KITCHEN GARDENS. 299 



in February or March ; for when it is done 

 later, the heat forces the (talk and leaves too 

 much, and makes the roots more fpungy and 

 fmall : in other refpefts it bears both cold and 

 hear. 



They call tobacco yeen. The cultivation 

 of it is the more advantageous in China, as 

 it is there more efteemed than in any other 

 country ; they therefore neither fpare pains, 

 nor think any foil too good. In March the 

 plants are fet a foot and a half afunder : in 

 Auguji the tobacco is ripe, and then :hey 

 pluck it, make it fweat, and manage it as is 

 ufual with us. This tobacco does not feem to 

 be the bed j for though it looks like ours, 

 yet both its fmell and its tafte are difagree- 

 able: the Chinefe prefer it to that of Manillas 

 and Aynairt) which in goodnefs equals the Bra- 

 ftlian tobacco. The dried brown leaves are 

 laid one upon another in a prefs, and after- 

 wards are cut into fmall (tripes, with a broad 

 iron plane; and in this fhape they fmoak the 

 tobacco here : when it is fmoaked, it leaves 

 behind a vifcid {linking oil ; it burns better 

 when it is cut into greater pieces. The fale 

 of this commodity is fo great, that a large 



quantity 



