CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO. 45 



contains the nitrogen in the form of nitric acid, pro- 

 duces leaves containing much less albumen and nico- 

 tine. 



The effect of removing the tobacco plant from the 

 rearing beds to the field is very striking. Transplanted 

 into the new soil, the young tobacco plant proceeds in 

 the first instance, like seed in the process of germina- 

 tion, to produce roots; the leaves already formed 

 wither on transplantation, and their movable constitu- 

 ents, together with the store of organisable matter col- 

 lected in the roots, are applied to the production of 

 numerous branch radicles. A second transplantation 

 has a still more favourable effect upon the underground 

 organs of absorption. 



As the direction of the organic operations in sum- 

 mer-plants is entirely turned to the formation of seed, 

 and as this consumes the materials which give activity 

 to the roots and leaves, the tobacco planter breaks out, 

 when the plant has put forth six to ten leaves, the heart 

 of the middle stem, on which the flowers and seed cap- 

 sules grow. Stripped thus of the crown, the whole 

 vigour of the plant is now directed to the buds between 

 the leaves and stem, and these put forth side-shoots 

 which are treated like the principal stem, that is to say, 

 they are either broken away, or simply cracked by 

 twisting. Thus the leaves retain the organisable matter 

 subsequently produced, and increase in mass and size, 

 while the amount of water in them diminishes. By the 

 middle of September, the leaves lose their green colour 

 and are spotted with yellow blotches, imparting a mar- 

 bled look ; they become parchment-like, feel dry to the 

 touch, get flaccid, with the ends drooping to the ground, 

 and, when arrived at fall maturity, are viscous, clammy, 

 and readily conie off the stem. 



This treatment is variously modified, according to 

 the several varieties of tobacco, and the different coun- 

 tries in which it is grown. The so-called common Eng- 

 lish tobacco, which is particularly rich in nicotine, is 

 often allowed by planters to run to seed, in order to 



