MONTHLY 



JOURNAL OF AaRICULTUEE. 



VOL. III. JANUARY, 1848. NO. 7. 



TOBACCO. 



ITS INSECT ENEMIES AND ITS CULTIVATION, FROM THE PLANT-BED TO THE 

 HANDS OF THE SHIPPER. 



We have chosen for the frontispiece of this number, the Tobacco Plant audits 

 formidable enemies, the unicorn fly, commonly called by planters the horn-blow- 

 er, and the worm proceeding from the egg which that fly deposits on the leaf of 

 the plant, to be hatched, and then, like the silk-worm, to pass through a brief and 

 gluttonous existence ; feeding, night and day, on the substance and the hopes of 

 the plant and the planter. Having rapidly attained its full growth, it buries itself 

 in the earth, to be transformed into a loathsome grub, thence to reappear in bril- 

 liant attire, as here exhibited, for the last scene of its changeful career. With 

 new and more refined taste, corresponding with its change of dress, it now luxu- 

 riates for a season on the sweets which Providence places for the support of insect 

 life, in the blossoms even of the most loathsome weeds, and having finally in- 

 dulged the universal passion, it deposits the fruits thereof where its own life 

 commenced, and thus completes the round of its ephemeral existence. 



The genus Nicotiana is an annual plant, flowering and ripening its seed in 

 almost all parts of the U. S. and is yet cultivated for profit as far north as Con- 

 necticut, where its leaf is remarkably delicate and silky, with small fibres, and 

 when cured rather of a dark cinnamon than of a bright color, and is understood 

 to be used chiefly as wrappers of cigars. 



Botanically speaking, this plant has a funnel shaped corolla, with Us border 

 somewhat plaited, stamens inclined, stigma emerginate, capsule two celled, two or 

 four valued. The species tabacum, figured in the Plate, has its leaves ovate, laji' 

 ceolate, sessile, dccurrent flowers panicled, acute. 



The Plate exhibits: * 



1st. The plant in blossom — 



2d. The capsule — 



3d. Ripe capsule, or seed-vessel opening at top, and, 



4th. Transverse section of the capsule. 



As to the character and habits of the worm and the fly, we have been for these 

 to the foot of Gamaliel ; and were there so fortunate as to obtain the following 

 account from that distinguished planter, the President of the Prince George^s 

 Agricultural Society, and what is more and much better proof of practical ex- 

 cellence, the winner, the past year, of the first prize for the best managed farm.! 

 — a much greater honor, in our poor esteem, than if awarded for killing 1,000 

 guerrillas. 



(617) 



