502 Transactions of the London Horticultural Society. 



large-leaved variety of Virginian tobacco, which was obtained from the Sand- 

 wich Islands : it is the best which has yet been received at the garden. 



" In the last season it was managed in the following manner : — The seeds 

 were sown about the middle of March, covered very lightly with fine loam, 

 and placed upon a moderate hotbed. When the plants were come up, and 

 had acquired sufficient strength, they were pricked into shallow pans, about 

 two inches apart ; they were then gradually inured to the open air on good 

 days, and finally planted out in the middle of May, at 3 ft. apart, in rich ground. 

 They were shaded with flower-pots, and occasionally watered, till they had 

 taken root and begun to grow. No more attention was bestowed, except 

 keeping the ground clean, until their lateral shoots began to show themselves, 

 which were constantly kept pinched off as they appeared : these, if suffered to 

 remain, would have had the effect of very much reducing the supply of sap 

 from the useful leaves of the plants. They were topped at sixteen or eighteen 

 leaves, according to their strength. The tobacco was ripe in the beginning of 

 September, as was indicated by the leaves becoming mottled with yellow 

 spots, those at the bottom more so than at the top of the plant ; they were 

 also more glossy and shining than before. 



" The, mushroom-house, being at this time disengaged, was thought an 

 eligible place for the curing process. The plants were taken up quite dry, 

 with a few of their roots ; but no particular attention was paid to saving many 

 of the latter, as the object was only to avoid breaking the bottom leaves 

 (which might have been the case by cutting the stems). The plants were 

 carried immediately to the house, and hung on nails in the walls, and on ropes 

 in the middle of it. When all had been brought into the house, it was shut 

 up quite close, the fire lighted, and the temperature kept to 70°, until the 

 leaves got completely yellow, which they did in four or five days. The heat 

 was then raised to 75° ; and, in about a week, the leaves, with the exception 

 of the midribs, were cured, and of a fine brown colour. The heat was then 

 increased to between 80° and 90°, and, in five days, the midribs were so 

 completely killed that the thick ends of them would have broken immediately 

 on attempting to bend them. The leaves were now very much curled, and 

 dry as fire could make them ; and, if subjected to any pressure, would have 

 crumbled to snuff. Fire was discontinued, and the floor of the house well 

 watered. This was repeated as it evaporated; and, in twenty-four hours, 

 the leaves were as soft and pliable as could be desired : they could now be 

 handled without breaking or wasting them. When stripped off the stalks, 

 they were stretched out singly, and laid above one another, smoothing them 

 gently with the hands. When all were laid out neatly, they were well 

 pressed, to give them form, and keep them smooth ; they were then tied in 

 hands of about half a dozen leaves in each, and packed into a tub, being well 

 pressed as they were put in. In this way they remained a fortnight, when 

 they began to mould slightly at the midribs, in consequence of the weather 

 being moist and warm. The}' were then rehung in the house, and very gra- 

 dually dried by fire heat ; were afterwards brought to a moist state, in the 

 manner above described, and finally were repacked in the tub, where they now 

 remain, well pressed, and in a good keeping state. The tobacco continues to 

 improve in smell and appearance with its age. 



" There can be no doubt that this tobacco is as good (unless in respect of 

 age) as much of that which is imported from America. It has yielded in the 

 proportion of 2420 lbs. to an acre, being half a pound to every plant, each 

 occup)'ing three square feet. 



" The important points in the above mode of curing are, to carry the plants 

 to the house whenever they are taken up ; for, if the sun be bright, the leaves 

 would sunburn in a short time. The leaves require to be yellow before the 

 heat is increased, otherwise the tobacco would cure too light-coloured ; and 

 the midribs must be completely killed before the leaves are taken off the 

 stalks ; for, if not once made very dry, they would never keep. 



