5^7 



been recommended for that purpose by Mr. Turner, botanist to the 

 department (Agricnllnnil Gazelle, Vol. II, part I, page 20), special 

 reference will be made to the Persian methods of growing at the 

 end of this article. 



4. Xicoliiinn crispa. This species is much grown in Syria and 

 on the Mediterranean coast, and furnishes leaves for the celebrated 

 Levantine cigars. 



5. Xiiviitiiiii rcpiiiuhi, a native of Mexico. It has small leaves, 

 iHcd for imparting the peculiar aroma to Mexican cigars and cigar- 

 ettes. The remaining species, notably A T . ginned, ^liilinostt, longi- 

 //(>;</, iiuiiii, and sdinjuiiu'ti, are of no commercial importance, -being 

 of interest only to the botanist or horticulturist ; but mention must 

 be made of the beautiful white flowered A", tijjinis, now so largely 

 used as a decorative pot plant and for bouquets. 



CULTIVATION. Of the many conditions which affect the quality 

 of tobacco, the most important is climate ; other conditions 

 may be in a measure modified or else created, but very little can be 

 done with regard to climate. The most rational mode of over- 

 coming this difficulty would be in the selection of seed of the 

 varieties which have been grown with success under similar climatic 

 conditions as prevail in the district proposed to be cultivated. 



Tobacco thrives best in a good soil, rich in vegetable 

 mould ; but light soil containing a good amount of organic matter 

 and well drained will produce an excellent smoking tobacco, and 

 on such soil the finest leaves are grown. The more clay in the soil 

 the thicker the leaves become, and the aroma becomes less, and is 

 consequently less suited for the finer qualities of smoking tobacco, 

 although the weight of yield may be heavier. The opinion of an 

 experienced Ohio planter (Mr. Popenoe) may be of interest. He 

 says : " A rich sandy second bottom I believe to be the best for 

 raising tobacco. Black river bottom will yield more to the acre 

 than any other kind of land, but the tobacco is not of so fine a 

 quality. It grows larger and has coarser stems and a heavier body, 

 and consequently, in my opinion, is not so good for wrappers or 

 fine cut as the second bottom or upland tobacco." 



The site for a tobacco field should have good drainage and be 

 sheltered from high winds, which would split the leaves to ribbons 

 and thus spoil their market value. In countries where it is largely 

 cultivated various methods of culture are adopted to secure this last 

 object, the fields generally being bordered by rows of plants to act 

 as wind-breaks. In Holland they are surrounded by hedges some 

 seven feet high, and are subdivided into small plots by rows, usually 

 tall varieties of peas, which break the force of the wind. Conse- 

 quently the Dutch growers obtain as much as 50 per cent, of " first 

 quality " leaves, while in other places 25 per cent, is considered a 

 good average. In the United States several rows of scarlet runners, 

 or common beans, are used for a similar purpose, while in Cuba 

 and parts of India bananas are planted in rows through the fields, 



