TOBACCO AND ITS HISTORY 



BY 



R. A. H. MORROW. 



Tobacco and its liistoiy foiui^a ronarkalilu narrative. No 

 otlici- plant lias connected with it snch variety of association. 

 ICvcn the I'cnowncd ]*otat(), witli wliicli •' tli(; weed " is allied 

 in I':ii^lisli Rtorv, nnder the title of " Iialei.<,di's Two Plants," 

 l)econies weak in interest compared with this narcotic, which, 

 Taiinagc says, "has bewitched the world.'' 



Tin; IIIMili KNOWN AS TOBACCO 



is a large leaved succulent plant, profusely covered with 

 clammy hairs, which are said to absorb the malarious atmos- 

 l»her<» abounding in regions wdi(u-e the plant is indigenous. 



The species of tobacco comprise about fifty varieties. Its 

 active princi[)le is a deadhj narcotic poiaon. In proi)ortion to the 

 presence of this poisonous element is the weed adjudged of 

 commercial value. 



Tobacco is i)ropagated from seed, and retpiires careful labor 

 to prepare it for merchandise. The soil in which it is culti- 

 vated must be exceedingly rich and mellow in order to secure 

 an abundant crop. 



After the plant has come to maturity, the dried leaves are 

 variously prepared for smoking, snutUng and chewing. 



Tobacco-leaf is dotted on the surface with minute elands 

 which contain a peculiar liquid known as nicotianlne — the essen- 

 tial oil of tobacco. This oil is composed of a bitter, dark resin- 

 ous extract ; a volatile substance of an empyreumatic odour, 

 and a transparent fluid alkaloid called Nicotine. 



