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DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



Henbane {Hyoscyamns niger). An annual erect weedy- 

 plant with soft broad leaves, growing both in cultivated and 

 waste places. It is much valued in medicine, the chief pre- 

 paration being an extract of the leaves, which is used in the 

 place of opium; also by oculists for dilating the pupil of 

 the eye. 



Tobacco {Nicotiana Tahaciini). The original country of 

 this and other species producing tobacco is America, where 

 its use was first discovered by Columbus in 1492, by whom 

 on his return it was introduced into Spain, and by Sir Walter 

 Raleigh into England in 1589. Although great objections 

 to its use were raised by' kings and popes, it nevertheless 

 spread over Europe and all countries of the East. Tobacco 

 now constitutes a most important article of commerce, being 

 imported into England from various countries under different 

 names and qualities. The great bulk comes from the United 

 States, where it forms one of the chief articles of cultivation 

 (till recently by slaves). The word Tobacco is said to be 

 derived from the original name of the pipe used by the Carib 

 Indians for smoking it. It is a handsome growing plant, 

 attaining the height of from 4 to 6 feet, having broad, oblong 

 or sharp leaves, and pretty pink, tubular or bell-shaped 

 flowers. It grows freely in this country, but on account of 

 excise restrictions is not cultivated to any extent. 



The different methods of manufacturing and using Tobacco 

 are too well known to be noticed here. Various kinds of 

 snuff are made from the leaves first being dried and then 

 ground to powder. No plant is of more extensive use, and it 

 is calculated that one man out of every four uses it. 



Deadly Nightshade {Ati^opa Belladonna). A strong grow- 

 ing perennial plant, native of this country and throughout 

 Europe. It attains the height of about 3 feet, having broad 

 oval leaves and solitary flowers of a brownish yellow colour, 

 which are succeeded by a black-berried fruit, closely seated 

 on the wide-spreading calyx ; it is about the size of a small 

 cherry, and when ripe has a glistening and enticing appear- 

 ance and sweetish taste, but is extremely poisonous, fatal 



