VAEIETIES OF THE PLANT. 33 



by the earlier flowering of the crossed plants, as well as 

 by the greater hight which they ultimately attain. 

 The superiority of the crossed plants was shown still 

 more plainly when the two lots were weighed, the weight 

 of the crossed plants to that of the self -fertilized being 

 as 160 to 37. Better evidence," he concludes, " could 

 hardly be desired, of the immense advantage derived 

 from a cross with a fresh stock." But Darwin neglected 

 the most important point, and that is, the relative value 

 of the cured products. Strong vitality in the tobacco 

 plant does not ensure a high quality of products. 



While -this tendency of the varieties to mix is accom- 

 panied with trouble in preserving the purity of the seeds 

 of desirable varieties, it also offers opportunities for im- 

 proving old, or of creating new, varieties. The plant 

 may be bred for qualities desired for specific purposes. 

 In the districts growing wrappers, width and fineness of 

 the leaf may be increased by cross-fertilization. Where 

 the product is thick and heavy, but not large, the cross- 

 fertilization with a plant of larger leaf may result in a 

 decided improvement. This should be one of the duties 

 of those having charge of agricultural experiment 

 stations. 



In the investigation of the culture and curing of 

 tobacco, by the census of 1880, more than one hundred 

 names of varieties were mentioned in the schedules re- 

 turned. Probably half of these were synonyms. In the 

 list below are given the names, uses, places where grown, 

 and peculiarities of growth of such varieties as com- 

 mended themselves to growers. A few new varieties 

 have been introduced since 1880, of which the names, 

 uses and qualities are given at the close of the chapter. 



New "varieties" are frequently brought to notice, 



but in most cases prove, upon investigation, to be merely 



variations of established kinds. Indeed, it is difficult 



to mark the line between distinct and indistinct varie- 



3 



