618 



DEUGS, NARCOTICS, ETC. 



iron ; rendering it highly probable that the flavor of the tobacco 

 to the smoker depends on the state and quantity of the iron it 

 contains ! G-reen copperas water, which is a solution of sulphate 

 of iron, is often used by the American and English tobacconists 

 and planters, to colour and flavor their tobacco ; and this would 

 be decomposed by the potass of the tobacco, and sulphate of 

 potass and carbonate of iron is formed. Carbonate of iron is of 

 an ochre-yellow color. Mr. Piddmgton says he took care to 

 ascertain that this process had not been performed with the 

 tobacco used for this experiment ; and adds that Bengal cheroot 

 makers do not know of this method. Mr. Laidley, of Gronitea, 

 dissents from the idea suggested by Mr. Piddington that ferru- 

 ginous matter in the soil is essential to the successful growth of 

 tobacco. He observes that if we attend only to the ir(m con- 

 tained, why every plant will be found to require a ferruginous 

 soil ; but tobacco contains a notable quantity of nitrate of potass 

 and muriate of ammonia (the latter a most rare ingredient in 

 plants), and these two salts are infinitely more likely to affect the 

 flavor of the leaf than a small portion of oxide of iron, an inert body. 

 Now as neither of these can be supplied by the atmosphere, we 

 must search for them in the soil, and accordingly he imagined 

 that a compost similar to the saltpetre beds which Napoleon em- 

 ployed so extensively in Erance, would be a good manure for 

 tobacco lands ; namely, calcareous matter, snch as old mortar, 

 dung, and the ashes of weeds or wood. He was aware that good 

 tobacco might be grown in Beerbhoom, having raised some him- 

 self several years ago from American seed. The plants grew most 

 vigorously, and he further observed, in confirmation of his opinion 

 about the proper manure, that in other districts in which he had 

 resided the natives always grew the tobacco (each for his own 

 use) upon the heap of rubbish at his door, consisting of ashes, 

 cow-dung, and offal of all kinds. While the soil of the Gangetic 

 diluvium almost always contains carbonate of lime, the Beerb- 

 hoom soil does not, as far at least as Mr. Laidley had ex- 

 amined it. 



The following is the mode of culture pursued about the city of 

 Coimbetore. Between the middle of August and the same time 

 in September, a plot of ground is hoed and embanked into small 

 squares ; in these the seed is sown, and covered by hand three 

 times at intervals of ten days. To secure a succession of seed- 

 lings water is then given, and the sun's rays moderated by a 

 covering of bushes. Watering is repeated every day for a month, 

 and then only every fifth day. The field in which the seedlings 

 are transplanted, is manured and ploughed at the end of August. 

 Cattle are also folded upon the ground. Eour or five ploughings 

 are given between mid September and the middle of October, 

 when the field is divided as above into small squares. These are 

 watered until the soil is rendered a mud. Plants of the first 

 sowing are then inserted at the end of September, about a cubit 

 apart, the transplanting being done in the afternoon. At intervals 



