TOBACCO AND ITS CULTURE. 137 



We remember other individuals, also, who have joined in 

 these discussions upon these or kindred matters. But 

 to-day we not only see new faces, but we meet to discuss a 

 subject which, with the exception of a brief report made by 

 a committee to your Board some twenty years since, has not 

 by you been brought before us. We come here this morn- 

 ing to talk about one of the principal crops, not only of the 

 Connecticut Valley, but of the world ; a crop, one branch of 

 the manufiicture and commerce of which is increasing very 

 rapidly, is assuming vast proportions, and will soon, if 

 it is not already, become a great monopoly. 

 Of its use by man — 



" It is used in every clime, 

 By all men, high and low ; 

 It is praised in prose and rhyme, 

 So let the kind herb grow. 



" 'Tis a friend to the distressed, 

 ' Tis a comforter in need ; 

 It is social, soothing, blest ; 

 It has fragrance, force and zest; 

 Then hail to the kingly weed ! " 



But little is known of the cultivation of tobacco till 

 almost the sixteenth century, although it had been cultivated 

 by the Indians found here, for nn unknown period prior to 

 that date. 



Brock's history of tobacco in Virginia contains a long 

 account of its being discovered by the companions of 

 Columbus, who, in November, 1492, while on their first 

 voyage to America, saw the native Cubans smoking. 



Two years afterwards, the same parties saw the natives 

 using it as snuff. When the Spaniards landed at Paraguay 

 in 1503, the natives came forth to oppose them, beating 

 drums, throwing Avater, chewing herbs and spitting the juice 

 toward them. As early as 1535, the negroes who had been 

 carried to the West India Islands had habituated themselves 

 to the use of it, and cultivated it on the plantations of their 

 masters. Europeans likewise smoked it. In 1559, it was 

 introduced from San Domingo into Europe. According 



