CULTIVATION. 31 



conditions being so varied, there can be only few 

 places in which they all conspire to the produc- 

 tion of the most valuable crop. Hence, as in 

 the case of the vine and with tea and coffee, the 

 localities which yield tobacco in the greatest 

 perfection are not only few in number, but gene- 

 rally very limited in extent ; and in the temper- 

 ate climates of its cultivation a single night's 

 frost is sufficient to damage and utterly destroy 

 the entire crop, either at its first planting out or 

 at its maturity — as was the case last autumn in 

 America. 



Tobacco was once extensively grown in Ireland 

 and Yorkshire ; and were it not forbidden by 

 law, its cultivation, with the aid of science in the 

 matter of manure, would amply reward the spe- 

 culation. It requires a light loamy soil, and 

 the kind of manure used must be adapted to the 

 quality of the tobacco as to its strength or 

 mildness. 



In America, and all temperate climates, the 

 seed is first sown about the beginning of March, 

 on a hot-bed. In a week the plant appears not 

 larger than a pin's head, and continues to grow 



