TOBACCO-PLANT. 365 



blow in the autumn, and continue to the end of the win- 

 ter. The leaves, which are on all the year, are downy, 

 and white underneath : they smell like bruised Rosemary- 

 leaves. 



This plant may be increased by cuttings planted in 

 May : they should be kept within doors till the end of 

 June ; and all the plants, young and old, should be in the 

 house from October till May. They should be shifted into 

 fresh earth every year, and when requisite into larger pots. 



All the species may be treated in the same manner : 

 they are very thirsty plants, and must be allowed plenty 

 of water. 



TOBACCO-PLANT. 



NICOTIANA. 



SOLANE^!. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



This genus is named from Jean Nicot of Nismes, agent from the 

 King of France to Portugal, who procured the seeds from a Dutch- 

 man, and sent them to France. Tobacco, from the island Tobago. 

 The French have many names for it ; as, le tabac ; nicotiane ; petum, 

 from its first introducer ; herbe du grand prieur ; herbe a la reine [the 

 queen's herb] ; Medicee [from the queen's family name] ; buglosse 

 antarctique ; panacee antarctique [southern all-heal] ; herbe sainte ; 

 herbe sacree [holy herb] ; herbe propre a tous maux [herb fit for all 

 diseases] ; jusquiame de Perou [Peruvian henbane] ; herbe de Tour- 

 nabon; herbe de St. Croix; herbe de rambassadeur. Italian, ta- 

 bacco; ternabona. 



THE Tobacco-plant is admitted into flower-gardens 

 chiefly for its symmetrical growth, and luxuriant foliage ; 

 and some of the kinds are very handsome. The Broad- 

 leaved Virginian or Sweet-scented Tobacco grows to the 

 height of three or four feet; the leaves are ten inches 

 long, and three and a half broad, and the blossoms of a 

 deep purple. 



This plant is usually raised in a hot-bed ; but if sown in 



