HOW IT SHOULD BE GROWN. 41 



would be likely to thrive. A soil which in dry 

 weather becomes thickly caked, and swampy 

 after heavy rains, is unsuitable ; the preparation 

 o£ such soil would probably be very expensive, as 

 the ground must be carefully broken and tilled, 

 and rendered very fine for tobacco growing. 



A country likely to be flooded would be fatal 

 to tobacco, as twenty-four hours under a flood 

 would destroy the crops. 



Likewise a northern exposure, subject to very 

 cold winds, or any land much above the level of 

 the sea, or a strong loam incumbent on clay, is 

 not suitable. 



The best plantations are those lying on the 

 south side of gentle slopes, or places px^otected 

 by woods and shi'ubberies ; the land which pro- 

 duces mostly oaks, hickory, and other deciduous 

 trees, is generally the most favourable. 



" The character of the soil," says Herr Mandis, 

 " that is, the mixture of its ingredients, exercises 

 an important influence on the growth of the 

 tobacco plant, and on the quality of its pro- 

 duce." 



It is a well-known fact that the best tobacco is 

 not the strongest ; on the contrary, fine tobacco 

 contains less nicotine than the coarse kinds, but 

 is disting-uished by its richness of aroma. 



