70 AGRICULTURE. 



called pisti'late blossoms, and the latter staminate. Only the 

 pistillate blossoms form seed. In some cases pistillate and 

 staminate blossoms grow on the same plant, as in cucumber 

 vines. These are said to be monoecious plants. In other cases 

 the pistillate and the staminate blossoms grow on different 

 plants. These plants are said to be dioecious. The hop plant 

 is dioecious. In setting out a hop-yard, therefore, it is necessary 

 to have here and there some plants that produce staminate 

 blossoms, to supply pollen for the pistillate. 



TOBACCO is an annual, grown only in warm climates, but 

 much farther north than cotton, being grown in the milder 

 parts of Quebec and Ontario. It is grown for its long, broad 

 leaves. In the use of tobacco we observe three things; first, 

 it burns readily ; second, it gives a very large amount of ash ; 

 third, it has a peculiar effect upon the smoker. It burns 

 readily because, in addition to its woody or fibrous matter, it 

 contains large quantities of potash, which readily unites with the 

 oxygen of the air. Its ash forms from 15 to 20 per cent, of the 

 entire plant. Its effects upon the human system are due to a 

 compound known as nicotine, similar to theine in tea and caffeine 

 in coffee. In their pure condition these " alkaloids " as they 

 are called, are poisons. 



From the following statement it will be seen that tobacco is 

 very hard upon the soil, and requires very rich fertilizing. 

 An acre of tobacco will yield about 1,500 pounds of tobacco 

 leaf. The whole crop will contain about 70 pounds of nitro- 

 gen, 15 pounds of phosphoric acid (in phosphates), and 150 

 pounds of potash 235 pounds in all. An acre of wheat, 

 yielding 20 bushels of grain, will contain 40 pounds of nitro- 

 gen, 15 pounds of phosphoric acid, and 18 pounds of potash 

 73 pounds in all. An acre of meadow hay, yielding 2 tons, 

 will contain about 56 pounds of nitrogen, 14 pounds of phos- 

 phoric acid, and 60 pounds of potash 130 pounds in all. 



