616 



DRUGS, NABCOTICS, ETC. 



or September, when each plant is cut off close to the root, and again stuck 

 firmly into the ground. At this season of the year, heavy dews fall during the 

 night ; when exposed to these the color of the leaves change from green to the 

 desired yellow. During this stage, of course no water is given to the soil. 

 When the leaves are sufficiently yellow, the plants are taken from the earth 

 early in the morning, and while they are yet wet from the dew, are heaped on 

 each other in a high shed, the walJa of which are made with light thorny bushes, 

 where they are fi-eely exposed to the wind. While there, and generally in four 

 or five days, those leaves which are still green become of the desired pale yellow 

 color. The stalks and centre stem of each leaf are now removed, and thrown 

 away, the leaves are heaped together in the drying house for three or four days 

 more, when they are in a fit state for packing. For this operation the leaves 

 are carefully spread on each other and formed into sorts of cakes, the circum- 

 fcrei C8 from four to five feet, and three to four inches thick, great care being 

 taken not to break or injure the leaves. 



Bags made of strong cloth, but thin and very open at the sides, are filled 

 with these cakes, and pressed very strongly down on each other ; the leaves 

 would be broken if this were not attended to. When the bags are filled, thuy 

 are placed separat 'ly in a drying house, and turned daily. If the leaves were 

 so dry that there would be a risk of their breaking during the operation of 

 packing, a very slight sprinkling of water is given them to enable them to 

 withstand it without injury. The leaf is valued for being thick, tough, and 

 of a uniform light yellov>^ color, and of an agreeable aromatic smell. 



In India, tlie Surat, Eilsali, and Sandov/aj (Arracan) varieties 

 of tobacco are the most celebrated. The two first are found to 

 be good for cultivation in the district about Calcutta, but the 

 Cabool is still more to be preferred. Tobacco requires in the East, 

 for its growth, a soil as fertile and as well manured as for the pro- 

 duction of the poppy or opium. It is, therefore, often planted in 

 the spaces enriched by animal and vegetable exuviae, among 

 the huts of the natives. I have tried seed in different soils, 

 says Capt. C. Cowles, — namely a light garden mould with a 

 large portion of old house rubbish, dug to a good depth, which had 

 a top dressing of the sweepings of the farm-yard and cow-houses ; 

 a rather heavy loam, highly manured with burnt and decayed 

 vegetables, and old cow' dung ; the third was a patch of ground, 

 which was originally an unwholesome swamp, from being 

 eighteen inches to two feet, lower than the surrounding 

 land ; the soil appeared to be a hard sterile clay, and covered 

 with long coarse grass and rushes. As there was a tank near it, 

 I cut away one side of it, and threw the soil over the ground, 

 bringing it rather above the level. Such was its appearance, (a 

 hard compost marly clay,) that I expected bo other good from it 

 than that of raising the land so as to throw the water off ; con- 

 trary, however, to my expectations, it produced a much finer crop 

 of tobacco than either of the other soils, and with somewhat less 

 manure. The agricultural process is limited to some practical 

 laws founded on experience, and these are subject to two principal 

 agents ; viz., the soil and climate. AVith respect to the former, 

 it is the practice amongst the growers in tobacco countries, such 

 as Cuba, the States of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and 

 the Philippine Islands, to select a high and dry piece of land, 

 of a siliceous nature, and combined with iron, if possible ; and 

 with respect to the latter, there are seasons of the year too well 



