6oO BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



Closely Related Species. — There are a number of species of Nicotiana which 

 resemble N. tahacum somewhat, and there are several species belonging to 

 other genera besides Nicotiana that go by the name "tobacco." 



N. ruslica is a "wild tobacco" that was cultivated by the Indians. It is a 

 tall annual with petioled leaves. N. quadrivalvis is another plant cultivated 

 by the Indians for tobacco. It is native to the region extending from Texas 

 to California and Oregon. N. persica yields Persian tobacco. "Australian 

 tobacco" is the leaf of Duboisia hopwoddii, a species of Solanacea. "Indian" 

 or "wild tobacco" is a name often given to Lobelia inflata, the dried leaves 

 and tops of which are officinal. It is a member of the bellflower family, 

 CampanulacecB. Arnica alpina, a composite, is sometimes known as "moun- 

 tain tobacco." The most popular ornamental Nicotiana is N. alata. In it 

 the flowers are white, open at night and closed in the daytime. 



Types arid Varieties. — There are two general types of 

 tobacco grown in this country: 



1. Cigar type, the leaves of which are made into cigar 

 wrappers, binders and fillers. The leaves are thin and of 

 fine texture. Common varieties are Sumatra, Connecticut 

 Havana, Connecticut Broadleaf, Cuban, Zimmer Spanish, 

 and Little Dutch. 



2. Export and manufacturing type, the leaves of which are 

 used to make smoking tobacco, chewing tobacco, cigarettes, 

 and snuff. The leaves, as compared with those of the pre- 

 ceding type, are thicker, tougher, and of coarser texture. 

 Popular varieties are White Burley, North Carolina Bright 

 Yellow, Maryland Smoking, Yellow Mammoth, Pryors and 

 Orinocos. Export and manufacturing tobaccos are pro- 

 duced on soils and in sections of the country different from 

 the cigar types. The physical and chemical properties of 

 the soil have a marked influence on the quality of the 

 tobacco leaf. Light, well-drained soils, in which there is not 

 too much organic matter, produce a leaf of mild flavor and 

 fine texture. On the other hand, heavy, rich soils produce 

 a leaf of stronger flavor and coarser texture. 



Composition. — The tobacco plant is a heavy feeder. It 



