81 
carried on оп a large scale, and the plant, which has a large leaf, forms 
the third quality of Persian tombak. It has been vainly endeavoured 
to grow this plant in other localities of Persia and Turkey, and experi- 
ments which have been made in growing Chiraz tombak in the districts 
of Jspahan and Kechan have not been attended with successful results. 
Mee is attributed to the quality of the soil. Zombak, which is used 
bacco, is cultivated ір a manner almost identical 
with that followed in tobacco cultivation. The seeds are sown in the 
month of May, and as soon as the young plants have "ie. a height 
of from fifteen to twenty centimetres they are watered once a fortnight. 
The harvest takes place in September or December, "I the leaves 
are cut and spread upon the ground, where they are exposed to the 
dew for a period of forty-eight hours, and to this exposure they owe 
the fact of their being slightly stained with little black patches on the 
leaves. When carried to the warehouses the leaves are piled one upon 
t the 
a robin dia e are sorted and рас cke d. In the latter operation 
the following is the — employed :—After having separated the 
leaves one by one, they are placed one upon ihe genis = ot in 
bundles of fr forty t forty-two okes. They are apped in 
half dressed, are then ready for delivery to the trade. 
condition, packed in bales, and warehoused in places not too 2 may 
be kept without any deterioration for several years. 
Tt seemed worth while, as the results of Mr. Holmes's inquiries P 
ot proved absolutely conclusive, to make further inquiries 
appliontion м Нег Majesty’s Legation at Tehran led to the following 
rresponden 
Dr. Casson to Roxar GARDENS, Kew. 
Her Majesty’ s Legation, Tehran, 
3rd March 1890. 
DEAR SIR, 
I HAVE to-day се your letter respecting the tumbaki. I 
was engaged at the moment in smoking some Shi , which is 
by far the best to be found iur in my жетин ог мч ow 
impression is that it is simply a form of tobaeco. I will do my ome = 
obtain you seeds and leaves of each variety, and send them by messeng 
to the Foreign Office for you. 1 will also lay myself out to gather ali 
possible information respecting the plant. 
am, &с. ; 
D. Morris, Esq. (Signed) J. Hornsey Casson. 
Dr. Casson to ROYAL GARDENS, Kew. 
My DEAR Sir, Tehran, 17th May 1890. 
I sEND you herewith such information respecting Persian Tanbaku 
> I have been able to collect at present. Later оп I hope to send you 
specimens xen iem and I also арбаа гаво and specimens 
rude the Ispahan distri 
Iam, &c. 
D. Morris, Esq. à; (Signed) J. Hornsey Casson. 
