACCO KENTUCKY 24 
 
 ,, YELLOW PRIOR 26 
 
 ,, WHITE BURLEIGH 28 
 
 ,, ORINOCO 30 
 
 ,, GLASNER 32 
 
 „ FLORIDA 34 
 
 ,, VIRGINIA .36 
 
 ., MARYLAND BROADLEAF ....... 38 
 
 ,, CONNECTICUT 40 
 
 „ WHITE STEM 42 
 
 ,, PENNSYLVANIA 44 
 
 „ HESTER VIRGINIA ........ 46 
 
 „ ISLAND BROADLEAF 48 
 
 ,, ONE SPCKER ......... 50 
 
 ,, BIG FREDERICK ......... 52 
 
 „ CONNECTICUT SEEDLEAF 54 
 
 "PICK1NG-Ur" MESSRS. CARTERS' GREEN CROP OF TOBACCO . . 64 
 
 SECTION SHOWING INTERIOR OF BARN USED IN CURING MESSRS. CARTERS' 
 
 TOBACCO ........... 65 
 
 CARTERS' TOBACCO FURNACE . 70 
 
 STRIPPING AND HANDING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO ... 73 
 
 THE TOBACCO WOEM . 100 
 
 A USEFUL TOBACCO BARN . . . . , ... . . 103 
 
ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The question of the successful cultivation of 
 Tobacco in Great Britain has created an amount 
 of interest amongst agriculturists that its originators 
 can scarcely have foreseen ; in fact, this subject is 
 undoubtedly the most important of the many 
 panaceas that have been suggested for the ame- 
 lioration of the present depressed condition of 
 British agriculture ; whilst there is, probably, no 
 other innovation that has met with a similar 
 amount of hostile criticism, not only from the 
 pens of agriculturists, scientists, and pessimists, 
 but also from numerous manufacturers and others 
 more or less professionally interested in the product. 
 The origin of the movement is stated by 
 Mr. Kains-Jackson (in an excellent article en- 
 titled "Tobacco at Home," published in "The 
 
2 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 Farmers' Almanack" for 1887), to have com- 
 menced with some remarks made by Mr. de Laune 
 at an agricultural meeting when reviewing the 
 existing depression of the farming interests. At 
 any rate, the subject was brought prominently 
 into notice on the 29th day of March last year 
 (1886) by Lord Harris — a neighbour of Mr. de 
 Laune — in a practical and powerful speech in the 
 House of Lords ; and although their lordships did 
 not arrive at any determination, it was generally 
 admitted that the importance of the question 
 justified the fullest inquiry, and hopes were freely 
 expressed by both branches of the Legislature that 
 experiments might be made with a view to 
 determine whether Tobacco could be depended upon 
 as a farm crop in Great Britain ; and if so, could it 
 be cultivated to give a reasonable profit to the 
 producer ? As the result of a discussion in the 
 Lower House, the Government suggested that the 
 Council of the Koyal Agricultural Society should 
 lend its powerful aid in assisting the experiments, 
 and at a meeting of the Council on the 6th of 
 April, under the presidency of H.R.H. The Prince 
 of Wales, the subject of Tobacco-growing was 
 discussed at considerable length ; but no practical 
 action was taken by the Society — on the contrary, 
 an opinion was expressed that the season was too 
 
INTRODUCTION. 3 
 
 far advanced to hope for any chance of success, 
 and, so far as the Royal Agricultural Society's 
 interest extended at that time, the matter lapsed. 
 The severe restrictions considered necessary by the 
 Board of Inland Revenue doubtless also induced 
 many who were disposed to encourage and assist 
 the experiment, to give up the idea. 
 
 In the meantime, recognising the necessity 
 for prompt action if the season was to be 
 saved, Messrs. Carter cabled to America and 
 from the most reliable sources obtained seeds of 
 those varieties of Tobacco that from the locality of 
 their introduction were considered best adapted to 
 the English climate. At this early period, Messrs. 
 Carter, at the suggestion of Mr. Kains- Jackson 
 and others, had determined to make an experiment 
 in the growth of Tobacco as a farmer's crop at their 
 own expense, the intention being at that time 
 to establish the fact whether Tobacco could or 
 could not be successfully grown in this country; and 
 — bearing in mind the prohibitory Excise condi- 
 tions—to destroy the Tobacco upon the ground 
 after the question of the possibility of successfully 
 growing the crop had been fully established. 
 
 Several noblemen, landowners, and agricul- 
 turists also obtained plants or seeds from Messrs. 
 Carter, amongst others, Lord Walsingham in 
 
 B 2 
 
4 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 Norfolk, Mr. Faunce de Laune in Kent, and Mr. 
 
 Bateman in Essex, and the crops grown upon the 
 estates of these gentlemen (with that of Messrs. 
 Carter) formed the principal average experiments 
 of the year, although less important experi- 
 ments were made in Berkshire, Devon, Worcester- 
 shire, Westmoreland, etc. 
 
 Lord Walsingham's crop (more fully described 
 at page 83) consisted of the "Pennsylvania," "Big 
 Frederick," "Virginia," and "Connecticut" (the 
 three first-named bein^ varieties of a high standard 
 of excellence), and was planted in a somewhat ex- 
 posed situation having an eastern aspect, yet the 
 results, so far as the growth of the crop was con- 
 cerned, are reported as being most satisfactory ; 
 and sanguine hopes may reasonably be entertained 
 as to the ultimate success of his lordship's experi- 
 ments, which can only be fully determined after 
 the Tobacco has passed into the hands of the 
 manufacturer. 
 
 Mr. Bateman's crop in Essex and Mr. de Laune's 
 acreage in Kent were marvellous examples of what 
 high farming with the advantage of favourable 
 surroundings will accomplish, and it is to be re- 
 gretted that by an unfortunate accident the value 
 of Mr. Bateman's experiment was lost, the Tobacco 
 being destroyed by fire during the process of curing. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 5 
 
 Mr. de Laurie's crop was grown under conditions 
 of an exceptionally favourable nature for the de- 
 velopment of the plant, the Tobacco being planted 
 in small sections, these in their turn margined with 
 hops. Unquestionably, the protection afforded by 
 the hops tended to concentrate and retain the sun 
 heat, with the result that the plants reached an 
 enormous size, prodigious leaves being produced that 
 would astonish cultivators in many other countries ; 
 but at the same time it is questionable whether 
 these conditions of cultivation were desirable. 
 
 An opinion has been expressed that these 
 circumstances were not the most acceptable, 
 inasmuch as whilst Messrs. Carters' plants, exposed 
 more or less to the action of the air and wind 
 on all sides, and planted very wide apart, 
 were fast ripening when the crop was har- 
 vested, Mr. de Laune's plants — put into the 
 ground at the same time — had the appearance of 
 being still in growth, or at any rate (except in the 
 case of the " Kentucky " — an unusually early kind) 
 the leaves were quite green and full of sap when 
 seen upon the land some days after the whole of 
 Messrs. Carters' crop had been housed. 
 
 A recent Government inquiry into the growth 
 of Tobacco in the United States shows that while 
 the Tobacco plant exhibits a great facility in 
 
6 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 adapting itself to various soils and climates, it* 
 cultivation is practically restricted to 16 States. 
 In the last census year the total crop produced 
 was 472,661,158 lbs., and of this the 16 Tobacco- 
 growing States produced 469,816,203 lbs. For 
 the whole of the United States the average crop 
 per acre was 740 lbs., but it may be taken that for 
 the 16 Tobacco-growing States, the average was 
 about 1,500 lbs. per acre, the variation being from 
 900 to about 2,000 lbs. 
 
 In compiling this work endeavours have 
 been made to confine the main body of remarks 
 to the English experiments, and to abstain 
 from referring (except in notable instances) either 
 to the locality in which Tobacco is produced 
 in other countries or to the various forms of 
 cultivation practised, and with which many are 
 more or less familiar, failing to see what good 
 results can accrue from such comparison ; and it is 
 difficult to determine the practical value that can 
 be claimed for the lengthy paper upon the subject, 
 of " The Cultivation of Tobacco in the North-West 
 of Europe," published in Part 2, Vol. 22, of the 
 Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, inasmuch 
 as the notes in question are almost entirely devoted 
 to foreign cultivation, and embody to a very large- 
 extent the opinions of cultivators in climates. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 very different from that of England. English 
 farmers can have nothing to do with foreign 
 producers of Tobacco. The fact remains that 
 something like 50 millions of pounds of Tobacco 
 are annually consumed in this country; and the 
 question to solve is — " Shall we grow it ourselves, or 
 bu}^ it from the foreigners ? " 
 
 Mr. Kains- Jackson writes as follows in "The 
 Farmers' Almanack" for 1887 : 
 
 " For half a century nearly the illustrations given 
 of current events have never included amongst the 
 products of an English harvest a crop of Tobacco. 
 It was reserved for 1886 to see the plant cultivated 
 and dried in Great Britain as a farm crop. 
 
 " Our English growers have this encouragement: 
 that English soil and climate have, undoubtedly, 
 produced Tobacco plants of astonishing luxuriance, 
 and that whatever failure ensues — and failure in 
 several respects is not likely to be avoided this first 
 season — will carry with it its own explanation and 
 
 cure. 
 
 " Like many other things, the English climate 
 has proved not so bad as report made it. What 
 was said to be impossible, the rearing and matur- 
 ing the Tobacco plant in England, has been 
 accomplished, and this season's results are 
 thought as not unlikely to be the begin- 
 
8 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 ning of a new and great industry in the United 
 Kingdom. 
 
 " Line upon line instructions accumulate ' how 
 to do it,' so that now it may be feared, from the 
 multiplication of advisers, the experimentalists will 
 hesitate and be lost. Lucky will be the grower 
 who has the aid of a practical expert, although but 
 a common labourer in a Tobacco plantation, who 
 would know the mature from the immature leaf, 
 have it timely gathered and dried through its scale 
 of degrees in temperature, in a suitable building. 
 A fair field and no favour is all that our little 
 Tobacco harvest requires." 
 
 The following are extracts from Lord Harris's 
 speech in the House of Lords : " Sir John Sinclair, 
 in his General Report of Scotland, says : ' During 
 the American war this article (Tobacco) became 
 so dear that several unsuccessful attempts were 
 made in Scotland for its cultivation. The chief 
 seat of that new culture was in the neighbourhood 
 of Kelso,' where ' it succeeded so well that 16! 
 statute acres of Grading brought £104, or £6 7s. 4d. 
 per acre, being purchased by the Government at 
 4d. per pound.' From the agricultural survey of 
 the county of Roxburgh, dated 1794, it appeared 
 that ' Tobacco was first grown at Newstead, and 
 eventually many hundred acres of land were 
 
INTRODUCTION. 'J 
 
 cropped with it. The profits were amazingly great, 
 but an Act of Parliament put an entire stop to 
 its cultivation.' Mr. Train also gave evidence that 
 land let for Tobacco cultivation used to let at £5 
 an acre, when other land was only fetching £2. 
 A more extensive experiment was made in the Vale 
 of York for a few years before 1782, which had 
 to be abandoned because the penalties laid amounted 
 to £30,000. In Ireland the duty was removed in 
 1822, but was re-imposed about 1830. By 1829 
 or 1830 there were no fewer than 1,000 acres 
 under Tobacco cultivation in Ireland. It might 
 be questionable whether if cultivated in this 
 country Tobacco would bear a duty of 3s. Gd. a 
 pound, but it must be remembered that we were 
 rapidly becoming accustomed to a much smaller 
 margin of profit than was required by our fore- 
 fathers. The following amusing extract from 
 Fairholt proves the advantages which had formerly 
 accrued from the cultivation of Tobacco in England : 
 " ' It had been extensively grown in Gloucester- 
 shire, as appears from the following passage in 
 "Harry Hangman's Honour, or the Glostershire 
 Hangman's request to the Smokers and Tobacconists 
 of London," a quarto pamphlet in the King's 
 Collection, June 11, 1655. He says: "The very 
 planting of Tobacco hath proved the decay of my 
 
10 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 trade, for since it hath been planted in Glostershire, 
 especially at Winchcourt, my trade has proved 
 nothing worth." He adds : " Then 'twas a merry 
 world with me ! for indeed before Tobacco was 
 there planted there being no kind of trade to 
 employ men, and very small tillage, necessity 
 compelled poor men to stand my friends by stealing 
 of sheep and other cattel, breaking of hedges, 
 robbing of orchards, and what not." 
 
 "In Belgium, an ordinary year yielded 2,700 lbs. 
 of Tobacco an English acre, of which 70 per cent, 
 was first quality and 30 per cent, second and 
 third quality. The first quality sold at 6|d. 
 per lb., and the second and third at about 4^d. 
 The net profit was about £2C an acre. The in- 
 dustry had made the fortune of the frontier town 
 of Blandain, and enabled it successfully to tide 
 over the present agricultural crisis." 
 
 Wlien all things were made, 
 
 None was made better titan Tobacco, 
 
 To be a lone man's companion, a bachelor's friend 
 
 A hungry unnt's food, a sad man's cordial, 
 
 A wakeful man's sleep, and a chilly man'* tier. 
 
 There's no herb like it under the canopy of Heaven. 
 
 C. KlXGSLEY. 
 
THE HISTORY OF TOBACCO. 
 
 Historians are not in harmony as to the origin of 
 Tobacco, and it is impossible to satisfactorily fix 
 the period at which it was first introduced 
 into England, or by whom its introduction was ac- 
 complished. Some writers assert that the first 
 plants of Tobacco were discovered in the pro- 
 vince of Yucatan— a Spanish possession— under 
 the name of "petum," about the year 1520. 
 Thence it found its way to North America, the 
 West Indies, Spain, and Portugal, and subsequently 
 into France at the hands of one Jean Nicot, 
 whose surname has served as the base for the 
 scientific term " Nicotiana," now universally 
 
 adopted. 
 
 Mr. Philip Meadows Taylor, in his work, 
 "Tobacco— A Farmer's Crop," says: " It appears 
 
12 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 certain that Fernandez Cortez observed the Tobacco 
 plant in 1519, when he invaded Mexico. Whilst 
 other Historians state that Tobacco was known to 
 the Spaniards in Cuba as far back as 1492." 
 
 Mr. Meadows Taylor states that Tobacco was 
 known as " Yoli," or " Petun," by the North 
 American Indians. 
 
 Sir Walter Raleigh is generally credited with 
 having brought Tobacco from Virginia to England 
 about the year 1586, and it is stated that at that 
 early period large tracts of Tobacco were annually 
 under cultivation in Portugal. 
 
 An amusing anecdote (recorded in an old 
 volume referring to Tobacco) is related of Sir 
 Walter Raleigh. 
 
 It is said that having one day retired to his 
 room to smoke, after the manner of the inhabitants 
 of Virginia, he ordered his servant to bring him a 
 cup of beer. The servant on bringing the beer was 
 surprised to see what he had never seen before, 
 and dashing the liquid in Sir Walter Raleigh's face 
 he ran down the stairs, crying out that his master s 
 head was on fire, and that the smoke ivas coming 
 out of both his mouth and nostrils. 
 
 The origin of the popular name of "Tobacco" 
 is as uncertain as that of the period of its intro- 
 duction. Some authorities assert that it is derived 
 
THE HISTORY OF TOBACCO. 13 
 
 from Tobago, an island on the West Indies ; 
 Humboldt states that the word Tobacco is a remnant 
 of the ancient Haytian language, and that the name 
 denotes the tube through which the smoke is 
 inhaled by the smoker ; some writers state that 
 the word takes its origin from Tobacco, in Mexico ; 
 whilst others again declare that the word owes its 
 origin to Tabac — the name of an instrument used 
 by native Americans in the preparation of the herb ; 
 others, again, declaring that Tobacco was called by 
 the Aztecs "Yetl." 
 
 Tobacco has thus been in use in England for at 
 least 350 years, and Du Tour claims for it, " that 
 it gives pleasure to the savage and philosopher 
 alike — whether on the burning desert or at the 
 frozen zone." 
 
 It is stated that a hundred volumes had been 
 written against the practice of smoking by the 
 beginning of the eighteenth century, whilst at 
 Constantinople any Turk found smoking was led 
 through the streets with a pipe thrust through his 
 nose. One of the Turkish Sultans (Amurath IV.) 
 rendered smoking a capital offence. In our own 
 land James I. endeavoured, both by the means of 
 a book written by His Majesty and by severe 
 penalties, to suppress the use of Tobacco, but 
 without success. 
 
14 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 The following amusing poem is given in an old 
 volume treating upon "Tobacco": 
 
 "ON A PIPE OF TOBACCO." 
 Pretty tube of mighty power ! 
 Charmer of an idle hour ; 
 
 Object of my hot desire, 
 Lip of wax and eye of fire ; 
 And thy snowy taper waist, 
 With my fingers gently braced ; 
 And thy lovely swelling crest, 
 With my bended stopper prest ; 
 And the sweetest bliss of blisses, 
 Breathing from thy balmy 
 
 kisses ; 
 Happy thrice,and thrice again — 
 
 Happiest he of happy men ; 
 Who, when the night again 
 
 returns, 
 When again the taper burns, 
 When again the cricket gay, 
 (Little crickets, full of play) 
 Can afford his tube to feed 
 With the fragrant Indian weed, 
 Pleasure for a nose divine, 
 Incense of the god of wine ; 
 Happy thrice, and thrice again — 
 Happiest he of happy men ! 
 
 Tobacco cultivation is no new institution in 
 Europe, for as far back as 1830 it was grown in 
 Russia, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, 
 Sicily, and Turkey, as well as in India, Persia, 
 Syria, Arabia, and other more Eastern latitudes. 
 
 A well-informed writer, about the beginning of 
 the eighteenth century,"" says: "Tobacco can be 
 readily raised in almost all the temperate climates 
 of the globe ; and the chief reason why it is not 
 better known to the English cultivator is, that we 
 have laws which prohibit its culture under severe 
 penalties. The cultivation of Tobacco in England 
 was finally prohibited by law in 1782." The same 
 
 * " A Practical Treatise on the History and Medical Pro- 
 perties and Cultivation of Tobacco," by James Jennings. 1830. 
 
THE HISTORY OF TOBACCO. 15 
 
 writer adds that, "Several tons of Irish-grown 
 Tobacco was imported into England about this time 
 at a duty of 2s. a lb., whilst that imported from 
 America paid 3s. a lb. duty." 
 
 The following is a summary of the Laws which 
 prohibited the growth of Tobacco in this country 
 fifty years since, and which, with the later enact- 
 ments under George III. and William IV., govern 
 the existing prohibitions : 
 
 By Charles II., c. 34, no person shall plant any Tobacco 
 on pain of forfeiting the same, or the value thereof, 
 or 40s. for every rod or pole of ground planted with 
 it (equivalent to a duty of £320 per acre) ; half to 
 the King and half to him who sues. And besides 
 the said penalty by 15 Charles II., c. 7, he shall 
 moreover forfeit £10 for every rod or pole; one- 
 third to the King, one-third to the poor, and 
 one-third to him who sues. 
 
 By 22 and 23 of Charles II., c. 26, the justices shall, a 
 month before every sessions, issue their warrants to 
 all high and petty constables to search what Tobacco 
 is planted, cured, and made, and by whom ; and to 
 make presentment of such persons ; which present- 
 ment shall be filed by the Clerk of the Peace in 
 open sessions ; such filing to be a sufficient con- 
 viction of the persons presented, unless such person 
 having notice given him of such presentment, shall, 
 at the next sessions, traverse the presentment, and 
 find sureties for prosecuting and trying such traverse. 
 
 And all constables, etc., shall, within fourteen days 
 after warrant from two justices, pluck up, burn, 
 consume, or tear in pieces, and utterly destroy all 
 
16 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 Tobacco, seed, plant, and leaf sowed or growing in 
 any field or ground. 
 
 And if any Tobacco sball be suffered to grow or be 
 consumed in seed, plant, or leaf by the space of 
 fourteen days after the receipt of such warrant by 
 the constables or other officers, they shall for every 
 offence forfeit 5s. for every rod, pole, or perch 
 planted with Tobacco ; half to the King and half 
 to him who sues. 
 
 Lut, by the several Acts, nothing in them is to binder 
 planting Tobacco in gardens for physic or surgery, 
 so that the quantity planted exceed not half a pole 
 of ground. 
 
 These penalties failing to stop the cultivation 
 of the plant another Act was passed. By 15th 
 Charles II., cap. vii., sections 15, 16, and 17, the tax 
 of £320 was raised to £1,000 per acre, and that 
 exists to the present day. 
 
 The cultivation of Tobacco in England was 
 first prohibited during the Commonwealth, and 
 as an anecdote connected with this subject, it may 
 be mentioned that Oliver Cromwell ordered upon 
 one occasion, a troop of horse to enter into a field and 
 trample down a Tobacco plantation ; of so much 
 consequence while we had Colonies, was the trade 
 with such Colonies esteemed. Now, however, as 
 the North American States have been long since an 
 independent Government, there appears no sub- 
 stantial reason for such laws as the preceding 
 continuing in existence. 
 
THE HISTORY OF TOBACCO. 17 
 
 Adam Smith, in his "Wealth of Nations" 
 (Book I. chapter xi.), says: "Tobacco might be 
 -cultivated with advantage through the greater 
 part of Europe, but in almost every part of 
 Europe it has become a principal subject of 
 taxation, and to collect a tax from every different 
 farm in the country where this plant might happen 
 to be cultivated, would be more difficult, it has 
 been supposed, than to levy one upon its impor- 
 tation at the Custom House. The cultivation 
 of Tobacco has upon this account been most 
 absurdly prohibited through the greater part of 
 Europe, which necessarily gives a sort of monopoly 
 to the countries where it is allowed." 
 
 That excuses have been allowed from time tcv 
 time for the cultivation of Tobacco on an extended 
 ■scale is shown by the following paragraph from 
 .Marshall's Reports to the Board of Agriculture 
 (1815): "Of Tobacco a considerable patch was 
 cultivated at Rothwell, in Northamptonshire, in 
 1806, for the purpose of dressing sheep for the 
 scab." 
 
 With respect to the risks of cultivators evading 
 the Excise, Mr. Meadows Taylor, in his excellent 
 treatise already referred to, when describing 
 the French system of cultivation says : " Our 
 wary Gascon peasant is far too wide awake to 
 
 c 
 
18 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 run the risk of the loss of his licence, joined to- 
 a ruinous fine, for the sake of pilfering a few 
 pounds of bad, unsaleable Tobacco. I say unsale- 
 able, because the peasant would first have much 
 difficulty in obtaining in secret good dried leaf, 
 and then to convert this into smoking Tobacco, 
 the process of fermentation is only to be properly 
 got through by operating on large quantities." 
 
 SNUFF-TAKING 
 
 ITS ORIGIN, Etc. 
 
 About the year 1700 the practice of taking Snuff 
 was entirely confined to foreigners resident in 
 England, and to a few English gentlemen who 
 had acquired the habit during a sojourn abroad ; 
 but shortly after that date, Sir George Rooke, 
 when in command of the British Fleet, made a 
 descent upon Cadiz, where he captured amongst 
 various other prizes several thousand barrels of fine 
 Snuff. That portion of the Snuff that found its 
 way to England was sold by the waggon-load 
 in Portsmouth, Chatham, Plymouth, and other 
 ports at 3d. and 4d. a pound. From this distribu- 
 tion is dated the general habit of Snuff-taking in 
 England. 
 
A CONCISE DIAEY 
 
 ON 
 
 AVERAGE OPERATIONS IN TOBACCO CULTURE, 
 
 Based upon Messrs. Carters' Experiments, 1886. 
 
 Autumn 8f The land should be, if possible, Autumn ploughed, 
 
 Prepara- anc ^ ^en ^ e ^ ^ or ^ ne wni t<? r , to have the benefit of 
 
 Hon. the frost upon the soil. 
 
 Early A second ploughing will be found beneficial, to be 
 
 Spring. repeated if the soil is of a tenacious character ; the 
 well-rotted manure being worked in at the same time. 
 
 March 1st Make a first sowing of Tobacco seed, mixed with 
 '' ten times its bulk of ashes or fine soil, in a manure 
 bed, or in pans, in a heated frame, being careful not 
 to bury the seed — all that is necessary is to scatter it 
 over the surface, aud then to press firmly, following by 
 liberal watering with a rose pot. When plants are up 
 and look established, take every opportunity of giving 
 air as freely as possible, even to removing the covering 
 altogether when weather permits. 
 
 April 1st. Make a second sowing of Tobacco seed in case of 
 accident to the first sowing, or in view of a late spring. 
 
 April 15th Transplant the seedlings into small boxes — say 
 
 *° twenty inches long, fourteen inches wide, and three 
 May 1st . I* 
 
 (about), inches deep — each of these boxes should hold about 
 
 twenty-four plants ; keep them close for two or three 
 
 days and shade from direct sun, then gradually remove 
 
 covering and give all air and light possible, the object 
 
 being to harden off the plants and prepare them for 
 
 the field. 
 
 c 2 
 
20 CONCISE DIARY ON AVERAGE OPERATIONS. 
 
 June 1st Plant out the Tobacco on the ridges as cle- ' . " 
 K a ou )• scribed at page 59, and setting the plants thus — • 
 
 three feet apart in the row, and making the . 
 
 ridges three feet apart from each other. 
 
 Plant towards latter part of the day, and in showery, 
 
 dull weather, if possible. In the absence of rain, 
 
 water freely as soon as planted. 
 
 July 1st Keep down weeds by horse-hoeing. 
 
 r , •", Earth up Tobacco — i.e., with the hands or a small 
 July loth . -i . • 
 
 (about), hoe, draw up the loose earth cut aside from the ridges 
 
 by the horse-hoe, around the plant into the form of an 
 
 ant-hill or a round hillock. 
 
 August 1st "Watch for appearance of flower-stem, which must 
 
 (about), kg pi nc hed out with the thumb and finger as soon as 
 it is visible. Keep down weeds. 
 
 Aug. loth. Look out for suckers which grow out from the 
 junction of the leaf and main stem, removing them as 
 soon as they appear. 
 
 Sept. 1st. Get barn or house ready in which Tobacco is to be 
 cured. 
 
 The crop (according to the season and locality) 
 should be nearly ready to harvest now (seepage 64). 
 
 Sept. 15th. Assuming that the crop has just been cut and housed 
 (see pages 64-66), if the weather is bright and the air 
 dry give as much light and air as possible by day, 
 carefully closing up at night. 
 
 Sept. 20th. Commence artificial drying by stove (see page 70), 
 or similar appliance, if available. Exclude damp, fog, 
 etc. ; commence firing at a temperature of about fifty 
 degrees and gradually advance to ninety degrees. The 
 duration of " firing " at this high temperature cannot 
 be indicated here, but must be left largely to the good 
 sense of the operator — always remembering that it is 
 better to cure slowly rather than fast. 
 
THE 
 
 VARIETIES OF TOBACCO CULTIVATED IN 
 ENGLAND AND IRELAND IN 1886, 
 
 BY 
 
 Lord Walsingham, Mr. Fatjnce de Laune, 
 Mr. Bateman, Messrs. Carter, and others, 
 
 FROM SEEDS SUPPLIED BY 
 
 James Carter & Co. 
 
 AYith the object of determining whether any 
 variety of Tobacco was the better adapted to our 
 climate, Messrs. Carter decided to plant a given 
 quantity of each of the seventeen sorts of which 
 they had imported seeds. Of these, two gave 
 evidence of apparently being too delicate to with- 
 stand the effects of our uncertain English summer, 
 i.e., the " Kentucky " and the "White Burleigh," 
 inasmuch that the plants appeared to ripen oil' 
 before the full growth was reached ; this was 
 especially apparent upon the wet portion of the 
 land. The appearance of these varieties led some 
 
22 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 writers to assume that their cultivation was a 
 failure, but after experience did not tend to 
 indorse that opiuion, and it is necessary to wait 
 until the Tobacco is manufactured, when the 
 relative values of the different kinds will be 
 ascertained. It is, however, admitted that the 
 early maturity of " White Burleigh " and " Ken- 
 tucky " is a natural result, and these two varieties 
 will unquestionably become favourites with many 
 future cultivators desirous of producing colour 
 rather than quantity, especially in instances 
 where the soil is of a warm character, or in 
 protected situations, the beautiful golden hue of 
 the dried leaf having been pronounced by several 
 authorities equal to anything that can be produced 
 elsewhere. 
 
 A further result of this extended trial of 
 varieties has resulted in Messrs. Carter beincr 
 able to divide the Tobaccos into two sections, an 
 arrangement that will doubtless be found acceptable 
 for the future guidance of cultivators. 
 
 The one section is well represented by the 
 " Kentucky," and may be described as semi-erect 
 leaved, the main stem of the plant being more or 
 less hidden by the pale green foliage (see Illustra- 
 tion No. \,page 24). 
 
 The opposite section is composed of those 
 
CULTIVATION IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND. 23 
 
 varieties having pendant leaves, and described in the 
 following pages as " horizontal-leaved," the surface of 
 -all of which become more or less corrugated as the 
 plants mature, the colour of the leaves being of a 
 deep green, with the main stem very prominent. 
 Of these the variety known as " Big Frederick " 
 (see Illustration No. 15, page 52) may be taken as 
 a good type. The relative qualities of the leaves 
 are also governed by this selection, those of the 
 latter section being of considerably greater sub- 
 stance or more " leathery " in texture than the 
 "Kentucky." 
 
TOBACCO-var. KENTUCKY. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 18E6. 
 Photographed tn Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-KENTUCKY, 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 This variety, in conjunction with the "White Burleigh" (see 
 page 29), has attained greater prominence in the public 
 mind than any other kind, inasmuch as in the earlier 
 stages of growth the peculiar lemon yellow colour of the 
 leaves was attributed to a want of constitution in the plant. 
 It is one of the earliest Tobaccos that can be grown in this 
 country. 
 
 In this variety perhaps more than in any other, the 
 semi- erect habit of the upper leaves is retained even when 
 the flower-stem is thrown out — as shown in the opposite 
 Illustration. The leaves are very long, tapering, and with 
 an even upper surface which is maintained throughout its 
 growth. Midrib rather broad and of a bright creamy lemon 
 colour, the lesser ribs faintly developed and of a slightly 
 deeper colour than the midrib. Colour of flowers— rich rose. 
 
 The short main stem is hidden by the upper leaves, 
 distance between the leaves about an inch, with eleven to 
 thirteen leaves upon a plant. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 38A inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 27$ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ 13 
 
 ISsttmatctJ Balance %i)ttt. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Kentucky. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 weight of 66 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, god, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 32 pounds, or equal to about 2,400 pounds per acre, allowing 4,810 plants 
 per acre. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,400 lb*. @ 4d/ ; 40 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, (u_ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Plonghings (S 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings («! ]/- per acre each lime 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Lind . . ..280 
 Spreading Farm-yard M inure .. 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano ('« £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3.. ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ 3/- per acre tach'time 6 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suck ering @ 8/- per acre .. 8 
 
 Cutting® 5/- per acrp, carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,400 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 6 ^ 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acra £16 12 4 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasona'ly ^e placed. 
 
TOBACCO-var. YELLOW PRIOR. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-YELLOW PRIOR, 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 Probably one of the finest and best-looking Tobaccos of 
 the entire Group. It may be classed as second early, and 
 it undoubtedly possesses a strong constitution that recom- 
 mends its trial on a more extended area. 
 
 As shown in the Illustration opposite, the leaves are 
 very large — somewhat less pointed than others — of very 
 great substance, and deeply corrugated and gummy in a 
 mature state. This variety also ripens early, as shown by 
 the colouring of the outer portions of the leaves. The 
 midrib is deep green ; the lesser ribs, or veins, being very 
 pronounced, and of a pale creamy yellow colour. Colour 
 of flowers, rosy mauve. 
 
 The main stem is of a distinct deep green colour, im- 
 mensely thick and of very stout texture. Average distance 
 between leaves, 2 to 2h inches ; nine to twelve leaves being 
 the number left upon each plant after being "topped." 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 46 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 27 ,, 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ HI „ 
 
 lEsttmatetJ Balance %i)ctt. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Yellow Prior. The value of the produce of this variety being: calculated upon 
 the weight of IS plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, 
 good, bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, 
 actually weighed 9 pounds, or equal to a'jout 2,420 pounds per acre, allow- 
 ing 4,840 plaut4 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,420 lbs. @ id.* 40 6 8 
 
 To Rent of Laud and HuildiDgs, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, (ft 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings ft* 10/- per acre each time 110 
 
 2 HarrowiD^s (ft 1/- per acre each time .. .. ..020 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . ..280 
 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure .. .. . ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano (a £12 per ton .. .. .. 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2. 1 boy 1 day 1/3.. .. 4 5 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ 3/- per acre each time . . . . . 6 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeii.g twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time .. .. .. .. .. . . It 
 
 Prunine, topping - , and suckering (ft 8/- per acre .. * o 
 
 Cutting (ft 5/-peracre, carting to barn and hanging (ft 1'2/- 17 
 Eiring, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) .. .. .. . 10 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc.. 2 weeks @ lfi/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,420 lbs. 
 
 (at 5/- per 100 lbs 6 1 93 8 8 
 
 Average p 'ofit upon 1 acre 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 

 |jj 
 TOBACCO-var. WHITE BURLEIGH. 
 
 Grown in Messr?. Carters' Field Crop, i886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-WHITE BURLEIGH. 29 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 This handsome first early variety is faithfully represented 
 by the opposite Illustration, and the peculiar colour of the 
 plants in growth gave rise to considerable discussion as to 
 whether it was sufficiently hardy to stand the vicissitudes 
 of an English climate. That such a result was realised is 
 indisputable, and there is no doubt but that the " White 
 Burleigh" and the " Kentucky" will be popular varieties in the 
 future, especially where colour rather than quantity is aimed at. 
 
 As with the " Kentucky " the erect habit of the upper 
 foliage is retained, even after the flower-stem is thrown out. 
 The leaves are long, broad, tapering, of a yellowish green 
 colour, and very gummy ; midrib nearly white, lesser ribs 
 or veins creamy white and prominent, surface fairly even 
 at all stages of growth. Colour of flowers, pale rose. 
 
 Again, like the " Kentucky, ' the short stout main stem 
 is entirely hidden by the upper leaves, which are placed 
 about an inch apart — there being an average of from ten 
 to thirteen leaves upon each plant after being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 34 inche3. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 27 „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, 12J „ 
 
 lEsttmateB Balance £Jjrct. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 White Burieigh. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon 
 the weight of 72 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 24 pounds, or equal to about 1,610 pounds per acre, allowing 4,810 plants 
 per acre. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- & p. d. 
 
 facturer, say 1,610 lbs. @ 4d.* 23 16 8 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, @ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings @ 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings @ 1/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Load* Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . 2 8 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 . . ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoein^s @ ?,'- per acre each time . . . . ..060 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over® "/- 
 
 per acre each time . . . . . . . . . . ..0140 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre . . 8 
 
 Cutting;? 5,'- per acre, carting to barn and hanging (g 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks i V 15- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 1,610 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 4 6 2J g 2 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre 
 
 £5 8 6 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACOC-var. ORINOCO. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, iS 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-YELLOW ORINOCO. 31 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 This proves to be a fird early variety of considerable 
 excellence. 
 
 The size and beauty of the foliage are well shown in the 
 opposite Illustration. 
 
 The leaves are of medium length and of a rich green colour 
 — deeply corrugated as they approach maturity — and less 
 tapering in form than some other kinds. As with " Big 
 Frederick," the outer edges of the leaves show indications of 
 ripening upon the plant at an early period. Midrib bright 
 green, with lesser ribs or veins fairly prominent. Colour of 
 flowers, salmon rose. 
 
 The main stem is very stout and hard, and the leaves 
 have the peculiar leathery touch so much approved by the 
 numerous experts who have inspected the English crops. 
 Average distance between leaves, 2 inches ; nine to twelve 
 being the number of leaves left upon each plant after being- 
 topped. 
 
 Average height of plant 'when topped (Sept. 15) 39 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 23i „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, Hi ,, 
 
 ISsttmatcO Balance %tytt. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Yellow Orinoco. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon 
 the weight of 42 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 26 pounds, or equal to about 2,900 pounds per acre, allowing 4,810 plants 
 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,900 lbs. @ 4d.* 48 6 a 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, @ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings <a 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings @ ]/- per acre each time .. .. ..020 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . . . 2 H 
 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure .. .. .. ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton . . . . . . 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 . . 4. 5 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ a/- per acre each time . . ..060 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre . . 8 
 
 Cutting© 5/- peracre, cartingto barn and hanging© 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) . . .. .. .. 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, e'e, 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,900 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 7 5 2 i 12 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £ 23 It o 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value «t which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACCO-var. GLASNER. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 18S6. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-GLASNER. 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 
 " Here you have a splendid variety, with a fine cigar leaf," 
 remarked a Virginian expert when inspecting Messrs. Carters' 
 crop at Bromley. The "Glasner," however, is one of the latest 
 to ripen, and therefore may be considered of less value 
 to English growers than the earlier varieties. 
 
 Its fine habit and immense leaves are well represented in 
 the opposite Illustration. The leaves are long and lance- 
 shaped, the points, especially the lower ones, being blunted, 
 with surface slightly corrugated as the plant develops ; 
 midrib, which is a pale green, is rather broad, and somewhat 
 woolly; the lesser ribs prominent, and of a bright greenish 
 yellow colour — in substance thin and very gummy. Colour 
 of flowers, rosy red. 
 
 The main stem is short, and remains covered by the 
 upright growth of the upper leaves — there being an average 
 distance of half an inch to an inch between the leaves, and 
 thirteen to fifteen leaves upon a plant when topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 30 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 25* „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves . . „ 1 3J „ 
 
 lEsttmatcU Balance jeljert. 
 
 Showing: cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Glasner. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 weight of 7S plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 42 pounds, or equal to about'2,600 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants 
 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,600 lbs. @ 4d.* 43 6 8 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, © 00/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughing* (3 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings © 1/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land. . .. 2 8 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano (2 £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3.. ..045 
 2 Horse-hoeings © 3/- per acre each time . . ..060 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over® 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering © 8/- per acre ..080 
 
 Cutting (a 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging© 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 10 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,600 lbs. 
 
 © 5/- per 100 lbs 6 10 ., 3 17 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £19 9 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACCO-var. FLORIDA. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, iS 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-FLORIDA, 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 This may be considered a second early Tobacco of average 
 merit, although in most respects inferior to "Big Frederick." 
 
 As shown in the Illustration on the opposite page the 
 leaves of ''Florida" vary considerably in shape, inasmuch 
 as whilst the lower ones are more or less blunted, the 
 younger leaves are long and tapering. These become some- 
 what corrugated upon the surface as they ripen. The midrib 
 is very broad, and of a pale green colour, the lesser ribs or 
 veins being very faint and undefined. To the touch the 
 leaves of this variety have a rough surface, fairly gummy, 
 and are of a " leathery " texture. Colour of flowers, rich 
 rose. 
 
 Yery vigorous main stem showing an average distance 
 of 2 inches between the leaves ; nine to eleven leaves 
 being the number left on each plant after being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 42 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 27i „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ 11 f 
 
 IHsttmatrU Balance gtytt. 
 
 Showing cost, of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Florida. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 weight of 10S plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 50 pounds, or equal to about 2,200 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants 
 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,200 lbs. (7 -id.* 3G 13 4 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes. @ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings (« 10/- per acre each time 1 10 O 
 
 2 Harrowings @ ]/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Slanure delivered on Land . . .. 2 8 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano (§ £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3.. ..045 
 2 Horse-hoeings (£ 3/- per acre each time . . ..060 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering® 8/- per acre ..080 
 
 Cutting (g 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging (a 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,. T 00 lb". 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 5 10 22 17 g 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £13 15 8 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the loicest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
 D 2 
 
TOBACCO-var. VIRGINIA. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, i? 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-VIRGINIA, 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 It has been determined to class " Virginia " with the first 
 early Tobaccos. In general character, and habit of growth, 
 this variety resembles the " Big Frederick." 
 
 The Illustration on the opposite page affords a truthful 
 picture of this plant. 
 
 The leaves are very long and tapering, and the surface of 
 the matured leaf is more or less indented or corrugated. 
 The midrib is of a greenish white colour, the lesser ribs or 
 veins being prominent. Colour of flowers, bright rose. 
 
 As with "Big Frederick," the leaves are of considerable 
 substance, and appear to contain less sap than the semi-erect 
 varieties. 
 
 The main stem is hard and very strong — with an average 
 distance of 2 to 2| inches between the leaves — nine to eleven 
 being the number of leaves left upon each plant after being 
 topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped. (Sept. 15) 37* inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 25 „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, 11 „ 
 
 ISsttmatctJ Balance %i)ttt. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Virginia. The value of the produce of this variety beiDg calculated upon the 
 weight of 72 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 37 pounds, or equal to about 2, 420 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants 
 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- & e. A. 
 
 facturer, say 2,420 lbs. @ 4d.* 40 6 S 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, (4 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings @ 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings ^ 1/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land ..280 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton 1 16 O 
 
 5.000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ 3/- per acre each lime 6 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre .080 
 
 Cutting @ 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging @ 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks ® 15/- 1 10 o 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,420 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 6 J_0 2 3 8 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £16 18 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at idiich average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACCO-VAR. MARYLAND BROADLEAF. 
 
 Grown in Mfsses. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-MARYLAND BROADLEAF, 3 ° 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 
 This is probably one of the least desirable of the semi- 
 erect class, as the plant matures slowly and the leaves do 
 not dry so rapidly as many other sorts, after being housed. 
 
 It is, however, a handsome variety in growth, as shown 
 by the opposite Illustration, and if planted out earlier it 
 might make a better record in the future. 
 
 The leaves are long and tapering, of a rich sage-green 
 colour, midrib rather broad, slightly woolly, and pale green, 
 the lesser ribs or veins being prominent. As another con- 
 sequence of late maturity the leaves of the broad leaf were 
 less gummy than others. Colour of flowers, pale rose. 
 
 Stem short and stout, more or less hidden by the upper 
 leaves, which are about 1 inch to 1| inches apart, with 
 nine to twelve leaves upon each plant after being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 38i inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 26 ,, 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, 12* „ 
 
 IsstimatcB Balance Sfjeet 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Maryland Broadleaf. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated 
 upon the weight of 78 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, 
 good, bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, 
 actually weighed 47 pounds, or equal to about 2,900 pounds per acre, allowing 
 4,840 plants per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,900 lbs. @ 4d.* 48 6 8 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, @ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings (« 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings («. 1/- per acre each time .. .. ..020 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . ..280 
 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton 1 10 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3.. ..045 
 
 2 Horge-hoeings (£ 3/- per acre each time 6 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over (S, 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre .. 8 
 
 Cutting® 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks © 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2, 900 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 7 5 u ]2 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £ 23 14 
 
 * It is considered that4d. peril), is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACDO-var. CONNECTICUT. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-CONNECTICUT. 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 This variety — as shown in the Illustration on the opposite 
 page — is quite distinct from the " Connecticut Seedleaf " 
 figured at page 54, and is distinct in growth and general 
 appearance. It may oe considered a second early variety. 
 
 The leaves are long and less tapering at the point than 
 some other varieties. The surface of the leaf hecomes slightly 
 corrugated as the plant matures; the midrib, which is of a 
 pale yellowish green colour, is narrow, and the lesser ribs or 
 veins are not prominent. 
 
 The leaves are very hard, gummy, and of considerable 
 substance, having what may be termed a " leathery" character. 
 Colour of flowers, pale rose. 
 
 The main stem is hard, and the plant appears to possess 
 a vigorous constitution. An average distance of 2 inches 
 between the leaves ; ten to twelve leaves being the number 
 left on each plant after being topped. It is generally 
 admitted, however, that fourteen or fifteen leaves per plant 
 might be grown of this variety with advantage. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 45 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 3H „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ 16t „ 
 
 l£sttmatcB Balance &l)ttt 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Connecticut. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon 
 the weight of 18 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 10 pounds, or equal to about 2,C00 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 
 plants per acre. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 factnrer,- say 2,600 lbs. @ 4d.* 43 6 8 
 
 To Rent of Land arid Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, (a. 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughmgs @ 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harro wings ig 1/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . ..280 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure .. .. .. ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano (5 £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15,- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 hoy 1 day 1/3. . . . 4 5 
 2 Horse-hoeings (a 3/- per acre each time .. ..060 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time . . .. .. .. .. . . 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre . . 8 
 
 Cutting (7 5/- per acre.carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads wa^te haul wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour onlj) .. .. .. . . 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting', bulking, ana packing, say 2,600 lbs. 
 
 (S 5/- per 100 lbs 6 10 2 3 17 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £19_9_o 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. it the lowest value at laJtich average quality 
 Tobacco can reasona'/h/ be placed. 
 
TOBACCO-VAR. WHITE STEM. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 I holographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-WHITE STEM, 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 This maybe considered a second early variety of considerable 
 merit, and very distinct in general characteristics. Its unique 
 appearance is faithfully reproduced in the Illustration upon 
 the opposite page. 
 
 The leaves are of medium length, less tapering in form 
 than some other kinds — slightly corrugated — of great sub- 
 stance, becoming very gummy as they mature. 
 
 A marked peculiarity possessed by this variety is the 
 white midrib of the leaf or stem, as it is designated in 
 America — the lesser ribs or veins being of a pale green colour 
 and clearly defined. Colour of flowers, very faint rose. 
 
 The main stem is somewhat slender, but very hard in 
 texture, with an average distance of 1J to 2 inches between 
 the leaves, nine to eleven leaves being the number left upon 
 each plant after being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 38 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 25 „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, 11 „ 
 
 liSttmatcU Balance &i)tct. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 White Stem. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 weight of 72 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 36 pounds, or equal to about 2,420 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants 
 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,420 lhs. @ 4d.* 4068 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, © 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings (^ 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings @ 1/- per acre each time . . . . ..020 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . ..280 
 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure .. .. ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano i<? £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 6,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 O 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 .. 4 5 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ 3/- per acre each time. . .. ..060 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time . . .. .. .. .. .. 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering © 8/- per acre . . 8 
 
 Cutting © 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found, on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) . . . . . . ..0160 
 
 Man's time curing and attending-, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,420 lb*. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 6 10 2 3 8 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £ 16 18 
 
 * It is considered that id. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be plared. 
 
TOBACCO-VAR. PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Grown in Messr?. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-PENNSYLVANIA, 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 
 This is a late variety, ripening off very slowly in the Tobacco 
 house. As an instance of this it was observed that on 
 October 23rd, or fully a month after being housed, the 
 leaves of "Pennsylvania" remained more or less green in 
 colour, whereas those of nearly all other varieties presented 
 varied hues of yellow and brown. 
 
 As evidenced by the Illustration opposite, it forms 
 a handsome specimen in the crop, the large and long 
 pointed leaves being of a rich pea -green shade with 
 woolly midrib and lesser ribs or veins of a pale yellow 
 colour, the latter less prominent than with the " Maryland " 
 (see page 38). Leaves gummy and of fair substance. Colour 
 of flowers, very pale pink. 
 
 The stem, •which is of a creamy yellow colour, stout and 
 short, is hidden by the foliage, leaves about an inch apart, 
 and eleven to thirteen upon each "topped" plant. 
 
 Averaga height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 32i inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 23 „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ 9* ,, 
 
 li.sttmatctJ Balanrc Sijcct. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of Penn- 
 sylvania. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 weight of 102 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed -18 pounds, or equal to about 2,400 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants 
 per acre. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- & s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,400 lbs. (§ 4d.~ 40 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buddings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, @ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings @ 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings ts 1/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . ..280 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure .. .. .. ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano (^ £12 per ton .. .. . . 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 hoy 1 day 1/3. . ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ :■(/- per acre each time 6 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over® 71- 
 
 per acre each time 14 
 
 Pruning^topping, and suckering (2 8/- per acre ..080 
 
 Cutting @ 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hangiDg® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time, curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulsing, and packing, say 2,400 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 6 
 
 23 7 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre 
 
 It is considered that 4d.perlb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACCO-VAR. HESTER VIRGINIA. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Croi', 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-HESTER VIRGINIA, " 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 This variety should rank as a first early Tobacco, and is in 
 many other respects to he commended. It is also stated to 
 he the most promising of all the varieties grown by Mr. 
 Bateman, of Brightlingsea, from seeds obtained from Messrs. 
 Carter. 
 
 The leaves are of medium length, broad or club-formed 
 — as shown in the Illustration upon the opposite page — 
 becoming somewhat corrugated as the plant matures. The 
 midrib, which is slightly woolly, is of a greenish white colour, 
 the lesser ribs or veins being very prominent and of a pale green 
 shade. The leaves are of a stout leathery texture, of consider- 
 able substance and very gummy. Colour of flowers, pale rose. 
 
 The main stem is less hard than some other kinds, and 
 is also of a peculiar shade of green. The plant is vigorous — 
 an average distance of 2 inches between the leaves — nine 
 to eleven leaves being the number left upon each plant 
 after being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 40 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. ,, 24A ,, 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, 13| „ 
 
 lEsttmatctJ Balance £Ij cct. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Hester Virginia. The value of ihe produce of this ■variety being calculated upon 
 the weight of 54 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, good, 
 bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, actually 
 weighed 33 pounds, or equal to about 2,900 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants 
 per acre. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to maim- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 2,900 lbs. @ 4d.* 48 6 8 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes. @ 60/- per acra £3 
 
 3 Ploughings (§ 10/- per acre each time . .. .. 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings @ 1/- per acre each time .. .. ,.030 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . ..280 
 Spreading Farm-vard Manure . . . . . . ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000.. 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1 /3 . . ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ 3/- per acre each "time 6 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 11 
 
 Pruning^topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre ..080 
 
 Cutting @ 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,900 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 7 5 24 12 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £ 23 14 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACOO-VAR. ISLAND BROADLEAF. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-ISLAND BROADLEAF. '" 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 
 This is a distinct and showy variety in growth, the entire 
 plant being of a peculiarly pretty sage-green colour. 
 
 As shown in the Illustration, the leaves are large, 
 broad, and tapering, the tips of the lower ones being 
 rather blunt, the surface of the leaf, which handles " thin " as 
 compared with some others, is even and regular, and remark- 
 ably gummy as the plant matures. 
 
 The midrib is of a pale yellowish green colour, rather 
 broad and woolly, the lesser ribs or veins being very pro- 
 nounced. Colour of flowers, bright rose. 
 
 The main stem — like the "Glasner" — is short when 
 topped, and remains hidden by the upright growth of the 
 upper leaves ; average distance of about an inch between the 
 leaves, with thirteen to fifteen leaves upon a plant. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 38 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 29 ,, 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. ,, 14 „ 
 
 ISsttmatcB Balance %i)ttt. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Island Broadleaf. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated 
 upon the estimated weight of 72 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including 
 all leaves, good, bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks 
 and cured, were judged to weigh 48 pounds (but this variety was not actually 
 weighed), or equal to about 3,200 pounds per acre, allowing 4.810 plants per acre. 
 The absence of actual weights in this particular instance is accounted forf rom 
 the fact that Messrs. Carter had begun to pack down the variety before they 
 thought of putting the Tobacco upon the scales. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- 
 facturer, say 3,200 lbs. @ 4d. 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 and Taxes, © CO/- per acre 
 3 Ploughings © 10/- per acre each tims 
 
 2 Harrowings («; 1/- per acre each time 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano © £12 per ton 
 
 5,000 PlaDts at about 15/- per 1,000 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings © 3/- per acre each time 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over© 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 
 
 Pruning,^ topping, and euckering © 8/- per acre 
 
 Cutting© 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be fouud on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks © 15/- 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 3,200 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre 
 
 * It is considered that 43. per lb. it thelotoest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 S3 6 
 
 8 
 
 £3 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 - 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 25 7 
 
 8 
 
 
 £27 19 
 
 
 
,e!<- 
 
 TOBACCO-var. ONE SUCKER. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Croi 1 , 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-ONE SUCKER, 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 This variety— as evinced by the Illustration upon the oppo- 
 site page— possesses a distinct individuality, and appears 
 well adapted to our English climate, the crop being estimated 
 as one of the very heaviest. 
 
 The leaves are long, tapering, and narrow— the surface 
 but little indented. 
 
 The midrib is of a pale greenish white and the lesser ribs 
 or veins are very clearly defined. Colour of flowers, deep 
 rose. x 
 
 The main stem is stout and very hard, showing an average 
 distance of 1| to 2 inches between the leaves— eleven to 
 twelve leaves being the number left upon each plant after 
 being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 36 inches 
 Average length of largest leaves . . 26 1 
 
 Average width of largest leaves . . 8J " 
 
 50 o o 
 
 lEsttmatctJ Balance Sljcet 
 
 Snp S k h P °r W Tho° S ', 0f Paction and average value of a crop of one acre of One 
 
 Sat'erl ^ Pi lh\ .f° 4 he , Pr ? dUCe ° f thlS variety being calculated upon the 
 
 fp»vP ?itJ i *i i '• ^ n,S ' aS grown bv Me ssrs. Carter, including all 
 
 rn™i '%°}' ha ?>*? d t ^different, which, when stripped from the stalks and 
 
 S.5?" J lld * ed to weigh 50 pounds (but this' variety was not actually 
 
 Thf-l* orec ' ual to about 3,000 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants per acre! 
 
 the f£f tw°AT° aCtU / al S 8 *?^ 1 ? this Particular instance is accounted for from 
 
 thought of ^ntH^*tL G T a T r had beg V n to pack down the ™ riecv before they 
 tnougnt ot putting the Tobacco upon the scales. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s d 
 
 facturer, say 3,000 lbs. © 4d.* 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, "Tithes', 
 
 and Taxes. © 60/- per acre . . £ 3 
 
 3 Ploughings © 10/- per acre each time " " 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings @ 1/- per acre each time .. ' " 2 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land .'. "280 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure ' 1 3 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano © £12 per ton " " iir. O 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 . . " " 3 15 o 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 ' " 4 5 
 2Horse-hoe'ngs © 3/- per acre each time.. 6 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice over© 11. 
 
 per acre each time.. .. 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering© 8/- per acre' '.'. 8 
 
 Cutting©o/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging© 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found oV the 
 
 it arm (charge for labour only) . 16 
 
 Man s time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks'© 15/1' l 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 3,000 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs * ' 7 10 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre 
 
 'A 17 8 
 
 Tooiicoiirz^^^r 1 ^ 13 thelowest vaiueat wkkh avera °< *««* 
 
 E -2 
 
TOBACCO-VAR. BIG FREDERICK. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Photographed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-BIG FREDERICK, 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 This is very distinct as well as being one of the earliest and 
 most productive of all the horizontal or drooping-foliaged 
 varieties. It is a strong grower, and appeared to thrive 
 equally with any other kind in our English climate. 
 
 The leaves— as shown in the Illustration on the opposite 
 p a o e — are very long, somewhat lance-shaped, with points of 
 medium length. 
 
 As the plants mature the surface of the leaf of this 
 variety becomes considerably corrugated, the outer edges 
 showing indications of a faint yellow colouring as they 
 ripen upon the plant. The midrib is of a pale yellowish 
 green colour, the lesser ribs or veins being very acute and 
 marked. Colour of flowers, rosy salmon. 
 
 The leaves of " Big Frederick " are of immense substance, 
 and, although very gummy, appear to be less sappy than 
 many varieties of the semi-erect types. The main stem is 
 hard and thick, with an average distance of about 2 inches 
 between the leaves ; nine leaves being left on each plant 
 after being " topped." 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 40 inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 27 „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves . . „ 1 3j „ 
 
 l£stimatcB Balance &\)tct. 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of Big 
 Frederick. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 estimated weight of 72 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, ir eluding all leaves, 
 good, bad, and indifferent, which, when stiipped from the stalks and cured, were 
 judged to weign 45 pounds (but this variety was not actually weighed), or equal 
 to about 3,000 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants per acre. 
 
 The absence of actual weights in this particular instance is accounted for from 
 the fact that Messrs. Carter had begun to pack down the variety before they 
 thought of putting the Tobacco upon the scales. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 facturer, say 3,000 lbs. @ 4d.* 50 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes, («; 60/- per acre . . . . . . ..£300 
 
 3 Ploughings ('V 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings (<i 1/- per acre each time 2 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land .. ..280 
 Spreading Farm-jard Manure 13 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano (§ £12 per ton 1 16 
 
 6,000 Plants at about 15/- uer 1,000 3 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3.. ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings (£ 3/- per acre each time 6 
 
 Manual labour, hilling and side-hoeing twice overg 7/- 
 
 per acre each time.. .. 14 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering (« 8/- per acre ..080 
 
 Cutting^ 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging @ 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only). . .. .. .. 1*5 
 
 Man's time curiug and attending, etc., 2 weeks g 15;'- 1 10 
 StripoiriLr, sorting', bulking, and packing, say 3,000 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 7 10 2 4 17 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre £ 25 2 4 
 
 * It is considered that Id. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasmwbli/ '»' pluml. 
 
TOBAOCO-VAR. CONNECTICUT SEEDLEAF. 
 
 Grown in Messrs. Carters' Field Crop, 1886. 
 Phot jgraphed on Wood. 
 
TOBACCO-CONNECTICUT SEEDLEAF, " 
 
 (Semi-erect leaved.) 
 This variety is distinct from the <: Connecticut " described 
 at page 41. It may be considered a second early variety 
 of very considerable merit. 
 
 It is undoubtedly one of the best of the semi-erect habited 
 section, its magnificent foliage — as represented in the Illustra- 
 tion opposite — rendering it at once remarkable when seen for 
 the first time in growth. The lower leaves are somewhat 
 full at the point, the upper ones being more pointed. The 
 surface of the leaf continues even as the plants mature, but 
 becomes very gummy. The midrib is of a pale lemon 
 yellow colour, the lesser ribs or veins being prominent. 
 In growth the substance of the leaf appears to be thinner or 
 more of the consistency of paper than the section repre- 
 sented by " Big Frederick." Colour of flowers, rosy salmon. 
 
 The main stem when topped, is also much shorter, with 
 an average distance of about 1^ inches between the leaves, 
 with ten to twelve leaves upon each plant. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 39* inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 29A „ 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ 13J „ 
 
 IHsttmatcU Balance ^Ijeet 
 
 Showing cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Connecticut Seedleaf. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated 
 upon the estimated weight of 90 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including 
 all leaves, good, bad, and indifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and 
 cured, were judged to weigh 50 pounds (but this variety was not actually 
 weighed), or equal to about 2,600 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants per acre. 
 The absence of actual weights in this particular instance is accounted for 
 from the fact that Messrs. Carter had begun to pack down the variety before 
 they thought of putting the Tobacco upon the scales. 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- £ s. d. 
 
 f acturer, say 2,000 lbs. @ 4d. " 43 6 8 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Tases^ @ 60/- per acre £3 
 
 3 Ploughings (« 10/- per acre each time 1 10 
 
 2 Harrowings («, 1/- per acre each time .. .. ..020 
 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . . . 2 S 
 
 Spreading Farm-yard Manure . . . . . . ..013 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton .. .. . . 1 Id 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 a 15 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 ..045 
 
 2 Horse-hoeings@ 3/- per acre each time. . .. ..060 
 
 Manual labour, billing and side-hoeing twice over @ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time . . . . . . . . . . ..0140 
 
 Pruning, topping, and suckering @ 8/- per acre ..080 
 
 Cutting® 5/- peracre, cartingto barn andhanging@ 1-2/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) .. 16 
 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks ® 15/- 1 10 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 2,600 lbs. 
 
 ® 5/- per 100 lbs 6 10 
 
 23 17 8 
 
 Average profit upon 1 acre 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be placed. 
 
TOBACCO-VAR. HAVANA. 
 
 In consequence of the specimen plant reserved 
 for Illustration being wilfully destroyed, we failed 
 to get a •photograph of this variety. 
 
TOBACCO-HAVANA. 
 
 (Horizontal leaved.) 
 
 A distinct and first ear?// variety of less vigorous growth 
 and habit than most others ; for this reason a greater 
 number of leaves might be left upon each plant with 
 advantage. 
 
 It may be described as of somewhat short or stunted 
 growth, leaves long and tapering, slightly corrugated, and 
 of a leathery substance. The midrib is of a yellowish 
 white colour, and slightly woolly, the lesser ribs or veins 
 being very delicate. Colour of Mowers undetermined, for 
 reasons stated opposite. 
 
 Main stem slender but very strong in texture, leaves 
 drooping, with an average distance of 1| inches from each 
 other, eleven to twelve leaves being the number left upon 
 each plant after being topped. 
 
 Average height of plant when topped (Sept. 15) 37i inches. 
 Average length of largest leaves .. „ 20 ,, 
 
 Average width of largest leaves .. „ 1CU „ 
 
 ISsttmaJcU Balanrc Sfjcct. 
 
 Showins 1 cost of production, and average value of a crop of one acre of 
 Havana. The value of the produce of this variety being calculated upon the 
 estimated weight of 12 plants, as grown by Messrs. Carter, including all leaves, 
 good, bad, and iadifferent, which, when stripped from the stalks and cured, 
 were judged to weigh 3 pounds (but this variety was not actually weighed), or 
 equal to about 1,210 pounds per acre, allowing 4,840 plants per acre. 
 
 The absence of actual weights in this particular in* tance is accounted for from 
 the fact that Messrs. Carter had begun to pack down the variety before they 
 thought of putting the Tobacco upon the scales. 
 
 By Produce of Tobacco cured ready for sale to manu- 
 facturer, say 1,210 lbs. @ 4d.* 
 
 To Rent of Land and Buildings, including Rates, Tithes, 
 
 and Taxes. @ 60/- per acre 
 
 3 Ploughings (u\ 10/- per acre each time . . 
 
 2 Harrowings @ 1/- per acre each time 
 9 Loads Farm-yard Manure delivered on Land . . 
 Spreading Farm-yaid Manure 
 
 3 cwt. Peruvian Guano @ £12 per ton 
 
 5,000 Plants at about 15/- per 1,000 
 
 Planting ditto, 1 man 1 day 3/2, 1 boy 1 day 1/3 
 2 Horse-hoeings @ 3/- per acre each time. . .. 
 Manual labour, hilling and tide-hoeing twice over@ 7/- 
 
 per acre each time 
 Pruning, toppit g, and suckering @ 8/- per acre 
 Cutting @ 5/- per acre, carting to barn and hanging® 12/- 17 
 Firing, 2 loads waste hard wood to be found on the 
 
 Farm (charge for labour only) 
 Man's time curing and attending, etc., 2 weeks @ 15/- 
 Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, say 1,210 lbs. 
 
 @ 5/- per 100 lbs 
 
 Average loss upon 1 acre 
 
 * It is considered that 4d. per lb. is the lowest value at which average quality 
 Tobacco can reasonably be 'placed. 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. d. 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 3 4 
 
 £3 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 -0 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 8 
 
 
 £0 
 
 4 10 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTIVATION 
 
 OF 
 
 MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO CROP. 
 
 Messrs. Carters' Tobacco crop comprised an area 
 of about three-quarters of an acre, the land — which 
 was hired at a high rental, but conveniently near 
 to London, and permitting of a daily inspection, 
 whereas Messrs. Carters' Seed Farms are some 
 seventy miles distant — being almost a dead flat, low- 
 lying, and so indifferently drained, that in May last, 
 and less than a month from the period at which the 
 land was planted, some parts were almost under 
 water. From this cause also it was found impossible 
 to obtain the fine tilth considered as most desirable 
 in the production of Tobacco. The land partook 
 more or less of three characters, the lower portion 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTIVATION. 59 
 
 being a black vegetable deposit, retaining the 
 moisture most tenaciously, the middle section was 
 a rich sandy loam, whilst the top end of the field 
 worked off to a light gravelly soil. 
 
 The Tobacco Seeds were sown on hotbeds, 
 April 7th, 1886 (very late), and the slow growth 
 made by the plants in the earliest stages, was most 
 disappointing ; this, however, was partly accounted 
 for by the prevalence of unusually cold east winds, 
 to the effects of which the plants were more or 
 less subject, inasmuch as if the hotbeds had 
 been kept close, the plants would have become 
 "drawn," "weakly," and unsuitable. 
 
 As a consequence it was found quite impossible to 
 plant the land as early as had been contemplated, 
 and it was not effected until June 16th, when, the 
 land having been ploughed into ridges three feet 
 apart, the Tobacco plants were put into the ground 
 at a uniform distance of three feet from each 
 other, and thoroughly well watered. The weather 
 then appeared more promising, but almost im- 
 mediately afterwards the wind again veered round 
 to the north-east, and a week of dreadfully cold 
 and sunless weather was experienced. 
 
 These very ungenial atmospheric conditions 
 were succeeded by nearly a month of persistent 
 sunshine by day, whilst the night temperature 
 
GO ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 registered unpleasantly low, with an utter absence 
 of rain until July 7th, when a few drops fell for 
 the first time upon the plants. From this period 
 the following particulars mark the develop- 
 ment of the crop, at the same time showing the 
 anxious solicitude evinced by the Board of Inland 
 Eevenue : 
 
 July 8. — Excise officer made first visit. 
 
 ,, 17. — Stormy. Plants growing very fast. 
 
 ,, 19. — Tobacco hoed the second time. 
 
 ,, 20. — Heavy rains. 
 
 ,, 23. — Stormy. Tobacco growing rapidly. 
 
 ,, 27. — Commenced "earthing up" Tobacco. 
 
 „ 29. — Excise officer made second visit. 
 Aug. 5. — Finished "earthing up" Tobacco. 
 
 „ 9. — Commenced "topping" the Tobacco. 
 
 „ 11. — Excise officer made third visit. 
 
 „ 12. — Tobacco hoed the fourth time. 
 
 „ 20. — Excise officer made fourth visit. 
 
 ., 24. — "Suckering" the Tobacco. 
 
 ,, 26. — Found first caterpillars attacking plants. 
 
 „ 28. — Closed an extremely hot week. 
 Sept. 7. — Excise officer made fifth visit. 
 
 „ 10. — Tobacco beginning to ripen. 
 
 ,, 11. — Slight frost at night. 
 
 ,, 13. — Excise officer made sixth visit. 
 
 „ 17. — Sharp frost, dry east wind. 
 
 ,, 18. — Another frost. Commenced cutting Tobacco. 
 
 ,, 27. — Finished cutting and housing Tobacco. 
 
 The following record made by Messrs. 
 Carter shows the average weekly height of each 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTIVATION. 61 
 
 variety (at the later periods after being topped), 
 i.e., after removing the head or flowering stem : 
 
 
 
 
 
 l 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o . 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r- » 
 
 it > 
 
 3 5 
 
 a > 
 
 
 £ 
 
 o 
 
 P3 
 
 «> 
 
 ■* 
 
 IN 
 
 00 
 
 •*' 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 IN 
 
 -' 
 
 oo 
 
 s 
 
 a a 
 
 gj 
 
 Variety. 
 
 
 IS 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 >> 
 
 >> 
 
 "3 
 
 1-5 
 
 "3 
 
 1-5 
 
 be 
 
 P 
 
 he 
 P 
 < 
 
 be 
 
 P 
 < 
 
 to 
 
 p. 
 © 
 
 P. 
 o 
 02 
 
 Pi 
 03 
 
 W 
 
 CI. - 
 
 r. U 
 U '- 
 
 & T. 
 
 r 
 
 © *3 
 
 bo m 
 
 c to 
 
 1) u 
 > OS 
 
 < 
 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in 
 
 in. 
 
 iu. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 in. 
 
 Big Frederick 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 27 
 
 36 
 
 39 
 
 «* 
 
 42* 
 
 41 A 
 
 41* 
 
 27 
 
 13J 
 
 Conn. Seed Leaf 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 24 
 
 29 
 
 33 
 
 37 
 
 39 
 
 3PA 
 
 294 
 
 13J 
 
 Connecticut . . 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 15 
 
 21 
 
 29 
 
 34 
 
 39 
 
 42J 
 
 434 
 
 45 
 
 314 
 
 164 
 
 Florida.. 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 23 
 
 30 
 
 34 
 
 38 
 
 40 
 
 'Hi 
 
 42 
 
 27J 
 
 112 
 
 ■Glasner.. 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 18 
 
 21 
 
 23 
 
 27 
 
 29 
 
 30 
 
 254 
 
 134 
 
 Havana.. 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 26 
 
 31 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 374 
 
 20 
 
 10* 
 
 Hester Virginia 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 21 
 
 28 
 
 34 
 
 36 
 
 38 
 
 39 
 
 40 
 
 244 
 
 132 
 
 Island B. Leaf 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 14 
 
 20 
 
 26 
 
 29 
 
 32* 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 38 
 
 29 
 
 14 
 
 Kentucky 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 G 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 25 
 
 27* 
 
 30| 
 
 32* 
 
 33 
 
 27* 
 
 13 
 
 Maryland B. Lf. 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 15 
 
 22 
 
 29 
 
 34 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 38 
 
 384 
 
 26 
 
 12* 
 
 One Sucker . . 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 G 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 19 
 
 25 
 
 28 
 
 31 
 
 33i 
 
 34* 
 
 36 
 
 264 
 
 8f 
 
 Pennsylvania, 1 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 14 
 
 20 
 
 23 
 
 26 
 
 30 
 
 31* 
 
 32* 
 
 23 
 
 9i 
 
 Pennsylvania, 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 G 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 16 
 
 21 
 
 21 
 
 28 
 
 32J 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 26 
 
 12 
 
 Virginia 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 G 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 16 
 
 23 
 
 29 
 
 33 
 
 351 
 
 36J 
 
 37 
 
 374 
 
 25 
 
 11 
 
 "White Burleigh 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 G 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 22 
 
 21 
 
 27 
 
 30 
 
 32 
 
 34 
 
 27 
 
 12* 
 
 White Stem . . 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 13 
 
 16 
 
 22 
 
 27 
 
 d2 
 
 36 
 
 37* 
 
 38 
 
 25 
 
 11 
 
 Yellow Orinoco 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 G 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 15 
 
 21 
 
 27 
 
 32 
 
 37 
 
 33*. 
 
 39 
 
 23* 
 
 Hi 
 
 Yellow Prior . . 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 11 1 14 
 
 22 
 
 30 
 
 36 1 42 
 
 44 1 45 
 
 46 
 
 27 
 
 142 
 
 AVERAGE WEEKLY HEIGHT WHEN TOPPED. 
 
 It will be observed from the above statistics, 
 that the principal growth was made during the 
 month of August, but in an ordinary spring the 
 planting of the crop may be safely conducted about 
 the middle of May, when the harvest would be 
 proportionately early — a most desirable consumma- 
 tion, as rendering the after curing more simple 
 and certain. 
 
62 
 
 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 The folio win o- Table shows the average relative 
 weight of each variety, and in addition the 
 aggregate production of the entire crop, which 
 comprised 3,846 plants at the time of cutting : 
 
 WEIGHT OF GREEN CROP WHEN HOUSED, INCLUDING CENTRE 
 STALK, THE PLANTS HAVING LAID ABOUT 24 HOURS UPON 
 THE GROUND TO WITHER BEFORE HOUSING. 
 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 Plants. 
 
 Total 
 
 Weight in 
 
 lbs. 
 
 Average 
 
 Weight per 
 
 Plant. 
 
 Big Frederick 
 Conn. Seedleaf 
 
 262 
 269 
 
 lbs. 
 
 3171 
 464-| 
 
 lbs. 
 H 
 If 
 
 Connecticut 
 
 Florida 
 
 Glasner 
 
 54 
 316 
 252 
 
 82 
 385| 
 430^ 
 
 n 
 if 
 
 Havana 
 Hester Virginia 
 
 56 
 242 
 
 44 
 256 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 Island Broadleaf ... 
 
 258 
 
 498 
 
 2 
 
 Kentucky ... 
 Maryland Broadleaf 
 One Sucker 
 
 253 
 319 
 250 
 
 338 
 406 
 355 
 
 11 
 
 Pennsylvania 
 
 White Burleigh 
 
 320 
 242 
 
 486 
 
 278 
 
 H 
 
 Virginia 
 
 247 
 
 243 
 
 l 
 
 White Stem 
 
 254 
 
 292 
 
 i 
 
 Yellow Orinoco 
 
 191 
 
 207 
 
 l 
 
 Yellow Prior 
 
 61 
 
 79 
 
 H 
 
 
 3,846 
 
 5, 161 i- 
 
 
 The plants being placed a yard apart every 
 way, and the number of plants thus occupying 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTIVATION. G3 
 
 an acre being 4,840, the total weight produced 
 per acre (upon the above average) would be about 
 6,200 lbs. 
 
 Experts calculate that the plants shrink at 
 least 60 to 75 per cent, in the process of drying 
 and stripping from the main stem, so that there 
 should remain about 12 to 24 cwt. of tobacco 
 from an acre, available for disposal to the manu- 
 facturer at a price ranging from fourpence per 
 pound according to the quality. 
 
 It will be admitted that these figures point to 
 the cultivation of Tobacco as a remunerative occu- 
 pation, and it may reasonably be expected that if at 
 any future time the Government in their wisdom 
 can devise means to collect the revenue in a way 
 which shall not unduly interfere with the interests 
 of the home producer, and without endangering the 
 sum total of this important source of revenue, the 
 cultivation of Tobacco as a staple crop will soon 
 become universal in those districts best adapted to 
 its requirements. 
 
HARVESTING MESSRS. CARTERS' 
 TOBACCO CROP. 
 
 The process of harvesting was as follows : A 
 certain number of men were provided with ordi- 
 
 
 " PICKING DP " MESSRS. CARTERS' GREEN CROP OF TOBACCO. 
 
 nary shoemakers' knives, and proceeded to cut the 
 plants row by row, severing them just above 
 
HARVESTING THE TOBACCO CROP. 
 
 65 
 
 the ground. The plants were then laid upon 
 the ground, and left thus upon the land until 
 the next da} 7 , care being observed that no damage 
 was done by cold during the night. By this pro- 
 cess the leaves — which, in their growing state, are 
 more or less brittle — became limp and wilted, so 
 that they could be handled with less risk of damage. 
 
 SECTION SHOWING INTERIOR OF BARN USED IN CURING MESSRS. CARTERS* 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 A second group of men made incisions at the thick 
 end of the stem ; whilst others, again, threaded 
 the plants — averaging about six plants to a hazel 
 rod — upon rods, specially prepared. These, in their 
 turn, were carried to the waggon, as shown in the 
 illustration on the preceding page. 
 
66 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 The plants were then carted to the barn, and 
 after the tobacco upon each rod had been weighed, 
 they were suspended as shown in the illustra- 
 tion on page 65, great care being taken that 
 the plants did not touch each other, either upon 
 the rods or in the tiers. 
 
CORING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO. 
 
 The curing of the plants commenced immediately 
 the housing of the crop was completed, and the 
 process is admitted to have progressed satisfactorily, 
 although the conditions were not by any means the 
 most favourable, inasmuch as no adequate provision 
 had been made for the proper " firing " of the 
 Tobacco ; in fact, it was found necessary to use an 
 ordinary barn hired near the growing crop for this 
 special purpose, very exposed and not proof against 
 the weather, as the only available structure, whilst 
 it was quite impracticable for upwards of five 
 weeks to " fire " the crop (in consequence of the 
 difficulties of insurance), a process highly necessary 
 during wet weather. 
 
 Instead of this treatment, the first stages of 
 "curing" were by cold air. This operation is at 
 all times accompanied by a considerable amount of 
 
 p 2 
 
68 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 risk of damage to the leaf by mildew and decay, 
 as well as being much slower than the " firing " 
 system. 
 
 These imperfect conditions will, however, be 
 easily overcome in the future, and the simple 
 preparations requisite for the proper curing of the 
 crop will doubtless be provided by those who con- 
 tinue these interesting experiments. 
 
 It has already been stated that the first stages 
 in curing the Tobacco were confined to "cold" 
 drying only. This process consisted in a most 
 careful daily watching of the atmospheric con- 
 ditions ; thus, during the prevalence of dry easterly 
 winds or cold bright weather generally, the freest 
 possible ventilation was given, the barn doors 
 being opened fully, so that the wind could play 
 directly upon the Tobacco. In moist, foggy, or 
 humid weather, on the contrary, the doors were 
 kept as close as possible, and contact with the 
 outside air avoided. This treatment was continued 
 for nearly five weeks, i.e., until about October 25th, 
 when the difficulties of fire insurance were sur- 
 mounted, and the first fire lighted ; and not one 
 day too soon did these changed conditions take 
 place, the weather of the last ten days or a 
 fortnight before fires were used being remarkably 
 damp and foggy, and the Tobacco began to show 
 
CUEING MESSRS. CAETEES' TOBACCO. 69 
 
 unmistakable signs of mildew. At the same time 
 undue haste in firing cannot be recommended ; in 
 fact, several experts who have given very pro- 
 nounced opinions upon the superiority of the 
 Tobacco produced by Messrs. Carter, as compared 
 with examples differently treated, expressed a 
 decided opinion that the excellent quality of this 
 Tobacco was largely due to the slow process of 
 curing ; and except in cases where bright golden 
 colour in the leaf is aimed at rather than smoking 
 quality, it is deemed desirable to cold air dry the 
 Tobacco, say for a fortnight or three weeks if the 
 weather is fine and dry ; if on the other hand the 
 air is wet and the atmosphere heavy, then slow 
 firing should be commenced at once. By slow 
 firing it is meant that a sufficient heat should be 
 produced to dry up any atmospheric moisture 
 entering the building, and also to absorb a certain 
 quantity of that exuded from the leaves and stems 
 of the Tobacco. 
 
 Messrs. Carters' Tobacco was submitted to this 
 treatment, and a moderate "firing" as suggested 
 above was continued for about a month. 
 
 Eventually, on or about November 25th, the 
 Tobacco, which in the process of drying had already 
 shrunk in bulk quite fifty per cent., was packed 
 close in the tiers, and canvas walls were constructed 
 
70 
 
 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 to make the area as confined as possible, and thus 
 to increase the temperature. By this process an 
 average range of day heat of from 80 to 90 degrees was 
 obtained and continued for four or five days, when the 
 Tobacco was considered sufficiently cured to be taken 
 down and "handed" as described at pages 72-77. 
 
 The apparatus for heating the barn; as shown 
 here : A 
 
 carters' tobacco FURNACE (Registered). 
 
 suggested itself to Messrs. Carter as serving the 
 required object under circumstances that rendered 
 a naked fire utterly impossible, the barn being a 
 
CURING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO. 71 
 
 huge wooden building in the centre of cow-sheds, 
 stables, stacks, etc., that must have been destroyed 
 had a fire taken possession of the barn. 
 
 In the first place the furnace was portable, and 
 thus could if necessary be readily moved ; secondly, 
 wood of any and every description could be con- 
 sumed in the furnace, and the novel " cap " or 
 umbrella-shaped dome (a), combined with the side- 
 guards (b), was successful in checking the escape 
 of sparks and flame, whilst the peculiar formation 
 of the dome assisted in the distribution of heat. 
 (Particulars of the Tobacco Furnace can be obtained 
 of Messrs. Carter.) 
 
'HANDING" & FINISHING MESSRS. 
 CARTERS' TOBACCO FOR MARKET. 
 
 The accompanying Illustration gives aii ex- 
 cellent idea of the process of "handing" the 
 Tobacco — i.e., stripping the leaves from the stalks, 
 and tying them into bundles of a given number of 
 leaves. 
 
 The Tobacco being pronounced sufficiently dry r 
 or cured, the fire is put out, and the outside air 
 freely admitted. This precaution, after high firing, 
 is most important, as the Tobacco, in the process- 
 of drying, becomes so brittle that at the slightest 
 touch it crumbles into a snuff-like condition. The 
 object of a free circulation of air is to soften the 
 leaf, and render it pliable and easy to handle. 
 This condition — known by Americans as " in case "' 
 — will be produced in a day or two, according 
 to the weather, after firing has ceased, when the 
 
"HANDING" AND FINISHING THE TOBACCO. 73? 
 
 Tobacco should appear to the touch more like thin 
 kid leather than anything else to which it may 
 be compared. 
 
 
 
 ■^TOMfllSH 
 
 mmm 
 
 STRIPPING AND HANDING MESSRS. CARTERS' TOBACCO. 
 
 The above process is an important feature, 
 as bearing upon the value of the manufactured 
 article, it being the special duty of the individual 
 removing the leaves from the plant (see Illustration) 
 
71 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 to sort them when stripped into three quali- 
 ties, familiarly known in America as Lugs, i.e., 
 those leaves nearest the ground, usually more or 
 less damaged ; Firsts, the brightest and best 
 coloured leaves ; and Seconds, the medium quality 
 leaves; and it will, in a great measure, depend upon 
 how this sorting is done to determine the market 
 value of the whole of the produce. It is, however, 
 an art easily gained after a little experience ; and 
 a knowledge of the proper selection of the leaves is 
 acquired after a lesson or two from some one wdio 
 is familiar with the operation. 
 
 "Handins;" the Tobacco consists of the leaves 
 being picked up from the table by women and 
 children (see Illustration), the butt ends being 
 neatly placed together, and the number determined 
 upon — from twelve to twenty leaves — being neatly 
 bound round with another leaf of the same kind, the 
 end being secured by insertion between the leaves. 
 
 After the hands are "tied" or "bound," as 
 already described, they are passed through the 
 closed hand of the workers, to bring the Tobacco 
 into a smaller compass ; this is repeated several 
 times as the hands are passed from one worker to 
 the next, and ultimately to the packer, who care- 
 fully piles the "hands" of Tobacco into a solid 
 block, composed of the width of two hands, the 
 
"HANDING" AND FINISHING THE TOBACCO. 75 
 
 butts coming to the outside of the pile, and the 
 tips of the leaves to the centre. In this manner 
 the Tobacco is packed into a small compass, 
 the usual size of the piles being about six feet 
 in length by three feet in depth when trodden 
 down by the packer, care being taken to have the 
 floor, upon which the Tobacco is laid, quite clean. 
 
 With the object of pressing the Tobacco in bulk 
 as much as possible, each layer, as the heap en- 
 larges, is trodden firm in the centre by the packer, 
 who usually wears a pair of slippers during the 
 operation, so that no dirt may become mixed with 
 the Tobacco. 
 
 This process of treading assists the more rapid 
 fermentation of the Tobacco, which is the object 
 sought to be gained by packing down. 
 
 It is in this process of fermentation that the 
 greatest care is necessary to avoid over-heating, 
 and the bulk must be examined occasionally to guard 
 against such a calamity ; if, upon examination, the 
 heat appears to be excessive, the safest plan is to pull 
 the stack to pieces, let it cool down, and then 
 re-bulk it. Any extra trouble taken with the 
 Tobacco in this stage will be amply repaid by its 
 superior condition, and ultimately by the in- 
 creased market value over produce less carefully 
 handled. 
 
76 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 The Tobacco when in this condition should if 
 possible be disposed of to the manufacturer (or 
 to the depot, such as it is hoped will be forth- 
 coming in various agricultural centres, as the culti- 
 vation becomes more general), who will (as in France 
 under the Regie Nationale) undertake its develop- 
 ment through the second fermentation in spring, 
 familiarly designated as the "May sweat" by 
 Americans. 
 
 This is the final stage, and after such fermen- 
 tation it is usual in foreign Tobacco producing 
 centres for the crop to be packed into cases or 
 hogsheads, and sent into the market. 
 
 It will, however, be remembered that at the 
 period at which this work was written (January, 
 1887) it was impossible to pursue such treatment ; 
 and as Messrs. Carters' Tobacco passed into the 
 hands of the manufacturers in December, 1886, 
 records of " Spring " treatment must be reserved 
 for later editions of this work. 
 
 The successful culture of Tobacco may be summed 
 up in a very few words : Attentive observation of 
 the rules laid down by English experimentalists, 
 rather than attempting to follow the customs of other 
 nations, which are frequently impossible or undesir- 
 able in this country ; and the exercise of daily obser- 
 vation, which will oftensuggest someimprovedsystem 
 
"HANDING" AND FINISHING THE TOBACCO. 77 
 
 of procedure. The concluding words of an interest- 
 ing paper, written by an American, upon the subject 
 of Tobacco, are worthy of repetition here : " If 
 you have not a large stock of patience and per- 
 severance, with a will to learn, and a resolution 
 to keep trying until you succeed, you have missed 
 your calling, and had better try something else. 
 For there is no royal road to success in Tobacco 
 raising. But if you possess the true essentials — 
 have the true and lasting pluck — you will succeed 
 soon, or late, and what is better, reap a full reward 
 for honest, faithful toil." 
 
78 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 ANALYSIS. 
 
 We are favoured with the following report of 
 an analysis — so far as completed — of our Tobacco, 
 now being conducted by Dr. Bell, at the Labora- 
 tory, Inland Revenue, Somerset House, but which 
 was not perfected at the time of going to press. 
 
 Virginia [partly cured). 
 Nicotine . 4"2 per cent 
 *Ash . . 21 -7 per cent. 
 
 * Nearhi a marimum. 
 
 Island Eroadleaf (nearly cured). 
 Nicotine . 2*6 per cent. 
 
 Note. — In Imported Virginian Tobacco the average 
 analysis gives : 
 
 Nicotine . . . .3-0 per cent. 
 Ash .... 1S-0 pe cent. 
 
CONTINENTAL TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 WITH BALANCE-SHEET OF BELGIAN CROPS. 
 
 At the present moment we import large quantities 
 of Tobacco from Holland, Hungary, Germany, 
 and France, while in former years in England y 
 Scotland, and Ireland it was successfully culti- 
 vated till the law stepped in and put an end to 
 the practice. 
 
 Brodigan, a successful Tobacco-srrower in Ireland 
 fifty years ago, says, with regard to the climate : 
 " It is well-known that as we approach the tropics 
 the calamities to which vegetation is subject increase. 
 Whereas in our uniform climate we are exempt from 
 those devastating hurricanes, hailstorms, inundations, 
 and periodical gales, which in a few moments destroy 
 the hopes of the planter, etc." He continues to 
 
;80 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 •enumerate the diseases and injuries to which the 
 plant is subject in Virginia, i.e., " wormholes, 
 ripeshot or sunburnt, moonburnt, houseburnt, or 
 stunted by growth, torn by storm3 of hail 
 or wind, injured or killed by frosts," while 
 in the British Isles, except for an occasional 
 gale or late frost, we are free from these 
 dangers. 
 
 On the Continent Tobacco is a State Monopoly ; 
 the State fixes its own profits, and all Tobacco 
 is carried to depots, where regular commissioners 
 give the planters a fair market price. The 
 Belgian system differs, however, and to their 
 simple and efficacious method reference is made 
 further on. 
 
 As far as allotments or small holdings are 
 concerned, the cultivation of Tobacco would be 
 apparently the only means of making such a system 
 a profitable one, as will be shown in the case of 
 Belgium. 
 
 Tobacco growing can be practised and made 
 profitable on exceedingly small areas of land and 
 without the outlay of much capital, the sine qud 
 non being the employment of a great deal of 
 manual labour. 
 
 The following very interesting and valuable facts 
 
CONTINENTAL TOBACCO CULTURE. 81 
 
 have been obtained from Belgian cultivators of 
 Tobacco : 
 
 COST OF TOBACCO PRODUCTION PER HECTARE 
 (1 HECTARE - 2 ACRES 1 ROD 1 POLE) FOR ONE YEAR, 
 
 Francs. £ 
 
 1. Various manures ... ... ... 1,000 = 40 
 
 2. Labour approximately ... ... ... 1,000 = 40 
 
 3. Government tax, 2 centimes (one-fifth 
 
 of a penny) per plant ; about 40,000 
 
 plants per hectare ... ... ... 800 = 32 
 
 4. Rent, rates, taxes 300 = 12 
 
 Total outlay ... 3,100 =£124 
 
 The Government tax of 2 cents, the plant, 
 which is levied on the standing crop, is not exacted 
 on useless plants. 
 
 Produce of 1 hectare : An ordinary year readily 
 yields a production of 3,000 kilogrammes per 
 hectare (1 kilo = 2 lb. 3^ oz.), of which 70 per 
 cent, is of first quality, and 30 per cent, of second 
 and third quality ; these inferior qualities sell at 
 20 per cent, less; the first quality is selling at 
 present at : 
 
 Francs. 
 1 franc 50 cents. (Is. 3d.) per kilo, or for 2,100 kilos... 3,150 
 2nd and 3rd qualities, selling at 1 franc, or for 900 kilos 900 
 
 4,050 
 The expenses being... ... ... 3,100 
 
 The net profit is (£38) 950 
 
82 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 In this calculation it must not be forgotten — 
 first, that Belgian rates are far higher than our 
 own ; second, that the cost of manures has been 
 put clown at an exorbitant rate ; third, that in 
 accounting for the manure, a margin, and a large 
 one, must be left to the good, in consideration of 
 the benefit derived by the succeeding crops, of 
 which four or five can be taken off" the same land 
 without any fresh addition; and, fourth, that the 
 Belgian authorities declare that the above calcula- 
 tion holds good with the small landowners who 
 now exclusively carry on the cultivation to the 
 employment of their whole families, but who cannot 
 use enough manure to be able to procure it at 
 wholesale prices. In this, and in other instances, 
 cultivation on a large scale would ensure much 
 larger relative receipts. 
 
 A capital of from 500 to 700 francs per hectare 
 is considered necessary for building the thatched 
 drying-sheds and pine-poles for curing purposes. 
 
 Reprinted from "AGRICULTURE;' April U, 1886. 
 
A REPORT ON THE GROWTH OF TOBACCO ON" 
 A QUARTER OF AN ACRE OF LAND ON 
 LORD WALSINGHAM'S HOME FARM AT 
 MERTON, NORFOLK, in 1886. 
 
 The land upon which the tobacco was grown may be described 
 as fairly good mixed light land with a sandy subsoil, the agri- 
 cultural rental value of which may, in ordinary times, be esti- 
 mated at about 22s. per acre for rent and tithe. 
 
 The preparation for the tobacco plant was as follows : The 
 land was twice ploughed, the depth of the first ploughing was 
 6 in. and the second 7 in. deep. The land was harrowed after 
 each ploughing, and especially after the second eartb, when it 
 was well worked to get a good and fine tilth. It was then 
 ridged up into balks 30 in. apart, and six full-sized cartloads of 
 well-made farmyard manure was put on to the quarter of an acre 
 of land. After the manure was applied the ridges were split 
 down by a double breast plough, which effectually covered the 
 manure. A light wood roll was run over the ridges to level 
 them, and also to pulverise the soil to receive the tobacco plants. 
 
 On June 16 last the plants were received from Carter & 
 Co. in good fresh condition, and were carefully planted the same 
 day. The number of each variety of tobacco plant was as 
 follows: Big Frederick, 100; Virginia, 100; Pennsylvania, 
 1,100; Connecticut, 400— total 1,700. 
 
 For about three weeks after planting the weather was very 
 dry and cold, and the plants appeared to make no progress, but 
 
 g 2 
 
84 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 rather went backward than forward, although the precaution was 
 taken to put sheepfold cloths, supported by hurdles, to protect 
 them from the cold north winds prevailing at that time. 
 
 It was recommended that a pinch of gypsum should be put 
 on the crown of each plant, and that they should not be watered. 
 It was seen that the plants made no progress ; therefore, against 
 the advice received, they were watered on the first and third days 
 of July, and from that time the leaves freshened and the plants 
 made a rapid and vigorous growth. The land about the plants 
 was carefully hand-hoed three or four times, and between the 
 balks it was deeply cultivated. 
 
 On Aug. 10, the side shoots on the plants were pinched off, 
 and this was done every time they appeared. On the 19th of 
 the same month, or within a few days following this date, the 
 leading shoots of the plants were removed, leaving about nine 
 of the best leaves on each plant. It is desirable that it should 
 be known that it is important that the leading shoots of each 
 plant should be stopped, for while the leaves on a few left un- 
 checked were about 18 in. long and 7 in. wide, many of the leaves 
 on the plants where the leading shoots were removed were 36 in. 
 long and 18 in. wide. 
 
 In consequence of the appearance of frost, it was thought 
 advisable to secure the crop, and therefore the plants were cut off 
 close to the ground on Sept. 20 ; but before this was done, the 
 stalks were split open from the top to about 2 in. from the 
 bottom. The plants were then carefully placed across sticks, 
 each stick being 4 ft. long, and carrying eight plants. The 
 sticks upon which the plants were hung were then carried to 
 the drying houses. In about a week's time from the plants 
 being hung up in the drying houses wood fires were kept burning 
 during the day and part of the night, and the temperature was 
 kept as nearly as possible at 70° for about fourteen days, when 
 it was raised to about 80°. When the plants were first placed 
 in the houses, they necessarily occupied more space than they 
 did when the leaves withered. The plants were afterwards 
 placed close together. The fires were kept going until all the 
 
LORD WALSINGHAM'S CULTURE. 85 
 
 sap disappeared from the stems and from the middle rib of the 
 leaves. For the last two days of the fires being used the tem- 
 perature of the sheds was raised to 90°. After this the plants 
 were left hanging to allow the leaves to relax, so that they could 
 he stripped from the stems, sorted, and tied into bundles, each 
 bundle containing, say, eight leaves, which were neatly bound 
 together at the top by a half leaf. After the leaves were bound 
 as described above, the bundles — or hands, as they are called in 
 America — were packed closely together on boards, and covered 
 with sacks and weighted, the temperature of the room being 
 kept sufficiently high to prevent mould. 
 
 From THE FIELD, December 18th, 1886. 
 
A REPORT ON THE GROWTH OF TOBACCO 
 ON A QUARTER OF AN ACRE OF LAND 
 ON SIR E. BIRKBECK'S HOME FARM AT 
 HORSTEAD, NORFOLK. 
 
 " Experientia docet is one of the principles of Sir Edward 
 Birkbeck's political life. Sir Edward resolved to ascertain by 
 experiments, carried out under his own eye at Horstead, 
 whether or not he had asked for a concession from Her 
 Majesty's Government which "was likely to be of advantage to 
 the English agriculturists. Though the season was late for 
 making the experiment, he determined to plant two plots of 
 land at Horstead with several varieties of tobacco. One plot 
 was situated in the kitchen garden alongside a bed of asparagus; 
 another plot at the end of an open and exposed field on which 
 barley was growing. There had been no special cultivation 
 of either plot for this particular plant, which had to take its 
 chance in the kitchen garden with the vegetables for culinary 
 use, and in the field with the barley crop. But it may be in- 
 ferred that the land in each case was in 'good heart,' though 
 not in such excellent condition as is considered by man}' neces- 
 sary for tobacco cultivation. 
 
 " The seeds were sown in a hotbed, where they grew rapidly, 
 and then pricked out in shallow wooden boxes to be kept for a 
 time in a lower temperature. It was not till the middle of 
 June, because of the cold nights which would be fatal to them, 
 that the plants could be set out in the open ground. 
 
SIR EDWARD BIRKBECK'S CULTURE. 87 
 
 "There were six rows of as many varieties of Nicotiana 
 in the kitchen garden at Horstead. The first, Nicotiana rustica, 
 a Turkish tobacco. The seed was sown on 18th April, arid the 
 plants were set out 15 inches apart in the open on 18th June, 
 though they were ready for removal out-doors earlier had 
 the weather been favourable. The plants grew about a foot 
 high and appeared stunted. Clearly it is not so well adapted as 
 other varieties to the English climate. Alongside this variety 
 was a row of N. Texana also sown on 18th April, and planted 
 out 15 inches apart on 18th June. The plants attained a 
 height of from 3 feet to 3 feet 3 inches, and bore fine leaves, 
 some as large as 10J inches by 12 inches. Xext came N. 
 Syriana, sown on 18th April and planted out 15 inches apart 
 on 19th June. Irregular in height throughout, though there 
 were several good plants with leaves varying from 10 inches by 
 14 inches to 14 inches by 15 inches. N. Lchanon, the next 
 variety, was sown on 18th April, and planted out 2 feet 6 inches 
 apart on 18th June ; but the plants had partly died off, while 
 the leaves left were spotted. N. Virginia was the finest show. 
 The seeds were sown on 15th April, and the young plants set 
 out 2 feet 3 inches apart on 18th June. The experiment has 
 shown that it would have been better had the space between 
 the plants been greater. The plants were about 3 feet high, and 
 each bore ten or a dozen leaves about 2 feet 6 inches long by 
 10 or 11 inches broad. This is undoubtedly the variety which 
 thrives best. N. attenuate/,, sown and planted the same time 
 as the other varieties, had done fairly well, though the growth 
 was somewhat uneven. Some of the leaves measured 13 inches 
 by 24 inches. 
 
 "Next we inspected the plot in the barley field, where the 
 same varieties were planted in patches of four or five short 
 rows. There the same characteristics were displayed — the 
 "Western varieties were larger and more luxuriant than the 
 Eastern. The Virginian variety in the barley field appeared 
 more vigorous than that in the kitchen garden, as the long 
 leaves stood erect, while the colour of the leaf looked better. 
 
88 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 This may be owing to the difference in the manuring of the 
 soil. The Government Avill be asked to give their sanction to 
 the continuance of the experiments another year, and to afford 
 greater facilities for conducting them. No doubt the request 
 will be granted. In that case Sir Edward Birkbeck intends 
 continuing his experiments next year, upon soil specially pre- 
 pared, with the varieties which have proved to be the most 
 luxuriant. The plants of course require much attention. All 
 the flower panicles are picked off as they appear, so that the 
 growth may be diverted into the leaf. The Inland Revenue 
 officers have paid particular attention to the development of the 
 plants, and reports have been made from time to time on the 
 progress of the experiments. Samples of earth in which the 
 plants grow have also been sent xxp to those who have supervi- 
 sion of the several experiments now being conducted in the 
 country." — Anon. 
 
 The following particulars are furnished by Messrs. Carters' 
 Expert, who " handled " this crop and prepared it for market : 
 
 "At maturity the Turkish and Syrianayreve not equal in 
 size of leaf or quality to either the Texana, Attenuata, or 
 Virginia, in fact were evidently not adapted to the climate. 
 The Texana was fair tobacco, but not equal to the Attenuata or 
 Virginia, both of which varieties were good, the Virginia 
 especially having very large leaves, many of which would have 
 had more body had the plants been topped sooner. The growth 
 of the two last-named varieties must convince even the most 
 prejudiced that tobacco can be grown, and profitably so, in the 
 Eastern counties ; that, together with the fact of tobacco having 
 been grown in Scotland, ought to remove all existing doubts as 
 to its successful cultivation throughout the British Isles." 
 
A REPORT UPON A QUARTER OF AN ACRE OF 
 TOBACCO 
 
 GROWN IN KENT BY 
 
 C. DE LAUNE FAUNCE DE LAUNE, Esq., J. P. 
 
 The soil varies at Lynsted, part of the district being poor, 
 shallow, and stony. There were several plots of tobacco, of many 
 varieties, and although here and there was a belt of favouritism 
 noticeable, the general overlook satisfied the eye that all sorts had 
 fairly succeeded. It was not a case of success in one plot and 
 failure in another ; simply, varieties showed themselves varieties ; 
 some liked the soil and the character of the manures underneath 
 them better than did their neighbours. This rule was not restricted 
 to the " common " sorts, for some of the best varieties were also 
 most "at home" at Lynsted. Farmyard manures, wood ashes, 
 and sheep droppings had been applied to the ground, from which 
 hops had been grubbed up. Mr. de Laune raised some of his 
 plants from seed placed in a hotbed during May, and set out 
 from June 10 to June 26. Other plots were from seedling 
 plants reared by Messrs. Carter, of Holborn. The distance of 
 the plants apart is about a yard — as recommended by American 
 practice — but the luxuriance of the English plants demands 
 much more space for the largedeaved varieties, so as to allow room 
 between the rows to cultivate and clean the crop from rapidly- 
 growing suckers, etc. This work could not possibly be accom- 
 plished without a greater evil following, through injury to the 
 finely-grown and ripening leaves overlapping each other. 
 
90 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 In reply to a schedule of questions, Mr. de Laune has favoured 
 me with the following particulars : 
 
 1. Names of varieties grown : Kentucky, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, 
 Island Broadleaf, Hester, Virginia, etc. 
 
 2. Prepared bed for plants with foot of farmyard manure and a few 
 inches of loam on the top. Did not burn over the soil before planting 
 out. Covered the seed plants with sheets on cold nights. 
 
 3. Set out plants (June 10 to 26) in hills made by hand. 
 
 4. Percentage of first planting which rooted and grew off. Very 
 few died from natural causes, and none from insects or worms. 
 
 5. The soil is loamy (formerly a hop garden); last crop turnips, fed 
 off by sheep. 
 
 6. Manures : Wood ashes, bats' guano, farmyard muck, etc. How 
 applied : Direct to the plant hills and broadcast. 
 
 8. Date of first toppiug, July 21. Average number of leaves left on 
 ench plant to mature, 10. I did not prime or pull off inferior leaves. 
 
 9. Did not see any horn worm. 
 
 10. Earwigs the only insects that preyed upon the plants. 
 
 11. Daily record of weather. — Refer for this to district tables. 
 
 12. Costs of producing crop. Must have time to answer. 
 
 13. Date of cutting. — Commenced September 3 and September 22. 
 Mode of curing. — By fires in hop oasts. 
 
 14. Total yield in pounds of marketable tobacco per acre, and in 
 wl.at proportions of quality. — Answer must be postponed. 
 
 The tobacco leaves as they were cut were strung together in 
 pairs, and at once suspended from a rod supported by a newly- 
 made wooden horse nearly two feet broad, and over a yard in 
 length, the right height, so the leaves cleared the ground, and 
 when the rod was completed it was carried away to a framework 
 on wheels, which latter when loaded, was trundled off to the 
 ample oast-house. This picking of the leaves, for curing, rather 
 than straddle the whole plants in pairs, seemed to me decidedly 
 the best practice, as the stalks require much more time and heat 
 to dry than do the leaves. At the oast-house I made my first 
 acquaintance with dried English tobacco in various stages. At 
 Lynsted the smokeless coal of the oast-house fires gives out plenty 
 of heat (laden with sulphurous fumes), yet I could not see well 
 how the crescendo scale of temperature could be regulated with a 
 delicacy necessary to the process. Some Kentucky leaves had 
 been very successfully treated ; the yellow colour was as true as 
 
MR. FAUNCE DE LAUtfE'S CULTIVATION. 91 
 
 a lady's fawn-coloured glove, and the pliability and suppleness 
 •were much the same; but next comes the task of fixing this 
 colour, and at present this work has to be accomplished. Be- 
 sides, the good yellows frequently go off into the quiet brown 
 colour seen in our best cigars. It is as smoking tobacco, for 
 pipes and cigarettes, that the yellow colour commands a high 
 price. Having already made tentative efforts with a small 
 portion of his crop, Mr. de Launc will start well in his under- 
 taking to cure the bulk of the crop. Tiers of light rods are 
 stretching across the oast-house, intermediate and row above 
 row, ready to receive the freshly charged rods of leaves or plants 
 as they come from the drying-rooms over the fires. I noted 
 amongst various samples some common Massachusetts plants, 
 which to me seemed satisfactorily cured without any artificial 
 heat, having been simply hung under cover in a current of air. 
 These were of a dark leathery brown colour. Each step taken 
 is an experience indicating how hest to advance, and in this 
 single season mistakes may be considered but as stepping-stones 
 towards future success. — Mr. Kains-Jackson in the Farmer^ 
 Almanack, 1887. 
 
TOBACCO CULTIVATION IN 
 IRELAND, 1880. 
 
 The following interesting reports describe two satisfactory 
 attempts at Tobacco growing in Ireland, although the course 
 of treatment of the leaves when grown was not always of the 
 most desirable character. For example : Mr. "Wallace, at p. 93, 
 describes how he made the green leaves into hands, and at p. 94 
 he admits the mistake thus made. These and similar ex- 
 periences go to prove the necessity felt for a reliable and 
 permanent guide to Tobacco Culture such as, it is hoped, this 
 little volume is destined to supply. 
 
 C. J. Wallace, Esq., writes as follows : 
 
 " I raised my stock from seed supplied from James 
 Carter & Co. The seed was sown in pans in the hothouse, 
 and by degrees the plants were hardened off in a cold 
 greenhouse. They were next pricked out simply in a light 
 mild litter. "When the weather got settled about the end of 
 May the plants were put out about twenty inches apart, in 
 richly-manured ground, in a sheltered situation and sunny 
 aspect, on raised drills, about twenty or twenty-four inches 
 apart. They grew to a great size, and required much care in 
 nipping off the shoots from time to time, as I think my drills 
 were too close together. (In future I would plant further 
 apart, as I found there was a liability to injure the leaves in 
 passing through.) It is better to plant too far apart than too 
 
CULTIVATION IN IRELAND. 93 
 
 close, I believe, and one cannot be too careful and constant 
 about the nipping of the young shoots. I did not begin to 
 gather my crop until September, and did the work only on fine 
 days when all was dry. 
 
 " (1) First, I singly gathered a large quantity of the leaves 
 which I considered matured, and though the process was tedious, 
 I had them tied together in couples and suspended on string 
 across light, airy rooms. These were only the largest and most 
 matured leaves, selected, so to say, as specimens!. 
 
 " (2) Next, a little later on, I cut at the roots some hundreds 
 of the plants that had the finest leaves — say about a dozen, 
 more or less, on each plant — and nailed them as they were, 
 point downwards, to the rafters of sheds and outdrouses, lofts, 
 etc., with long Trench nails. I found this a simple and easy 
 process, as, when desirable, the plants could be easily removed 
 if damp showed, and put in some more airy and light position 
 to dry in. 
 
 " (3) My third process was to gather direct from the remain- 
 ing plants as they stood all those leaves which seemed matured 
 and of a solid texture, leaving ungathered (for I had not room 
 to hang all my crop) any leaves that seemed flabby and thin. 
 These I made into the orthodox ' hands ' of, say eight to twelve 
 leaves, bound round the butt ends with one leaf and secured in 
 the ordinary way of growers. These hands were hung on lines 
 as were the first lot of leaves gathered. All the crop remained 
 hanging until the leaves had turned a uniform yellow tone of 
 colour and fairly dry. I then collected the (1) first, and placed 
 the leaves one over the other in piles of about a foot high, each 
 leaf smoothed and slightly pressed out. 
 
 " I packed them then fairly tight together in baskets, and 
 covered all with carpets and such things. They remained thus 
 for about a month while I was from home. They were, I am told 
 really heated so as to get moist, or 'sweated;' still, they got of a fine 
 rich colour and good texture when they came to be opened out. 
 " (2) The plants of the second lot (those nailed by stems to 
 rafters, etc.) were taken down singly, and the leaves reniowl 
 
94 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTUEE. 
 
 and treated like the first lot of leaves that were gathered from 
 the young plants. I consider the texture and quality of these 
 latter leaves, which dried on the stem, are superior in most 
 ways (except colour) to the leaves which were removed from 
 stems before dry. 
 
 " (3) My third gathering of leaves which were tied in 
 * hands ' were by no means so successful in curing as the other 
 lots. They were move liable to damp and moisture, and the 
 colour was not nearly so good ; in fact, the whole lot has still a 
 green tinge through it, but their having been gathered late in 
 the season may partially account for this. However, I do not 
 believe that our climate (especially in Ireland) will admit of 
 drying tobacco when hung in ' hands.' I believe the leaves 
 will have to be kept quite separate so that the air may get 
 through them, or they will not cure properly. 
 
 " My opinion is, the best plan is to cut the plants and hang 
 to dry as I did with Xo. 2 lot, and when the plants have got a 
 good colour and are fairly dry, remove leaves in 'hands' or 
 singly, and finish the process. My tobacco is of a moist, 
 excellent flavour and aroma, but remarkably strong. I have 
 made up some into cigars, and, as far as I can at present judge 
 for such fresh stuff, it is A.l. tobacco, but, as I said, strong. 
 As pipe-smoking tobacco it is stronger still, so that if I make 
 another experiment next year I shall get seed of the mildest 
 kind I can procure, for I fancy the damp climate here has 
 something to say to the strength of leaves. The} r would be 
 more sappy than if grown in a dry, warmer climate, and 
 therefore stronger in flavour. 
 
 " Charles J. "Wallace." 
 Belfield, Co. Dublin, 
 Jan. 15, 1887. 
 
 The following report is kindly furnished by L. McCormick, Esq. : 
 
 " As soon as I became aware that the Lords of the Treasury 
 
 had given permission for the experimental growing of Tobacco, 
 
CULTIVATION IN IRELAND. 95 
 
 I was desirous of taking up the culture of the plant as a field 
 crop. I gave notice to the Secretary of Inland Revenue, 
 Somerset House, of my intention, stating that I would plant a 
 rood. 
 
 "Not knowing which were the most suitahle sorts to grow, 
 I wrote to Messrs. Carter, asking them to forward me a few 
 packets of seed for trial, upon which they sent Connecticut and 
 Havana varieties. It was then the second week in May, and 
 being so far advanced in the season, I almost gave up the idea 
 of attempting the task. However, late as it was, I knew I could 
 learn something, and so determined to make a trial. I sowed 
 the seeds in gentle heat on a hotbed under glass, and in about 
 two weeks I had quite two thousand nice little plants, from the 
 two packets of seed, ready for pricking out. 
 
 " About this time I received a letter from the Secretary of 
 Inland Revenue stating that, as the farm on which I purposed 
 growing the tobacco was so far from the officer's residence, the 
 Board of Inland Revenue would not allow me to grow any. 
 However, after some correspondence, they at length gave me 
 permission towards the end of June. 
 
 " Having been delayed so long, I pricked off only a portion 
 of the seedlings into shallow boxes, two and a half inches apart, 
 resolving to make a trial at any risk, even though I were 
 obliged to destroy the crop. I prepared a portion of a field 
 (somewhat less than a rood), manured it, and set out the drills 
 three feet apait. 
 
 " By the second week of June 'the little plants grew fairly 
 strong, and after exposing them to the open air for a few days, 
 I transferred the boxes of Tobacco plants to the field. 
 
 "First I rolled the drills to make the soil firm, and then 
 had the plants transferred from the boxes by cutting them out 
 in squares without disturbing their roots. I next planted them 
 in drills with a trowel two and a half feet apart. After a few 
 waterings the plants grew freely. 
 
 " The attention the crop afterwards received was that of 
 hand-hoeing, horsedioeing, and grubbing, at intervals, until the 
 
96 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 plants grew too large for horses to pass between the drills. ]>y 
 the beginning of August the plants had grown so much that 
 they could not be got through easily without injuring them, 
 some of the leaves of the Connecticut variety measuring more 
 than three feet in length and one foot in breadth. I found I 
 did not give them enough room. About this time the flower 
 heads appeared, and I topped the plants, leaving from eight to 
 ten leaves on each. Afterwards I had the laterals disbudded 
 as they appeared, or about once a week until the last week in 
 September, when I got the whole crop cut and conveyed in 
 farm carts to the drying-rooms, taking the precaution of placing 
 the plants in regular order lest they should get injured. They 
 were unloaded carefully, hung up in the drying-rooms by their 
 lower ends, and dried and cured by means of stoves and pipes. 
 The temperature of the rooms never exceeded eighty degrees, 
 nor do I think a higher temperature would have answered so 
 well under the circumstances, as I observed those plants that 
 were subject to the greatest heat came out green when dried, 
 whereas those that dried out gradually were of a light brown 
 colour. 
 
 "Nearly six weeks elapsed from the time the crop was 
 gathered in till it was perfectly dry and lit for packing. I sub- 
 mitted samples to some of the leading manufacturers in Dublin 
 and other parts of Ireland. They have all spoken in favourable 
 terms of it. The whole of the produce (206 lbs.) has been 
 bought by Messrs. P. J. Carroll & Co., of Dundalk, at sixpence 
 per pound. 
 
 " Although my experiment has not proved a financial success, 
 I feel quite pleased at the result. I am convinced that tobacco 
 can be grown and cured successfully in Ireland ; and now, I 
 suppose, it only remains for us, with the consent of the 'powers 
 that be,' to learn how to grow it profitably. 
 
 " L. McCormick." 
 fiowleston House, 
 Kilsallaghan, 
 Co. Dublin. 
 
THE CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO 
 
 IN 
 
 STOCKHOLM. 
 
 By M. FOKSSELL. 
 
 As the main object of Tobacco cultivation in the surroundings 
 of Stockholm is to produce large quantities rather than fine 
 quality, they manure the ground very liberally, viz., 50,000 
 to 60,000 kilograms (50 to 60 tons) per half hectar (1| statute 
 acres) of well-decayed manure. The manuring generally takes 
 place during the winter and early spring, after which the field 
 is ploughed and harrowed in case of necessity once, and some- 
 times twice. After this there are drills laid up about four feet 
 distant from each other, their surface being finely pulverised 
 and levelled down, and the positions of the plants marked 
 out with a string, allowing an intervening space of two feet. 
 Upon the drills are planted two lines of tobacco plants, two 
 feet between each plant in the line. 
 
 The plants, which have to be strong and vigorous, are pre- 
 pared in medium warm hotbeds and transplanted in the end of 
 May and beginning of June, when no sharp, frosty nights are 
 to be apprehended. During the month of June the tobacco 
 culture is reduced to replanting of withered plants, and cleans- 
 ing and laying earth round the stem of the plants after they 
 have five to six leaves, the largest being about six inches 
 
98 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 long. After the earth has been laid round the stem of the 
 plants they grow very quickly, and in the middle of July the 
 gathering of the sandgoods, i.e., the three to five lowest leaves 
 on every stalk, commences. These leaves would if left on the 
 stalk he yellow and of no value, as the upper leaves would take 
 the light away ; they are consequently gathered and brought 
 into the barn, where the middle nerve of the leaf or rib is 
 cloven and removed from about a quarter or a half of an inch' 
 from the point of the leaf-stalk to about the third of the length 
 of the leaf. Afterwards the leaves are hung on sticks to dry. 
 It is necessary to leave a little space between each leaf, as damp 
 weather would make them mouldy, which would lessen their 
 value. 
 
 At the end of the gathering of the " Sandgoods," i.e., 
 bottom leaves, all buds and stems coining in the upper leaf 
 wrinkles are carefully taken away. During the rest of the 
 time the plant has to vegetate (the harvesting of the large 
 leaves is executed between the 20th of August and 20th of 
 September), it must be seen that the remainder of the leaves are 
 developed as completely as possible. The plant is topped as 
 soon as the buds commence to show themselves, all stalks 
 growing in the leaf wrinkles are carefully plucked. Dealt with 
 in that way, all the sap of nourishment goes to the leaves. The 
 crop is generally topped so low that only seven to ten leaves 
 are left ; these leaves, which are called the " Largegoods," are 
 gathered and dried in the same way as the " Sandgoods." 
 
 About two months after the suspending of the leaves (this 
 greatly depending upon the weather) the leaves are dry. On a 
 rainy or damp day, when the leaves feel soft, the sticks are taken 
 down, the leaves are removed and put into bundles of about two 
 to four kilograms weight, after which the tobacco is immediately 
 delivered to the tobacco factories, where the sweating takes place, 
 and before which operation the leaves cannot be used. The 
 sweating lasts several months, and it is very few Stockholm 
 tobacco cultivators that undertake this operation. 
 
 The harvest product per half hectar (1|- statute acres) varies 
 
CULTIVATION IX STOCKHOLM. 99 
 
 considerably, of course depending upon the qualification of the 
 earth, the temperature of the summer, and proportion of 
 rain. 
 
 The crop is generally reckoned to give from 850 to 1,275 
 kilograms per half hectar, and as the " Sandgoods" is valued at 
 6|d. per kilogram, and the " Largegoods " at 9d. per kilogram, 
 the gross production comes to from £3i to £45 per half a 
 hectar. 
 
 n •> 
 
THE TOBACCO WOEM. 
 
 (Sphinx quinquemaculatus.) 
 
 No. 1 drawn from a specimen in Messrs. Carters' Laboratory, 
 237 & 238, High Holborn, London. 
 
 The above engraving represents one of the most voracious 
 and destructive insects that the American Tobacco, Potatoe, and 
 
THE TOBACCO WORM. 101 
 
 Tomato crops has to contend with — happily it is unknown in 
 England at present. It is shown in its different stages of larva, 
 chrysalis, and imago, or moth. The larva or worm (see fig. 3) 
 is a great pest upon Potatoe and Tomato vines, and upon 
 Tobacco. It is especially injurious to the latter crop, as it 
 perforates the leaves and renders them ragged and worthless. 
 The worm as it comes from the egg is so small as to be un- 
 observed, but having an enormous appetite, it devours rapidly, 
 and soon grows to about twice the size represented in the 
 cut. When not feeding, it lifts up the head and fore-part 
 of the body, and remains apparently lifeless. From its re- 
 semblance in this position to the Egyptian Sphinx, Linnaeus 
 gave the name Sphinx to the genus. The larva is of a light 
 green colour, with whitish oblique stripes, and has a horn upon 
 the rear end of the body. Though it is repulsive in appearance, 
 it is perfectly harmless to touch, and may be picked off with 
 the hands without fear. After it has reached its full size, it 
 leaves the scene of its ravages and goes into the earth, where it 
 throws off its skin and becomes a brown-coloured chrysalis (see 
 fig. 2). The curious projection, like a handle, is a sheath which 
 holds the tongue of the future moth. The moth, or perfect 
 insect, is represented in the engraving (see fig. 1), of the natural 
 size, and is reproduced here from a specimen on view in 
 Messrs. Carters' Laboratory, High Hoi bom. It is of a grey 
 colour, with orange-coloured spots on each side of the body. 
 As there are five of these spots on each side, it is called Sphinx 
 quinquemaculattbs, or Five-spotted Sphinx. In America the 
 moths may be seen towards night flitting about the flowers, 
 from which they suck the juices by means of their remarkable 
 tongue, which is five or six inches long. When the tongue is 
 not in use, it is closely coiled up and hidden between the two 
 feelers. From the manner of their flight and feeding they are 
 frequently mistaken for humming-birds and are called " hum- 
 ming-bird moths," and " horn-blowers." The moths should 
 always be destroyed if possible ; by so doing, the production of 
 several hundreds of most destructive worms is prevented. 
 
102 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTUKE. 
 
 Naturalists make one or two other species, which closely re- 
 semble the Eive-spotted Moth, and are only distinguished 
 by characters which would not be noticed except by the 
 entomologist. 
 
 Many devices have been resorted to in order to lessen the 
 number and mitigate the ravages of the Tobacco-worm, but the 
 lack of general and continued efforts from year to year has 
 brought only partial relief. Some years they come in great 
 numbers, and despite the best efforts of the planter, seriously 
 damage his crop. Perhaps the next year, they are few, and 
 give him no trouble. It is the nature of this insect to raise at 
 least two broods during the year. The hawk-moth or tobacco- 
 fly usually makes its appearance in Virginia in the month of 
 May. The eggs, deposited by the first moths, hatch out in from 
 five to seven days, larvse or worms. The worm sheds its outer 
 skin twice before it gets its growth. The growing stage of the 
 worm lasts from twenty -five to thirty days, and after it has at- 
 tained its growth, it gorges itself a few days longer, and then 
 crawls or burrows into the ground, where it soon passes into the 
 pupa state ; and after some twenty-three or twenty-five days from 
 the time of its crawling into the ground the pupa sends forth a 
 moth to lay more eggs and hatch out more worms. Each moth is 
 capable of laying on an average two hundred eggs. So that 
 for every moth in May we may reasonably expect at least one 
 hundred worms of the first brood ; and if none of these are 
 destroyed, but all allowed to change to moths, and these latter 
 to raise a horde of worms, what wonder that the second brood 
 sometimes appears in such countless numbers as to defy all 
 efforts to destroy them before they have ruined the crop 1 Every 
 moth ought to be destroyed as they appear ; this may be done 
 to great extent by injecting a few drops of sweetened Cobalts 
 into the flowers of the Petunia, if growing near, which will give 
 them their final quietus. 
 
 At present this pest appears to be unknown in England, and 
 it is to be hoped that our climate will not be found acceptable to 
 its tastes and development. 
 
A USEFUL TOBACCO BARN. 
 
 Size : Length, 30 feet ; width, 20 feet ; height to plating or bottom of 
 ridge, 27 feet, including 18 inches brickwork, as shown here.* 
 Capacity, to hold one acre of Tobacco. 
 
 It will be observed that the Barn as illustrated here, which 
 is highly recommended in America, has portable sides, the 
 object of these being to admit as much light and air as possible 
 during bright, dry weather. 
 
ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE A 
 HUNDRED YEARS AGO, 
 
 BEING 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR CULTIVATING AND CURING 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 FROM MR. CARVER'S TREATISE ON THAT SUBJECT. 
 
 Extracted from the Annual Register; or, A View of the History of Politico 
 and Literature. For the Year 1779. Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall 
 Mall, 1796. 
 
 The best ground for raising the plant is a warm, rich soil, not 
 subject to be overrun with weeds, for from these it must be 
 totally cleared. The soil in which it grows in Virginia is 
 inclining to sandy, consequently warm and light; the nearer, 
 therefore, the nature of the land approaches to that, the greater 
 probability there is of its flourishing here. The situation most 
 preferable for a plantation is the southern declivity of a hill, or 
 a spot that is sheltered from the blighting north winds which 
 so frequently blow during the spring months in this island. 
 Bat at the same time the plants must enjoy a free current of 
 air ; for if that be obstructed, they -will not prosper. 
 
 As the Tobacco plant, being an annual, is only to be raised 
 from seed, the greatest care in purchasing these is necessary,. 
 lest by sowing such as is not good, we lose with the expected 
 
TOBACCO CULTUEE 100 YEAES AGO. 105 
 
 crop the season. The different sorts of the seeds not being 
 distinguishable from each other, nor the goodness to be ascer- 
 tained by their appearance, the purchaser should apply to a 
 person of character in that profession. In describing the 
 manner in which the plant ought to be raised from the seed, as 
 well as in succeeding progress, I shall confine myself to the 
 practice of the northern colonies of America, as these are more 
 parallel in their latitude to England. 
 
 About the middle of April, or rather sooner in a forward 
 spring, sow the seed in beds, first prepared for the purpose with 
 some warm rich manure. In a cold spring, regular hotbeds 
 would be most eligible for this purpose, and indeed the 
 gardeners of this country are persuaded that the Nicotiana 
 cannot be raised in any other way ; but these are seldom to be 
 found in common gardens, and I am convinced that if the- 
 weather is not remarkably severe, they might be reared without 
 doors. A square yard of land, for which a small quantity of 
 seed is sufficient, will produce above five hundred plants, and 
 allow proper space for their nurture till they are fit to trans- 
 plant. 
 
 Having sown the seed in the manner directed, on the least 
 apprehension of a frost after the plants appear, it will be 
 necessary to spread mats over the beds, elevated from the ground 
 by poles laid across. These, however, must be removed in the 
 morning soon after the sun appears, that they may receive as 
 much benefit as possible from its warmth, and from the air. In 
 this manner proceed till the leaves have attained the size 
 of about two inches in length, and one in breadth, which they 
 will do in about a month, or near the middle of May. One 
 invariable rule for their being able to bear removal, is when the 
 fourth leaf is sprouted, and the fifth just appears. Then take 
 the opportunity of the first rains or gentle showers to transplant 
 them into such a soil and situation as before described. The 
 land must be ploughed or dug up with spades, as mellow and 
 light as possible. Eaise with the hoe small hillocks at the 
 distance of two feet or a little more from each other, taking care 
 
106 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 that no hard sods or lumps are in them, and then just indent the 
 middle of each, without dibbling the holes as for some other 
 plants. When your ground is thus prepared, dig up the plants 
 in a gentle manner from their native bed, and insert a plant 
 gently into the centre of each hillock, pressing the soil around 
 it Avith your ringers, and taking the greatest care during the 
 operation that you do nut break off any of the leaves, which are 
 at this time exquisitely tender. If the weather proves dry 
 after they are thus transplanted, they must be watered with 
 soft water in the same manner as is usually done to coleworts, 
 or plants of a similar kind. From this time great care must be 
 taken to keep the ground soft and free from weeds, by often 
 stirring with your hoe the mould round the roots, and pruning 
 off the dead leaves that sometimes are found near the bottom of 
 the stalk. The difference of this climate from that in which I 
 have been accustomed to observe the progress of this plant, will 
 not permit me to direct with certainty the time which is most 
 proper to take off the top of it to prevent it from running to 
 seed. This knowledge can only be perfectly acquired by ex- 
 perience. When it has risen to upwards of two feet, it 
 commonly begins to put forth the branches on which the flowers 
 and seeds are produced; but as this expansion, if suffered to take 
 place, would drain the nutriment from the leaves, and thereby 
 lessen their size and efficacy, it becomes needful at this stage to 
 nip off the extremity of the stalk to prevent its growing higher. 
 In some higher climates, the top is commonly cut off when the 
 plant has fifteen leaves ; if the Tobacco is intended to be a little 
 stronger, this is done when it has only thirteen ; and sometimes 
 when it is chosen to be remarkably powerful, eleven or twelve 
 leaves only are allowed to expand. On the contrary, if the 
 planter is desirous to have his crop very mild, he suffers 
 it to put forth eighteen or twenty ; but in this calculation 
 the three or four lower leaves next the ground are not to be 
 reckoned. 
 
 This is denominated "topping the Tobacco," and is much 
 better done by finger and thumb than with any instrument, 
 
TOBACCO CULTURE 100 YEARS AGO. 107 
 
 because the former close at the same time the pores of the 
 plants, whereas, when it is done with the latter, the juices are 
 in some degree exhausted. And though this might appear 
 unimportant, yet every method that tends to give vigour to the 
 leaves should be carefully pursued. For the same reason, care 
 must be taken to nip off the sprouts that will be continually 
 springing up at the junction of the leaves with the stalks. This 
 is termed " suckering the Tobacco," and ought to be repeated as 
 often as occasion requires. 
 
 The last, and not the least, concern in the cultivation of this 
 plant, is the destruction of the worm that Nature has given it 
 for an enemy, and which, like many other reptiles, plays on its 
 benefactor. To destroy these, which are the only insects that 
 molest this plant, every leaf must be carefully searched. As 
 soon as such a wound is discovered, the cause of it, from his 
 unsubstantial texture, which I shall frequently describe, may be 
 easily crashed ; but the best method is to pluck it away by the 
 horn and then crush it. Without a constant attention to these 
 noxious insects, a whole field of plants may be soon destroyed. 
 This is termed " worming the Tobacco," and as these worms 
 are found most predominant the latter end of July and the 
 beginning of August, they must be particularly attended to at 
 that season. 
 
 As I have just observed that it is impossible, without 
 ■experience, to point out the due time for topping the plant, so 
 it is equally as impossible to ascertain the time it will take to 
 ripen in this climate. That can only be known by future 
 observations; for as it is at present only cultivated in England 
 as an ornament for the garden, no particular attention has, I 
 believe, been hitherto bestowed on the preservation of its leaves. 
 The apparent signs, however, of its maturity are, that the 
 leaves, as they approach a state of ripeness, become more 
 corrugated or rough, and, when fully ripe, appear mottled with 
 yellowish spots on the raised parts, whilst the cavities retain 
 their usual green colour. They are at this time also thicker 
 than they have before been, and are covered with a kind of 
 
108 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 downy velvet. If heavy rains happen at this critical period, 
 they will wash this excrescent substance off, and thereby 
 damage the plants. In such a case, if the frosty nights are not 
 begun, it is proper to let them stand a few days longer, when, 
 if the weather be more moderate, they will recover this 
 substance again. But if a frost unexpectedly happens during 
 the night, they must be carefully examined in the morning 
 before the sun has any influence on them, and those which are 
 found to be covered with frosty particles, whether thoroughly 
 ripe or not, must be cut up, and though they may not all 
 appear to be arrived at a state of maturity, yet they cannot be 
 far from it, and will differ but little in goodness from those 
 that are perfectly so. 
 
 Having now given every instruction that occurs to my 
 memory relative to the culture of the plant, I shall describe the 
 worm that infects it. It is of the horned species, and appears 
 to be peculiar to this plant ; so that in many parts of America 
 it is distinguished by the name of the Tobacco-worm. The 
 first time it is discernible is when the plants have gained about 
 half their height ; it then appears to be nearly as large as a 
 gnat; soon after which it lengthens into a worm, and by degrees 
 increases to the size of a man's finger. In shape it is regular 
 from its head to its tail, without any diminution at either 
 extremity, indented or ribbed round at equal distances nearly a 
 quarter of an inch from each other, and having at every one of 
 these divisions a pair of claws by which it fastens itself to the 
 plant. Its mouth, like that of the caterpillar, is placed under 
 the forepart of the head. On the top of the body grows a horn 
 about half an inch in length, and greatly resembling a thorn, 
 the extreme part of which is brown, of a firm texture, and 
 sharp -pointed. I3y this horn, as before observed, it is usually 
 plucked from the leaf. 
 
 When the plant is fit for gathering, on the first morning 
 that promises a fair day, before the sun is risen, take a long 
 knife, and holding the stalk near the top with one hand, sever 
 
TOBACCO CULTURE 100 YEARS AGO. 109 
 
 it from its root with the other as low as possible. Having done 
 this, lay it gently on the ground, and there let it remain exposed 
 to the sun throughout the day, or until the leaves are entirely 
 wilted, as it is termed in America ; that is, till they become 
 limber, and will bend any way without breaking. If, on the 
 contrary, the rain should continue without any intervals, and 
 the plant appears to be full ripe, they must be cut down and 
 housed immediately. This must be done, however, with great 
 <;are that the leaves, which are in this state very brittle, may 
 not be broken. Being placed under proper shelter, either in a 
 barn or a covered hovel, where they cannot be affected by the 
 rain or too much air, they must be thinly scattered on the floor : 
 and if. the sun does not appear for several days, so that they can 
 be laid out again, they must remain to wilt in that manner, 
 which is not indeed so desirable as in the sun, nor will the 
 tobacco prove quite so good. When the leaves have acquired 
 the flexibility before described, the plants must be laid in 
 heaps, or rather in one heap, if the quantity be not too great, 
 and in about twenty-four hours they will be found to sweat. 
 But during t^iis time, when they have lain for a little while, 
 and begin to ferment, it is necessary to turn them, that the 
 whole quantity may be equally fermented. The longer they lie 
 in this situation, the darker-coloured the Tobacco becomes. 
 This is termed "sweating the Tobacco." 
 
 After they have lain in this manner for three or four days, 
 for in a longer time they grow mouldy, the plants may be tied 
 together in pairs, and hung across a pole in the same covered 
 place, a proper interval being left between each pair. In about 
 a month they will be thoroughly dried, and of a proper tempera- 
 ture to be taken down. This state may be ascertained by their 
 appearing of the same colour as those imported from America, 
 with which few are unacquainted. But this can be done at no 
 other season than during wet weather ; for the Tobacco abound- 
 ing with salts, it is always affected if there is the least humidity 
 in the atmosphere, even though it be hung in a dry place. If 
 
110 EXGLISH TOBACCO CULTURK. 
 
 this rule be not observed, but they are removed in dry weather, 
 the leaves will crumble, and a considerable waste will attend 
 its removal. 
 
 As soon as the plants are taken down, they must once more 
 be laid in a heap, and pressed with heavy logs of wood for 
 about a week. This climate, however, may require a longer 
 time. Whilst they remain in this state, it will be necessary to 
 introduce your hand frequently into the heap, to discover 
 whether the heat be too intense ; for in large quantities this 
 will sometimes be the case, and considerable damage will accrue 
 from it. When the heat exceeds a moderate glowing warmth, 
 part of the weight by which they are compressed must be 
 taken away, and the cause being removed, the effect will cease. 
 This is called " the second or last sweating," and when 
 completed, which it generally will be in about the time just 
 mentioned, the leaves may be stripped from the stalks for use. 
 Many omit this last operation, but it takes away any remaining 
 hardness, and renders the Tobacco more mellow. When the 
 leaves are stripped from the stalks, they are to be tied up in 
 bunches, and kept in a cellar, or any other place that is 
 damp ; though if not handled in dry weather, but only during 
 a rainy season, it is of little consequence in what part of the 
 house or barn they are laid up. At this period the Tobacco is 
 thoroughly cured, and equally proper for manufacturing as 
 that imported from the Colonies. If it has been properly 
 managed that raw fiery taste so commonly found in the 
 common sale Tobacco will be totally eradicated, and though 
 it retains all its strength, will be soft and pleasing in its 
 flavour. Those Avho are curious in their Tobacco in the 
 Northern Colonies of America sprinkle it, when made up 
 into rolls for keeping, with small common white wines or cyder, 
 instead of salt water, which gives it an inexpressibly fine flavour. 
 
 By pursuing the rules which I have endeavoured to give 
 in as explicit terms as possible, country gentlemen, and land- 
 holders in general, will be enabled to raise much better Tobacco 
 
TOBACCO CULTURE 100 YEARS AGO. Ill 
 
 than that which is usually imported from Maryland and 
 Virginia; for notwithstanding there are not wanting prohibitory 
 laws in those countries, to prevent the planters from sending 
 to market any but the principal leaves, yet they frequently, to 
 increase their profit, suffer the sprouts to grow and mix the 
 smaller leaves of these with the others, which renders them 
 much inferior in goodness. 
 
 The crops that I have reason to believe may be raised in 
 England, will greatly exceed in flavour and efficacy any that is 
 imported from the Southern Colonies, for though Northern 
 climates require far more care and exactness to bring Tobaceo 
 to a proper state of maturity than warmer latitudes, yet this 
 tardiness of growth tends to impregnate the plant with a 
 greater quantity of salts, and consequently with that aromatic 
 flavour for which it is prized, than is to be found in the produce 
 of hotter climes, where it is brought to a state of perfection 
 from the seed, in half the time required in colder regions. 
 
 A pound of Tobacco raised in New England or Nova Scotia, 
 is supposed to contain as much real strength as two pounds from 
 Virginia, and I doubt not but that near double the quantity of 
 salts might be extracted from it by chemical process. 
 
 I shall also just add, though the example can only be 
 followed in particular parts of these kingdoms, that the Americans 
 usually choose for the place where they intend to make the 
 seedling-bed, part of a copse, or a spot of ground covered with 
 wood, of which they burn down such a portion as they think 
 necessary. Having done this, they rake up the subjacent mould, 
 and mixing it with the ashes thus produced, sow therein the 
 seed, without adding any other manure, or taking any other 
 steps. "Where this method cannot be pursued, wood-ashes may 
 be strewed over the mould in which the seed is designed to be 
 sown. 
 
 To the uses already known, there is another to which 
 Tobacco might be applied, that I believe has never been thought 
 of by Europeans ; and which may render it much more estimable 
 
112 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 than any other. It has heen found by the Americans to answer 
 the purpose of tanning leather, as well, if not better, than 
 bark ; and was not the latter so plentiful in their country, 
 would be generally used by them instead of it. I have been 
 witness to many experiments wherein it has proved successful, 
 especially on the thinner sorts of hides, and can safely pronounce 
 it to be, in countries where bark is scarce, a valuable substitute 
 for that article. 
 
TOBACCO IN NEW ZEALAND. 113 
 
 TOBACCO IN NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 Tobacco Grown in Tauranga. — " A resident in this town has 
 sent to our office some magnificent samples of Tobacco grown 
 by himself. He has sent us both the green leaf and the dried, 
 and as specimens they are unique and well worthy of inspection. 
 There are four samples. No. 1 is the Nic.otiana rustica, or what 
 is known as Turkish Tobacco; the leaf measures 19 inches long 
 by 12 inches wide. No. 2 is the Nicotiand tabaci/uc, or the 
 Virginian leaf, and measures 32 inches by 10 inches, and is 
 used for Cake Tobacco. No. 3 sample is the Virginian leaf 
 used for cigar wraps, and measures 33 inches by 13 inches. 
 No. 4 is the Native, or Maori leaf, and measures 13 inches by 
 4 inches. The seed was obtained from an American gentleman 
 resident in Virginia, who had visited New Zealand to ascertain 
 whether Tobacco could be successfully grown in this country, 
 and if these specimens are to be taken as a criterion, it may 
 safely be asserted that the matter is settled, for these leaves 
 are fit to bear any scrutiny. The gentleman who sent us the 
 samples as evidence of his successful cultivation, hopes to see 
 this industry followed out, and tells us. that he is willing to 
 take the oversight of the cultivation and curing, free of charge, 
 for any person who will be willing to grow, say, from two to 
 three acres of leaf. The land chosen must be good ground, and 
 sloping with right aspect, so as to have a protection from the 
 north-west wind. The plants from which the leaves were taken 
 yielded in some instances as many as twenty-eight of these 
 magnificent leaves. We invite an inspection of these samples." 
 — New Zealand Paper. 
 
114 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTURE. 
 
 TOBACCO IN GERMANY. 
 
 The chief producer of Tobacco is, as is well known, its home, 
 America, whose power of producing is not nearly approached by 
 that of any other division of the earth. The further, however, 
 the love of Tobacco spread outside America, the more the cul- 
 tivation of it also increased outside that country. The smoking 
 nations of this quarter of the globe do their utmost, and very 
 justifiably too, to provide for their own needs as far as possible ; 
 unfortunately, the results do not always correspond to their 
 exertions — at least, as far as flavour is concerned. 
 
 In Europe the best cigars are produced by Turkey, Russia, 
 Hungary, Germany, and France, but they are far surpassed by 
 the United States of America, Cuba, and Brazil. Germany and 
 France are even behind Japan, Peru, and China. 
 
 In spite of that, the cultivation of Tobacco in Germany is 
 more important than is generally believed. The area of the 
 ground grown with Tobacco amounted to 21,800 hectares, the 
 yield of the cured leaves (taking the average of the last two 
 years) to 41,728 tons. But this is not nearly enough for the 
 requirements of the home Tobacco industry in raw Tobacco. 
 About 40 per cent, of the quantity used is imported. The 
 imports of raw Tobacco leaves and shavings Tobacco stems 
 exceeded the exports every year (taking the average of the last 
 six years) by 27,583 tons, amounting in value to 45,428,000 
 marks. 
 
 These numbers speak clearly for the enormous importance of 
 the Tobacco industry, in which, according to the statistics of the 
 5th of June, 1882, 110,408 persons were occupied solely with 
 carrying it on; of these, 02,933 were of the male, and 47,535 
 of the female, sex. 
 
 It would be interesting to know exactl} r from what countries, 
 and in what quantities from each of them, Germany draws its 
 Tobacco. This information cannot be obtained from the imperial 
 statistics, as, in consequence of Hamburg and Bremen being free 
 
TOBACCO IN FRANCE. 115 
 
 ports, all goods imported through these towns are put down to 
 their account, and all those coming via English and Dutch 
 ports to their account. Europe, chiefly from North America, 
 the "West Indies, Java, Sumatra, Columbia, Venezuela, etc. — 
 Tdbalc Zeitung. 
 
 TOBACCO IN FRANCE. 
 
 "While the quantity of Tobacco grown in France was about 
 19,200 tons in 1850, it has been gradually increasing until it is 
 now nearly double that quantity, while the revenue which the 
 State derives from it has increased from £3,555,000 to nearly 
 £13,000,000. In other words, while the quantity of Tobacco 
 grown has only doubled, the profits of the State, or in other 
 words of the manufacturers, have nearly quadrupled. The great 
 increase in profit is explained upon the ground that the expense 
 of manufacturing an additional quantity of Tobacco is not any- 
 thing like that of the first establishment of plant and material. 
 The cultivation and manufacture of Tobacco has been a Govern- 
 ment monopoly since 1674, and, with the exception of a brief 
 interval during the Revolution, has remained so ever since. The 
 following figures show the quantity of Tobacco consumed in the 
 different countries of Europe, and the rate per 100 inhabitants 
 is as follows : — Spain, 110 lbs. ; Italy, 128 lbs. ; Great Britain, 
 138 lbs. ; Russia, 182 lbs. ■ Hungary, 207 lbs. ; France, 210 lbs. : 
 Denmark, 2 21 lbs. ; Norway, 229 lbs. ; Austria, 273 lbs. ; Germany, 
 336 lbs. ; Holland, 448 lbs. ; and Belgium, 560 lbs. In other 
 words, while in Spain lit'.le more than one pound per head is 
 consumed, nearly double that quantity is consumed in France, 
 three times as much in Germany, four times as much in Holland, 
 and five times as much in Berlin. — Tobacco. 
 
116 ENGLISH TOBACCO CULTUEE. 
 
 TOBACCO IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Whilst John Bull is thinking ahout trying to grow his own 
 Tobacco, Uncle Sam is making an attempt to grow more than 
 he does now. The last monthly report of the Department of 
 Agriculture for the State of Carolina (U.S.A.) announces that, 
 in order to practically test Tobacco-growing in South Carolina, 
 and to ascertain whether it can be made a profitable crop, the 
 Board of Agriculture has appropriated £360 to encourage 
 experiments by farmers in the State. The Department has 
 selected one farmer in each county to experiment in the culti- 
 vation of Tobacco, and will pay the sum of £10 to each farmer 
 appointed for this purpose ; and this sum will be paid after the 
 crop has been cured and ready for market, and .samples, with 
 reports prescribed, have been sent to the Commissioner of 
 Agriculture, provided all the requirements made by the De- 
 partment have been complied with. The Board of Agriculture 
 has also appropriated £20 as a premium to the farmer reporting 
 the best results in the growing of Tobacco for the season 1886. 
 This premium is open to any farmer in the State who desires 
 to contest for it, and who will follow the rules of the Depart- 
 ment governing the contest. The farmers selected in each 
 county by the Department to make the experiments, and all 
 others who desire to. compete for the £20 premium, will be 
 required to send a statement of the average temperature of the 
 weather (compiled from daily record) ami the condition of the 
 crop to the Commissioner of Agriculture on the first of each 
 month, and to send a sample of the Tobacco, when cured, to the 
 Department of Agricultiire, weighing not less than 10 lbs. The 
 £20 premium will be awarded by the Board of Agriculture after 
 all the reports of results and the samples have been received. — 
 Tobacco. 
 
TOBACCO IN AUSTRALIA, SPAIN, Etc. 117 
 TOBACCO IN AUSTRALIA. 
 
 In tins connection it may be worth while to mention that 
 Tobacco cultivation in Australia, especially in New South 
 Wales, has proved an unmistakable success. In that colony 
 last year about 1,603 acres were devoted to growing Tobacco, 
 the quantity obtained being 12,947 cwts. The leaf is of 
 excellent quality, equal to any obtained from Cuba or Manila. 
 It is retained principally for borne consumption, being readily 
 purchased by local manufacturers. — Tobacco. 
 
 TOBACCO IN SPAIN. 
 
 The annual consumption of Tobacco is in Spain at an average 
 rate of 48 kilograms for every 100 persons; in Italy, 58; in 
 England, 63; in Russia, 84; in France, 96 ; in Norway, 104; 
 in Denmark, 106; in Austria, 127; in Germany, 152; in 
 Holland, 203 ; and in Belgium 246. The kilogram equals two 
 pounds avoirdupois. — Tnbarco. 
 
 TOBACCO AMONGST THE AMERICAN 
 INDIANS. 
 
 The Susquehannah Indians, when addressed by some Christian 
 missionaries on the origin of all things, gave them, in turn, the 
 origin of Tobacco to the following effect : — " Some hunters of 
 their tribe having killed and cooked a deer, observed the figure 
 like that of a young woman — really a spirit — on the hill-side, 
 and thinking that she might be suffering from hunger, offered 
 her some venison. She partook of it, and was pleased with its 
 flavour, and said : ' Your kindness shall be rewarded ; come here 
 thirteen moons hence, and you shall find it.' They did so ; and 
 found maize growing where her right hand had touched the 
 ground; where her left, kidney beans ; and where she had sat 
 they found Tobacco." — Tobacco Whiffs. 
 
USEFUL HINTS 
 
 CULLED FROM 
 
 THE BRAINS OF AMERICAN CULTIVATORS. 
 
 Open Air Beds. — There is no question but that open air beds are 
 cheapest. And, where this mode of raising plants is practicable, it is 
 greatly to be preferred for the main supply of plants. It is a well-estab- 
 lished opinion that plants raised in the open air stand transplanting 
 better and usually grow off quicker than plants raised in hotbed or cold 
 frame. 
 
 Selection of Soil, Preparation and Manuring. — The Tobacco 
 plant thrives best in a deep, mellow, loamy soil, rich or made so with 
 manures. The subsoil ought to be sufficiently porous to permit the 
 water falling on the surface to pass downward readily, and not to 
 accumulate to drown and stagnate. 
 
 If old land is selected, it ought to be fallowed deep in the fall or 
 early winter, that the frosts may pulverise it. Turn under, if possible, 
 some coarse farm manure, for its decay will great'y help to loosen the 
 soil, while furnishing pabulum for the crop. As a coarse manure for 
 yellow Tobacco, nothing is better than wheat straw turned under in the 
 fall and winter. The plants rarely fail to ripen yellow in colour on land 
 thus treated. 
 
 In the early spring more manure may be applied, but it is better 
 that this should come from the compost heap. Follow the application 
 of the compost with one-horse turning ploughs, crossing the previous 
 ploughing, turning not exceeding four or five inches deep — about half 
 the depth of the first ploughing. Then, just before it is time to plant, 
 run double-shovel ploughs over the lot, crossing the previous furrows, 
 and follow with harrow or drag, crossing again to thoroughly make fine. 
 These repeated ploughings, crossing each time every previous one, never 
 fail, if the work is done when the land is in proper condition, to put it 
 in proper tilth. 
 
 Let the planter remember that " a good preparation is half cultiva- 
 tion," and not stop till the land is in proper condition. 
 
 Never " scrape down " Tobacco with the hoe without putting back on 
 hill or bed as much dirt as is scraped down. This will prevent baking, 
 and save many plants, should a dry spell follow the hand-hoe working. 
 
 Any process which stirs the soil effectually and often, and keeps the 
 plants free from grass and weeds, will constitute g< od cultivation, no 
 matter how or with what implement done. Old land will require more 
 work in cultivation than new, and dark grades more than bright. Short 
 single trees should be used after the plants are half-grown, to prevent 
 tearing and breaking the leaves. 
 
 Stripping. — Tobacco should never be stripped from the stalks except 
 in pliable order, and the leaves on every plant should be carefully 
 assorted and every grade tied up separately. Usually there will be three 
 grades of leaf, assorted with reference to colour and size, and two of lugs. 
 If bulked down, watoh frequently to see that it does not heat. If 
 the bulk becomes warm it must be broken up, aired and rebulked, or 
 hung up if too soft. 
 
 CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, TRINTERS, CRYSTAL PALACE. 
 
SPECIAL NOTICE. — The price of the "Gardeners' Chronicle" 
 is now reduced to THREEPENCE. 
 
 " First to our hand cjme the home jouraals, among which the ably 
 conducted ' Gardeners' Ctironicle ' worthily holds the lead, as it has 
 now done for more than a generation."— The Journal of Forestry. 
 
 "Energetic, yet conservative, the 'Gardeners' Chronicle' has become 
 useful and popular everywhere." 
 
 HONT. MARSHALL WILDER, Boston, U.S. 
 
 "Forgive me if I pay a compliment to the way the 'Chronicle' is 
 edited. It is ab y and well managed."— An Orchidist. 
 
 THE 
 
 Gardeners' Chronicle 
 
 ("THE TIMES" OF' HORTICULTURE.) 
 
 A WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL, 
 
 {Established 1 841.) 
 Every Friday, price Threepence; post free, Threepence-halfpenny. 
 
 The "GARDENERS' CHRONICLE" has been for nearly fifty years the 
 leading journal of its class. 
 
 It has achieved this position because, while specially devoting itself to supplying 
 the daily requirements of Gardeners of all clashes, much of the information 
 furnished is of such general and permanent value, that the ' ' Gardeners' Chronicle " 
 is looked up to as the standard authority on the subjects on which it treats. 
 
 CIRCULATION.— Its relations wirh Amateur and Professional Gardeners and 
 with the Horticultural Trade of all countries, are of a specially extensive 
 character. 
 
 CONTRIBUTORS.— Its contributors comprise the leading British Gardeners 
 and many of the most eminent men of science at home and abroad. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS.— The "Gardeners' Chronicle" has obtained an inter- 
 national reputation for the accuracy, permanent utility, and artistic effect of its 
 illustrations of plants. These illustrations, together with the original articles 
 and monographs, render the " Gardeners' Chronicle " an indispensable work 
 of reference in all garden reading-rooms and botanical libraries. 
 
 SUPPLEMENTS. — Double-page engravings, lithographs, and other illustrations 
 of large size, are frequently given as Supplements, without extra charge. 
 
 ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. 
 
 The United Kingdom— Twelve Months, 15s. ; Six Months, 7s. 6d. ; Three 
 Months, 3s. 9d. ; Post Free. Foreign Subscriptions (excepting India 
 and China)— Including Postage, 17s. 6d. for Twelve Months; India and 
 China, 19s. 6d, 
 
 P.O.O. to be made payable at the Post Office, No. 42, DRURY LANE, London, 
 to W. Richards. Cheques should be crossed " Drummond." 
 
 Telegraphic Address-GARDCHRON, LONDON. 
 
 Office : 41, WELLINGTON ST., STRAND, LONDON, W.C. 
 
The Gardening World 
 
 SUPPLIES A WANT OF THE AGE. 
 
 A First-Class Gardening Paper for One Penny. 
 
 UNIVERSALLY ADMITTED TO BE 
 
 THE CHEAPEST AND BEST GARDENERS' WEEKLY NEWSPAPER. 
 
 THE GARDENING WORLD is published every Friday morning, and can be 
 obtained through all Newsagents and Booksellers, and from all Railway Book- 
 stalls, or sent direct from the Office for 6s. 6d. per annum, prepaid. Foreign 
 Subscription to all Countries in the Postal Union, 8s. 8d. Vols. I. and II., 
 handsomely bound, 6s. 6d. each. 
 
 A SPECIMEN COPY SENT FREE TO ANY ADDRESS. 
 
 Postal and Money Orders should be made payable to B. WYNNE, 
 at Drury Lane. 
 
 PUBLISHING OFFICE 
 
 17, Catherine Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C. 
 
 THE BEST MONDAY AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 
 
 The AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE 
 
 (established 1844), 
 
 FOR LANDHOLDERS AND TENANT FARMERS. 
 
 Every Monday, price 4d. ; post free, 4}^d. 
 
 The "AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE " gives Full Market Reports, both Metropolitan and 
 Provincial ; accurate Accounts of Prices and Sales, Proceedings of Agricultural Societies, Farmers' 
 Clubs, and Chambers of Agriculture— their Meetings, Exhibitions, and Discussions are reported 
 fully, and with promptitude. 
 
 Especial attention is given to Agricultural Implement Manufacture. 
 
 NO EXPENSE IS SPARED IN ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Not only Implements, but Plants, Weeds, varieties of Cultivated Crops, etc. : and Animals — 
 Breeds of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs ; also Poultry, Insects, General Natural History ; and 
 Buildings— Farmhouses, Homesteads, Cottages ; Photographs illustrative of Country Life and 
 Occupations, whether at Home or Abroad — all these provide subjects for the Engraver. 
 
 PORTRAITS and MEMOIRS of NOTEWORTHY AGRICULTURISTS are also 
 occasionally given. 
 
 SUBSCRIPTIONS PAYABLE IN ADVANCE, 
 
 Including Postage to any part 0/ the United Kingdom ; 
 
 Twelve Months, 19s. 6d. ; Six Months, 9s. 9d. ; Three Months, 5s. 
 
 P.O.O. to be made payable at the King Street Post Office. W.C, to Alex imiek K. BRUCE. 
 
 PUBLISHING OFFICE AND OFFICE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS ! 
 
 9, NEW BRIDGE ST., LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C. 
 
THE 
 
 Journal of Horticulture 
 
 COTTAGE GARDENER and HOME FARMER. 
 
 Conducted by ROBERT HOGG, LL.D., F.L.S. 
 
 Assisted by a Staff of the Best Writers on Practical Gardening, and 
 numerous Amateur and Professional Writers eminent in the 
 various Departments of Horticulture and other Rural Pursuits 
 connected with the Household. 
 
 It has been established for a period of nearly Forty Years, and 
 has long been regarded as the 
 
 LEADING JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE. 
 
 This widely-circulating Journal consists of Thirty-two Pages of 
 Letterpress, with occasional Supplements, and is richly Illustrated 
 with Wood Engravings in the highest style of the Art. 
 
 The JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE contains the Earliest 
 Reports of all the Important Horticultural and other Shows. 
 
 GARDENING in all its aspects is treated exhaustively by the 
 most practical and successful Cultivators of the day. 
 
 HOME FARM — This Department contains sound and season- 
 able advice on Profitable Cropping, Stock Management, Manures 
 and their application, and the most approved Modes of Dairy Farming. 
 
 BEES.— The most advanced Apiarians and the most successful 
 Bee-keepers in Great Britain are contributors to this section of this 
 long-established and increasingly-popular Publication. 
 
 A NEW VOLUME COMMENCES THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY. 
 
 Published Weekly, price 3d. ; Post Free, 3fd. 
 
 TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION : 
 
 One Quarter, 3s. 9d. j Half Year, 7s. 6d ; One Year, 15s. 
 
 P.O.O.'s to be made payable to Edward H. May. 
 TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS & RAILWAY BOOKSTALLS. 
 
 OFFICE : 
 
 171, FLEET STREET, LONDON, E.C. 
 
CARTERS' 
 
 "FIRST ZEZtNTa-XjISIEa: " 
 
 (Registered Trade Mark.) 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 Awarded the Si/uer Banhsian 
 Medal, R.H.S., 1886. 
 
 The first and only Award ever made 
 to English-grown Tobacco. 
 
 In this Catalogue we offer Seeds of a great variety of Tobacco, those sorts 
 marked ihus *, we have proved to he most distinct in character and ornamental 
 in appearance. 
 
 Specimen Plants of Tobacco form noble Botanical objects, ami no garden is complete without them. 
 Full instructions for Cultivation accompany every packet of Seed. 
 
 TOBACCO SEED. 
 
 Price per packet — .r. d. s. d. 
 'Big Fiederick, deep green .. 1 0&2 6 
 'Yellow Prior, fine rich green .. 1 O ,, 2 6 
 "Connecticut, fine green .. .. 1 0„2 8 
 'White Burleigh, very distinct 1 O „ 2 6 
 
 Many of the following varieties are offtred this 
 
 Price per packet — J. d. s. d_ 
 ^Kentucky, golden-green foliage 1 0&2 6 
 
 Maryland Broadleaf, pale green 1 O ,, 2 6 
 'Pennsylvania, pale green .. 1 O ,, 2 6 
 
 Mixed Varieties — 2 6 
 
 Havana. 
 
 Seedleaf. 
 
 Florida. 
 
 Hester Virginia. 
 •One sucker. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Island Broadleaf. 
 
 White Stem. 
 ■Yeuow Orinoco. 
 
 Glasner. 
 
 General Grant. 
 
 Each. 
 
 Big Orinoco. 
 
 Big Havana. 
 
 Stirling. 
 
 Hopgood. 
 
 Flanagan. 
 
 Tuckahoe. 
 
 James River. 
 
 Raffieleaf. 
 
 Missouri. 
 
 Ohio. 
 
 Hyco. 
 
 price per packet, 1/- 
 
 Season for the first time — 
 
 Turkish Bostsa. 
 Turkish Latakieh. 
 Turkish Salonicke. 
 Stockholm. 
 Hungarian Carlusk. 
 Hungarian Debroc. 
 Hungarian St. Andras. 
 Hungarian Verpelet. 
 Hungarian Muscat. 
 Hungarian Galois. 
 
 and 2/6. 
 
 " During the past week we have had in this country the novel 
 sight of a tobacco harvest, and it is extremely probable that in one or 
 two churches this year plants and flowers of Nicotiana will blend 
 with grapes, fruits, wheats, and vegetables in their silent homage 
 of Harvest Thanksgiving. The harvest has been gathered in in some 
 
 do/.en parts of England, Messrs. Carters' Crop at Holloway 
 Farm, Bromley, of course, leading the way, this firm 
 having imported the Seed for nearly all, if not all, 
 the trial crops." - Morning Post. 
 
 Seedsmen by Royal Warrants to H.M. The Queen, 
 land H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, 
 
 237 & 238, HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON.