22 



TOBACCO PLANT. 



the tropics. Those of some species of tobacco are little and 



easily broken, which to a certain extent is the case with most 



varieties of the plant when maturing very fast. The stalks 



of some plants are rough and uneven, 



while those of others are smooth. 



Nearly all, including most of those 



grown in Europe and America, have 



erect, round, hairy, viscid stalks, and 



large, fibrous roots; while that of 



Spanish as well as dwarf tobacco is 



harder and much smaller. The stalk 



is composed of a wood-like substance 



containing a glutinous pith, and is 



of about the same shade of color as 



the leaves. As the plant develops 



in size the stalk hardens, and when 



fully grown is not easily broken. TOBACCO STALKS. 



The size of the stalk corresponds with that of the leaves, 

 and with such varieties of the plant as Connecticut seed leaf, 

 Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, St. Domingo, and some others ; 

 both will be found to be larger than Spanish, Latakia, and 

 Syrian tobacco, which have a much smaller but harder stalk. 

 It will readily be seen that the stalk must be strong and firm 

 in order to support the large palm -like leaves which on some 

 varieties grow to a length of nearly four feet with a corre- 

 sponding breadth. The stalk does not " cure down " as fast 

 as the leaves, which is thought now to be necessary in order 

 to prevent sweating, as well as to hasten the curing. Most 

 of the varieties of the plant have an erect, straight stalk, 

 excepting Syrian tobacco, which near the top describes more 

 of a semi-circle, but not to that extent of giving an idea of 

 an entirely crooked plant. The stalk gradually tapers from 

 the base to the summit, and when deprived of its leaves 

 presents a smooth appearance not unlike that of a small tree 

 or shrub deprived of its twigs and leaves. 



THE LEAYES. 

 The Plant bears from eight to twenty leaves according to 



