184 TOBACCO. 



it is stated tinder Nicotiana persica, that it yields the 

 celebrated tobacco of Shiraz. This species closely re- 

 sembles N. Tdbacvm in the form of its leaves, which are, 

 however, rather acute than acuminate ; but the flowers 

 are different both in shape and colour. In N. Tahacum 

 the stem leaves are sessile, and the corolla is funnel- 

 shaped or inflated below the limb, and is of a pinkish-red 

 colour; in N. persica, the tube of the corolla is club- 

 shaped and the limb more spreading ; the colour is white 

 inside and greenish outside. When in blossom, therefore, 

 the two plants are easily distinguished. N. rustica, on 

 the other hand, has stalked cordate leaves and a short 

 yellowish corolla, with the tube and limb both short. 



" The leaves of tumbeki which I have received from 

 Trebizonde and Constantinople both correspond with 

 N. persica in character, but not with N. rustica, since they 

 have no trace of a petiole. So far as it is possible to 

 ascertain therefore, in the absence of flowers, the weight 

 of evidence is in favour of tumbeki being the produce of 

 N. persica. In order to ascertain the correctness of the 

 statement that tumbeki is stronger than tobacco, I handed 

 some specimen to Messrs. E. J. Eastes and W. H. Ince for 

 chemical examination, which they kindly undertook at 

 my request." 



Following is the report of these gentlemen on the 

 chemistry of the subject : — 



" Four samples of tumbeki were brought under our 

 notice by Mr. Holmes, Curator of the Museum of the 

 Pharmaceutical Society, being of interest on account of 

 their reported greater strength in nicotine as compared 

 with tobacco. The following are the results of our in- 



