AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 257 



this it retains pertinaciously. Too rapid and luxuriant growth spoils 

 the flavor of the leaf, which on the contrary is heightened by pruning. 



570. The Virginians began to cultivate this plant very early, 

 following the Indian mode. In 1611, it was first grown by the 

 use of the spade, and shortly increased to so great an extent as 

 almost to preclude the sowing of grain. Before the Revolution 

 merchantable tobacco was a legal tender in which taxes and 

 ministers salaries were paid, and it almost became the currency 

 of the colony. At present the culture in the United States ap 

 pears to be on the decline. In 1840, the total produce of this 

 country was 219,163,319 Ibs; in 1850, 199,752,646 Ibs, show 

 ing a decrease of 19,410,673 Ibs. 



The chief tobacco producing States in 1850 were: 



Virginia, 56,803,218 Ibs. 



Kentucky, 55,501,196 &quot; 



sky, 

 ind, 



Maryland, 21,407,497 



Tennessee, 20,148,932 



North Carolina, 11,984,786 Ibs. 



Ohio, 10,454,449 &quot; 

 Connecticut, 1.267,624 &quot; 



Indiana. 1,044,620 



Missouri, 17,113,784 



No other State gives one million of pounds ; Michigan re 

 turns only 1,245 Ibs.; while Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, 

 Delaware, and Minnesota produce none.* The principal va 

 rieties cultivated in the United States, are the Virginian ; Large- 

 leaved; Dwarf; Cuba; Common Green; Summerville; Light 

 Burley, &c. 



571. Proximate analysis of the fresh leaves of Tobacco. 

 (Posselt and Reinmann. 1827.) 



Nicoiina, 0.06 



Nicotiapin, 0.01 



Bitter extractive, 2.87 



Gum with malate of lime, 1.74 



Chlorophylle, 0.267 



Albumen and gluten, 1,308 



Malic acid, 0.51 



Lignin and a trace of starch 4 969 

 Salts, 0.734 



Silica, 0088 



Water, 88 280 



*From 1800 to Ib39 the whole quantity of tobacco exported from the United States, 

 annually, was about 82,000 hogshead?. The Western States, during this period, never 

 exported, on an average, over 35,000 hogsheads. In 1840, the West exported 40,000 , 

 in 1841, 54,600; in 1842, 68,000; in 1843, 89,800; and in 1844, 81,200 hogsheads . 

 This last was nearly as much as the consumption of Europe then demanded. From 

 18 000 to 20,000 hogsheads of Virginia tobacco wr consumed at home. Above 

 75,000 hogshiads were supposed to be raised in other countries than the United 

 States. 



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