COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS OF CULTIVA- 

 TION. 



" 111 1611, tobacco was first cultivated in Virginia by 

 the use of the spade, previous to which it liad only been 

 raised after the rude manner of the Indians. In 161G, it 

 was cultivated in that colony to so alarming an extent, 

 that even the streets of Jamestown were planted with 

 it, and various regulations were framed to restrain its 

 production. In 1611, the prices varied from 37J to 75 

 cents per pound. In 1621, each person was required to 

 cultivate one thousand plants, of eight leaves, weighing 

 in the aggreg^ate 100 pounds. In 1622, there were made 

 in the colony 60,000 pounds. In 1639, it was enacted 

 by the Grand Assembly, * that all the tobacco planted 

 this present year, and the two succeeding years, in the 

 colony of Virginia, be absolutely destroyed and burned, 

 excepting and resei*ving so much, in equal proportion 

 to each planter, as shall make, in the whole, just the 

 quantity of 120,000 pounds, stripped, smoothed, &c. In 

 consideration whereof, the creditors of the planters were 

 compelled to accept and receive 40 pounds of tobacco, 

 so stripped and smoothed, in full satisfaction of every 

 100 pounds now due them.' This plant, when its half- 

 inebriating and soothing influence recommended it to 

 popular use, encountered much violent opposition by 

 several governments, which also attempted to restrain 

 its consumption by penal edicts. The Sultan xlmurath 

 IV. forbade its importation into Turkey, and condemned 

 to death those found guilty of smoking. The Grand 

 Buke of Moscow prohibited its entrance into his domin- 

 ions under pain of the ' knout' for the first offense, and 

 death for the next ; and in other parts of Kussia the 

 practice of smoking was denounced, and all smokers 

 condemned to have their noses cut off. The Shah of 

 Persia, and other eastern sovereigns, were equally se- 

 vere in their enactments. Pope Urban VIII. anathema- 

 tized all those who smoked in churches. Upwards of a 

 hundred volumes were written to condemn its use, the 

 names of which have been preserved and their titles cat- 



