RESTRICTIONS ON TOBACCO-RAISING. 53 



part to the presence of a greater number of adventurers than 

 of actual settlers, such being the case the resources of the 

 country were in a measure limited. 



The demand for tobacco in England increasing each year, 

 together with the high price paid for that from Virginia (3 

 s. per lb.), stimulated the planters to hazard all their time 

 and labor upon one crop, neglecting the cultivation of the 

 smaller grains, intent only upon curing " a good store of 

 tobacco." The company of adventurers at length found it 

 necessary to check the excessive planting of the weed, and 

 by the consent of the " Generall Assemblie " restraining the 

 plantations to " one hundred plants* ye headd, uppon each 

 of wich pi antes there are to bee left butt onely nyne leaves 

 wch portions as neare as could be guessed, was generally 

 conceaved would be agreable with the hundred waight you 

 have allowed." 



In 1639 the " Grand Assembly " (summoned the sixth of 

 January) passed a law restricting the growth of the colony 

 to 1,500,000 Ibs., and to 1,200,000 in the two years next 

 ensuing. The exporting of the poorer qualities of tobacco 

 by the colony caused much dissatisfaction as will be seen by 

 a letter of the Company dated llth September, 1621 : 



" We are assured from our Factor in Holland that except 

 the tobacco that shall next come thence prove to be of more 

 perfection and goodnesse than that was sent home last, there 

 is no hope that it vend att all, for albeit itt passed once yett 

 the wary buyer will not be againe taken, so that we heartily 

 wish that youe would make some provision for the burninge 

 of all base and rotten stuff, and not suffer any but very good 

 to be cured at least sent home, whereby these would certainly 

 be more advanced in the price upon lesse in the quantity ; 

 howsoever we hope that no bad nor ill conditioned tobacco 

 shall be by compelling authoritie (abusing its power given 

 for public good to private benefit) putt uppon or Factor, and 

 very earnestly desire that he may have the helpe of justice 

 to constraine men to pay their debts unto him both remain- 

 ing of the last yeares accompt and what shall this yearse 

 growth deue, and that in Comodities of the same vallew and 

 goodness as shalbe by him contracted for." 



Another account Is sixty pounds per head. 



