Solanee.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. “ag7 
is sent away in presents by the Raja of Nagpore. It is to be regretted that we are 
unable to ascertain the commercial value of any of these, as they do not appear to have 
been sent to the English market. The only exception is that mentioned by Mr. 
Ritchie, of one bale of the fine Tobacco grown in the northern districts of Bombay 
selling for 6d., while American sold for 5d.; but the average of the experimental exporta- 
tion being found defective in the curing, sold only for 1d, and 2d,, and did not pay, as 
is frequently the case with importations of Tobacco from Bengal and Bombay. 
Such appears to have been the state of the ordinary Indian Tobacco, when the 
East-India Company determined on endeavouring to induce cultivators to improve the 
culture of Tobacco by importing seed from Maryland and Virginia, which was to be 
freely distributed to those inclined to make experiments on the subject. 
These experiments, I regret to say, seem, with one exception, to have been undertaken 
only in the southern parts of India, at least it is from thence only that samples have been 
sent to the India House. Importing seed from 35° to 40°, and with territory from 8° to 
32° of North latitude, elevated from 0 to 13,000 feet above the sea, it is greatly to be 
lamented that experimenters should have been confined to between 12° and 16°, that is, 
to the districts of Cuddapah, Guntoor, and Coimbatore. The object being to get an 
article similar in properties to that already’esteemed in the market: the plan would be 
to make the first attempts, as failure is so apt to discourage, in the soil and climate 
most like that whence seed is procured. Though the above districts may by a different 
treatment be enabled to grow very good Tobacco, there is no doubt that the soil was either 
too rich for the Virginia seed, or the climate too moist and warm, or perhaps both con- 
joined, for the plants have grown so luxuriantly, that the stalks and fibres have attained 
a size and coarseness, fitting them better for twisting into cables than for putting into a 
| pipe. One cultivator, indeed, states-that the plants grew so well, as to be twice the size 
of the country plants. The Tobacco was besides so badly packed, and worse cured, that 
athe brokers describe the different samples as ‘‘ too dark in colour,”—*‘ thick and coarse 
* grown, ”—** nearly all stalk ;’—-and when the leaf is well grown, it is pronounced 
** over large, with a thick coarse stalk,” —“ unpleasant or musty in flavour,”—‘* worm- 
eaten,” —‘‘ not properly cured,”—‘‘ packed in a damp state,’—and that, as articles of 
commerce, they are ‘‘ not marketable,”—or ‘ of no value ;’—and of the best it was 
said, that some Tobacco from Holland of much better ae had been sold undet 
2d. per pound. 
These facts are sufficiently discouraging, and were it not for the author's confidence, 
that they are the necessary result of inattention to principles, it might perhaps be 
considered more prudent to withhold them when recommending a new culture. Butas - 
others might commit the same mistakes, it is proper at once to meet the difficulty, 
that we may at the same time suggest a remedy. Besides, the Tobacco of Arracan and 
that from Bombay has shown that even without the aid of foreign seed, some of very 
superior quality may be grown in India; while the following facts prove that by careful 
management, Virginia seed may be made to yield a good crop, even in the rich soil and 
climate 
