6 



the island Tobago, or from the province Tabaco, or from 

 the Indian sraoking-pipe ; quite as likely from the 

 latter. 



Tobacco is evidently a plant of American nativity, 

 first used by the aborigines, introduced into Europe 

 something over two hundred years ago, and now of very 

 general use in all quarters of the globe. 



SPECIES. 



Louden, in his E iicyclopcedia of Plants, enumerates 

 no less than fourteen species of the genus Xicotiana. 

 Of these, Eaton's North American Botany mentions the 

 following four, the first three of which are marked as 

 exotic, the last as southern : 



Nicotiana... - 



' Tabacum (Virginia). 

 Rustica (common). 

 Paniculata (small flowered). 

 Quadrivalvis (four leaved). 



The above, with ten others, enumerated by Louden, 

 are regarded by botanists as distinct species. The 

 lobelia, found so much in pastures, often causing slaver- 

 ing in horses, though erroneously called loild tobacco, is 

 a distinct genus, having no relation to the nicotiana, or 

 tobacco plant. Of the varieties, suited to difierent pur- 

 poses and varying latitudes, wo may speak in another 

 place. 



HISTORY. 



Tobacco was taken to England in 1586, by Ealph 

 Lane. It was used only for smoking. Sir Walter 

 Ealeigh was the first to acquire the practice, having 

 learned it from Lane. Its use in this way spread 



