332 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



fine tobacco crops. Both the soil and the climate of the island seem well adapted to 

 its culture. 



After a spot of land has been cleared for a "semillero," or seed bed, the brush is 

 allowed to dry, and when the weeds have sprung up it is spread over the surface and 

 burned, thus destroj-ing weeds and injurious insects and larva?, and enriching the 

 trrouml with the ashes. The seed is planted during the months of August and Sep- 

 tember in small beds. It is sown over the surface of the finely pulverizeil ground 

 and raked in. They soon sprout and in Guam require little watering. The beds are 

 carefully weeded and the seedlings are read}' for transplanting in a few weeks, gen- 

 erally in October and November. They are then planted in nurseries, in parallel 

 rows, near their ultimate destination, and are usually shaded with canopies of muslin 

 or interlacing branches or cocoanut leaves. This gives the roots a chance to grow 

 without too great crowding, as would be the case if they were left to develop in the 

 seed beds. Finally, in the mon.ths of December, January, or February, they are 

 planted in the field, the time selected for this purpose being after a good rain. Care 

 is taken not to injure the roots of the young plants in transplanting. They must be 

 watered at intervals, if the rain is not sufficient and must be protected from the sun 

 by segments of cocoanut leaves set in the ground at an ailgle and the ends of the leaflets 

 tied together so as to form a sort of cone. The natives take great care to keep their 

 fields free from weeds and go over the plants daily to destroy the larva of a sphinx 

 moth which feeds upon them. 



About one month after planting in the field the flower buds make their appearance 

 and are immediately pinched off, leaving only a few of the finest plants to flower in 

 order tu secure seed for the next season. Tobacco is so prolific that the seed from one 

 plant is sufficient to plant a field of considerable size. Suckers or side branches are 

 removed as fast as they appear, as the nourishment must go to developing large leaves. 

 When the leaves are sufficiently mature the whole plant is cut off near the base, and 

 the leaves are allowed to dry on the stem. The plants are tied in bundles and taken 

 under cover. For cutting a dry day is selected, and the plants are allowed to wither 

 before being taken under cover. In drying two or three plants are hung together, 

 the bimches being far enough apart so as to leave space for free circulation of the air. 

 When the midribs are perfectly dry the process is finished. After undergoing a 

 slight fermentation the tobacco is made up either in the form of loosely rolled cigars 

 wrapped with pineapple or agave fiber, or in bundles (" palillos" ) of ten leaves each. 



The use of tobacco is general among the natives, both male and female, of the 

 lower classes, but very few ladies of the better class make use of it, and these appear 

 ashamed if seen smoking. So necessary is it to most of the people that they appear 

 to suffer as much from its lack as from a dearth of food. As a rule they prefer their 

 own tobacco to imported kinds; but when their supply gives out they will use what 

 they can obtain from the storekeepers. On such occasions they will bring eggs ur 

 chickens to give in exchange, when they refuse to sell these for money. 

 Keferexces: 



Xicotiana iahacum L. Sp. PI. 1 : 180. 1753. 



Ifigas (Guam). See PempMs acidula. 



Night-blooming' cesi^nun. See Centrum noctumum. 



Nika (Guam). See Dioncorea, D. actUeata, D. fasciculata, D. fasciculataluiescens, and 

 D. papuana. 



Ifika Cimarron ( Guam) . See Dioscorea spinosa. 

 Nimo (Guam). 



Local name of a tree mentioned in a hst compiled by Governor Olive y Garcia. 

 Xot identified. 



