192 ST NICOTINE 



tribe against another of these evil-doers, to their mutual 

 destruction. If they are Uke living things in the natural 

 world they will have their foes and their struggles for 

 existence. The old lady's belief that microbes have pink 

 eyes and ravenous teeth may not be perfectly accurate, yet 

 judging from their insidious attacks on unsuspecting mortals 

 we are warranted in assuming that they have other very 

 effective means of combat. The spectacle of internecine 

 warfare going on in their little world, as revealed under the 

 microscope, would afford from its novelty an exhibition 

 worth going miles to see. 



The tobacco-plant is not now cultivated in England. 

 James the First thought it shameful that so pernicious a 

 plant should be permitted to take root in our rich and fruitful 

 soil, and caused an edict to be issued prohibiting its 

 cultivation within the British Islands. The King's 

 apologists find reason for the prohibition in his Majesty's 

 concern for the interests of the young colony of tobacco 

 planters settled in Virginia. Be this as it may, Adam 

 Smith (Wealth of Nations) on economic grounds condemns 

 the enactment, saying, ' Home cultivation of tobacco has 

 on this account most absurdly been prohibited through the 

 greater part of Europe which necessarily gives a monopoly 

 to the countries where its cultivation is allowed.' 



To the impoverished treasury of Charles the Second its 

 importation was made to yield revenue at a rate equivalent 

 to about thirty shillings a pound weight of our present 

 money, and through the agency of his ministers enacted in 

 'Laws and Regulations concerning Tobacco ' (15 Car. 11. 

 c. 7. 12. Par. II. c. 34.) that, 'Tobacco is not to be 

 planted in England on a forfeiture of 40s. for every rood of 

 ground thus planted.' This restriction however was ' not to 

 extend to the planting of to bacco in Physic Gardens, in 



