22 TOBACCO PLANT. 
the tropics. Those of some species of tobacco are littlé and 
easily broken, which to a certain extent is the case with most 
varieties of the plant when maturing very fast. The stalke 
hig 
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of some plants are rough and uneven, fp 
while those of others are smooth. | 
Nearly all, including most of those 
grown in Europe and America, have 
erect, round, hairy, viscid stalks, and 
large, fibrous roots; while that of 
Spanish as well as dwarf tobacco is 
harder and much smaller. The stalk 
is composed of a wood-like substance 
containing a glutinous pith, and is 
of about the same shade of color as 
the leaves. As the plant develops 
in size the stalk hardens, and when oN 
fully grown is not easily broken. TOBACCO STALKS. 
The size of the stalk corresponds with that of the leaves, 
and with such varieties of the plant as Connecticut seed leaf, 
Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, St. Domingo, and some others; 
both will be found to be larger than Spanish, Latakia, and 
Syrian tobacco, which have a much smaller but harder stalk. 
It will readily be seen that the stalk must be strong and firm 
in order to support the Jarge palm-like leaves which on some 
varieties grow to a length of nearly four feet with a corre- 
sponding breadth. The stalk does not “cure down” as fast 
as the leaves, which is thought now to be necessary in order 
to prevent sweating, as well as to hasten the curing. Most 
of the varieties of the plant have an erect, straight stalk, 
excepting Syrian tobacco, which near the top describes more 
of a semi-circle, but not to that extent of giving an idea of. 
an entirely crooked plant. The stalk gradually tapers from 
the base to the summit, and when deprived of its leaves 
presents a smooth appearance not unlike that of a small tree 
or shrub deprived of its twigs and leaves. 
THE LEAVES. 
The Plant bears from eight to twenty leaves according to 
