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cultivated is subdivided into the common to- 

 bacco, \vhicli is equal to the best Brazilian, and 

 .the little tobacco (nicoiiana minima) Nvliose 

 leaves resemble those of the Cretan dittany ; its 

 fructification is like that of the co-mmon kind, 

 but the tobacco itself is much stronger^, and 

 more violent in its effects. 



Sect. V. Grasses. The banks of the rivers 

 and other moist places produce in general a great 

 number of reeds and rushes, many of which are 

 unknown to botanists. A species of the latter^ 

 which I have called sclrpus eUcluiarius, serves to 

 make wicks for candles. This rush grows to 

 the height of about four feet ; the stem is 

 is round; from the top protrude three sword- 

 shaped leaves, in the midst of which are four 

 globulous spikes or heads. 



From a species of rush, produced in the 

 vallevs of tlie Andes, the Araucanians manu- 

 facture baskets of so close a texture as to hold 

 water, which are employed for many domestic 

 purposes. Of these great numbers are sold at 

 the annual fairs in the Spanish provinces. But 

 notwithstanding I have been assured by many 

 that the plant employed in this manufacture is a 

 real rush, from examination I am more inclined 

 to believe it a ipecies of cane, as it? fibres are 

 woody, and the whole substance very solid. 

 Amonc those rushes whose characters are we'i 



