CULTIVATION. 29 



been known to retain their vitality for fifteen 

 years. 



Between the 40th and 47th degree of latitude 

 is the climate which seems best adapted for the 

 cultivation of tobacco of the strongest kinds, but 

 the warmer latitudes have hitherto produced the 

 mildest and wholesomest varieties. The finest 

 tobacco of America — if not the finest in the world, 

 certainly the dearest — is that produced at the 

 Havannah, ill the island of Cuba. It is said 

 that Cuba is the very jewel of the Spanish crown 

 because of its Nicotiana — the cisjar beinsf abso- 

 lutely necessary to propel the blue blood {sangre 

 azul) of Spain's gentility. 



The Manilla tobacco is produced in the island 

 of Luzon, one of the Philippines. A common 

 notion prevails that Manilla cigars are made up 

 with opium. I have tested them chemically with 

 the greatest exactitude, and could not detect a 

 trace of opium in any of its forms. 



In Western Asia the most prized tobaccos are 

 those of Latakia, the ancient Laodicea, in Syria, 

 and those of Shiraz in Persia. These are also 

 consumed amongst ourselves by way of " mix- 

 ture " for the pipe. 



