364 THE FUTURE. 
for the tobacco, but the mountaineers of necessity burn much 
wood in their huts in the winter, and the smoke improves 
the tobacco in color, smell, and flavor. All the tobacco grown’ 
about Latakia derives its origin from the same seed, but the 
difference between the abowri and the other kinds is owing 
to the cultivation of the former about high mountains and 
with the use of pine wood in fumigating it. A field of Lata- 
kia tobacco presents a novel appearance, the short straight 
plants with their ovate leaves bearing yellow blossoms form 
a striking contrast to towering seed leaf rising fully two or 
three feet higher than the Syrian plant. 
Fairholt says that “ Latakia tobacco is a native of America 
but grows wild in other countries, and is a hardy annual in 
English gardens, flowering from midsummer to Michaelmas, 
so that by some botanists it has been termed ‘common, or 
‘English tobacco.’” Burton’s work on unexplored Syria is 
full of passages relating to tobacco and the custom of smoking.. 
“The tobacco which is grown on the slopes of the Libanus 
and the Anti-Libanus mountains appears to be one of the 
finest quality and most delicate flavor. The monks of the 
convents are famous for the production of a snuff, which for 
Sean at least, is far superior to the snuffs of Europe. 
ersonal experience of it convinces us that a great deal of 
the pungency of this snuff is due to the addition of some 
aromatic herb in addition to the natural acridity produced 
by the highly dried tobacco. The cultivation of tobacco in 
Syria, will probably increase in proportion to the improved 
condition of affairs in Syria, we have little doubt; and we 
trust that when agricultural science is better studied there, 
Englishmen will have the opportunity of testing the value 
and importance of Syrian tobacco products.” 
Connor says of the tobacco fields of India :—- 
“In the Bombay Presidency tobacco is largely produced, 
and its quality in such districts as Kaira and Khandesh is 
superior. In 1871 there were nearly 43,000 acres of land 
under tobacco in the presidency, the largest quantities being. 
own in Kaira, Khandesh, Belgaum Sattara, Shalopoor, and 
oona. The trade is extensive. The exports of tobacco 
to foreign countries amount to several million pounds 
annually. Among foreign countries, Mauritius, Bourbon, 
