192 FIRST STEPS IN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



cotic, while tlie underground part of the plant is 

 perfectly wholesome. Even the fruit and seeds in 

 some plants of this tribe are eatable ; for instance, 

 the tomato, or love-apple, and the different kinds 

 of capsicum, the ground seeds of which are the 

 chief ingredient in cayenne pepper." 



" Tobacco cannot be unwholesome," said Henry, 

 " for some of the healthiest old people in the vil- 

 lage are smokers." 



"Moderately used, it does not appear to be 

 injurious : but when taken in excess, it is liable 

 to bring on paralysis. Oil of tobacco is a very 

 powerful poison ; and even the minute quantity 

 inhaled in smoking causes nausea in persons 

 unaccustomed to the use of it. The tobacco plant 

 is, as you know, a very handsome one ; and when 

 cultivated over a large extent of ground, it has 

 a most striking appearance. 



" But we must not pass over the OLIVE TRIBE 

 with the mere mention of its name, for it contains 

 several of our especial garden favourites, in addi- 

 tion to the important species* which gives the 

 name to the tribe, and which supplies the well- 

 known olive oil." 



* Olea Europsea. 



