366 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



March, and kept within doors for a month or two, it will 

 grow very well. Early in May it may be gradually inured 

 to the open air ; and, at the end of the month, may be re- 

 moved carefully, with the ball of earth attached to it, into 

 a large pot. It will require frequent watering ; in small 

 quantities while young, but when grown pretty strong 

 should have it plentifully as well as often. The flowers 

 will appear in July, and continue till the frost stops them. 



Tobacco is cultivated in the open fields in many parts 

 of the continent ; and might, doubtless, be grown to ad- 

 vantage in England, if it were not prohibited by act of 

 parliament, under a heavy penalty, and the charges of 

 pulling it up, which may be done by any justice of the 

 peace. This prohibition, which was made for the en- 

 couragement of our American colonies, still continues in 

 force, though the colonies are lost. Small attempts at 

 planting Tobacco have been made from time to time, 

 which promised success. 



A plantation in the seventeenth century being found to 

 thrive, Cromwell, probably at the desire of the Americans, 

 is said to have sent a troop of horse to trample it down *. 



The smoking of Tobacco is said to have been first in- 

 troduced into England by Sir Walter Raleigh. In the 

 house where he lived, at Islington, are his arms, with a 

 Tobacco-plant on the top of the shield. Tobacco has 

 been highly panegyrised by the poets : one now living in- 

 deed goes great lengths in its praise : 



ff For thy sake, tobacco, I 

 Would do any thing but die, 

 And but seek to extend my days 

 Long enough to sing thy praise." 



C. LAMB. 



Spenser bestows on it the epithet divine: Belphcebe 

 finds the Squire Timias wounded : 



* See Miller's Gardener's Dictionary. 



