HOW IT SHOULD BE GROWN. 37 



A Select Committee was appointed to inquire 

 into the subject of tobacco growing in the 

 United Kingdom, witnesses were called and 

 examined, and the proposed permission finally 

 rejected on several grounds, but chiefly on 

 account of revenue difficulties. 



In 1831 a final Act was passed (1 & 2 Will. 

 IV. c. 13) making the prohibitory laws appli- 

 cable to Ireland as well as England and Scot- 

 land, and imposing a fine of £100 on all persons 

 having in their possession more than one pound 

 of tobacco the growth of the United Kingdom. 



Thus a movement of the utmost importance 

 was stifled, as many thought, without sufficient 

 reason and without obtaining a public hear- 

 ing. 



A few remarks may now be offered on the 

 choice of tobacco seed, with a short account of 

 the method of growing and curing, as employed 

 by persons in management of tobacco plantations 

 in Europe and America. 



The two principal species of tobacco are, — 



1. The Nicotiana Tabacum, Virginian or sweet- 

 scented tobacco, a narrow-leaved opecies, much 

 cultivated in Virginia, Cuba, and Brazil, and 

 much esteemed for flavour. Of this the white- 

 flowered tobacco is a variety. It grows to the 



