42 TOBACCO QEOWINQ IN GREAT BRITAIN. 



Forbes Watson says : " Nicotine is the active 

 principle of the tobacco which constitutes its 

 strength. Its amount has been variously esti- 

 mated in different varieties. Schlossing found 

 in a French tobacco 3"8 per cent. — once, 9 per 

 cent. ; in Kentucky, 6 per cent. ; in Virginia, 68 

 per cent. ; and, in Havannah, not quite 2 per cent. 

 A fertile heavy soil, strong manure, and abun- 

 dance of moisture, are the conditions which 

 facilitate its formation. Besides, the amount 

 varies very much with the period of gathering 

 the leaves ; it increases as the leaves become 

 ripe." 



Mr. Fauncc de Laune remarks about this 

 matter, that the sooner the leaves are picked 

 the less exhausting is the plant to the soil, and 

 the less of the objectionable nicotine will be 

 developed. 



As the character of the soil, an all-important 

 point, depends greatly on the manuring process, 

 we would say a few words on this subject. 



In the first place, the manure should on no 

 account be used fresli, but in a tolerable state of 

 decomposition, and always put in in the autumn 

 or winter months, or earlij spring, that it may 

 get throughly incorporated with the soil before 

 ])lanting-time. 



