RESTRICTIONS ON TOBACCO-RAISING. 53 
part to the presence of a greater number of adventurers than 
of actual settlers,—such being the case the resources of the 
country were in a measure limited. 
The demand for tobacco in England increasing each year, 
together with the high price paid for that from Virginia (8 
s. per lb.), stimulated the planters to hazard all their time 
and labor upon one crop, neglecting the cultivation of the 
smaller grains, intent only upon curing “a good store of 
tobacco.” The company of adventurers at length found it 
necessary to check the excessive planting of the weed, and 
by the consent of the “ Generall Assemblie” restraining the 
plantations to “one hundred plants* ye headd, uppon each 
of wich plantes there are to bee left butt onely nyne leaves 
weh portions as neare as could be guessed, was generally 
conceaved would be agreable with the hundred waight you 
have allowed.” 
In 1639 the “Grand Assembly” (summoned the sixth of 
January) passed a law restricting the growth of the colony 
to 1,500,000 Ibs., and to 1,200,000 in the two years next 
ensuing. The exporting of the poorer qualities of tobacco 
by the colony caused much dissatisfaction as will be seen by 
a letter of the Company dated 11th September, 1621: 
“We are assured from our Factor in Holland that except 
the tobacco that shall next come thence prove to be of more 
perfection and goodnesse than that was sent home last, there 
is no hope that it vend att all, for albeit itt passed once yett 
the wary buyer will not be againe taken, so that we heartily 
wish that youe would make some provision for the burninge 
of all base and rotten stuff, and not suffer any but very good 
to be cured at least sent home, whereby these would certainly 
be more advanced in the price upon lesse in the quantity; 
howsoever we hope that no bad nor ill conditioned tobacco 
shall be by compelling authoritie (abusing its power given 
for public good to private benefit) putt uppon or Factor, and 
very earnestly desire that he may have the helpe of justice 
to constraine men to pay their debts unto him both remain- 
ing of the last yeares accompt and what shall this yearse 
growth deue, and that in Comodities of the same vallew and 
goodness as shalbe by him contracted for.” 
,SAnother account Is sixty pounds per head. 
