GLASSES, GRAINS, AND PLANTS. 587 



It is a native of America. In November, 1492, Columbus 

 sent out a party to explore the island of Cuba. On their return 

 they reported having seen people carrying lighted firebrands to 

 kindle fire, and that they perfumed themselves with certain 

 herbs, which they carried along with them, meaning tobacco. 

 The habit of using snuff was ascertained on the second voyage 

 of Columbus, in 1494. The tobacco plant itself was first car- 

 ried to Europe in 1558, by a physician who had been sent to 

 Mexico, by Philip II. of Spain. It was introduced into Portu- 

 gal by Jean Nicot, from whom it receives its scientific name, 

 Nicotinia. 



Ralph Lane, the first governor of Virginia, carried with him, 

 in 1586, to England, the implements and materials for tobacco 

 using, and presented them to Sir Walter Raleigh. Lane is said 

 to have been the first English smoker. In the seventeenth 

 century its use spread rapidly, notwithstanding the stringent 

 laws made to prevent it. The Church declared smoking a crime. 

 The Sultan of Turkey punished smokers with death. The 

 pipes of the smokers were thrust through their noses, in that 

 country, while in Russia their noses were cut off. It continued 

 to grow in use, and is now found in almost all parts of the 

 world. 



The cultivation of the plant is comparatively easy, though a 

 warm climate suits it best. It is grown in many of the North- 

 ern States. It requires skill in handling and curing, and takes 

 a longer, time to grow and prepare for market than any other 

 crop. It demands the best of land, and the strongest fertilizers, 

 and is very uncertain in its results. The influence of soil, 

 climate, and fertilizers on the quality of the product is very 

 great, beyond that of any other cultivated plant. The seed is 

 usually sown in hot-beds, or carefully prepared beds out of 

 doors. When the plants are large enough, they are trans- 

 planted to the field, in rows from two to three feet apart. It 

 requires clean cultivation and a watchful care, picking worms, 

 cutting off flower shoots, etc. About the I5th of September, 

 varying somewhat as to locality, the crop begins to be gathered. 

 It requires about four months to, mature in the field. 



The amount of tobacco grown and manufactured in the 

 United States is very great, and still on the increase. The 



