HOW IT SHOULD BE GROWN. 25 



object of your Majesty's solicitude, this alteration 

 of British policy will present the most important 

 advantages," etc. 



And now we may proceed to inquire into the 

 nature of the plant and the best method of its 

 cultivation, and further show what is recorded 

 in history of tobacco-growing in the British 

 Isles. 



II. 



HOW IT SHOULD BE GROWN. 



Tobacco, of which there are several species 

 belonging to the genus Nicotiana, is named after 

 Jean Nicot, a Portuguese ambassador, who 

 introduced it into France in 1560. 



The plant belongs to the order Solanacece, or 

 Nightshades, a dangerous family, including 

 among its members the deadly nightshade, 

 belladonna, henbane, thorn-apple or stramonium, 

 and also the potato and tomato, all of which 

 plants possess in a gi*eater or less degree nar- 

 cotic properties. 



Nicotine, which is the active principle in 

 tobacco, is a poison when taken in an isolated 

 form, but when consumed in tobacco is harmless 

 to health except when used to excess, in which 



