1836/] Boyle's Botany, §c. of the Himalayas and Cashmere. 417 



much approved ; and it is probable that if a moderate supply of tobac- 

 co of the like quality were in this market, it might be in some request 

 for making into cigars, and would come into competition with the to- 

 bacco of St. Domingo, which is at present worth from 6d. to 8d. per 

 pound in bond.' 



" The successful result of this experiment will, it is hoped, remove any 

 unfavourable impression produced by the former, and prove, as might 

 be inferred indeed, from the Arracan and Bombay samples, that there 

 is nothing in the- climate of India unfavourable to the production of 

 good tobacco, when this is attempted with careful treatment in a good 

 climate. The more temperate climate of North America, and the modi- 

 fied one of tropical situations, is attained in India by the cultivation 

 being commenced in the cold weather, and the spring temperature 

 equalling the summer one of more northern climates is sufficient 

 to bring it to perfection. That it may also be grown of a superior 

 quality in more southern provinces, is very probable, for it is not 

 a puny seedling which is to be nursed into healthful existence;, 

 but the gross-feeding weed luxuriating in rankness, which is to 

 be reduced to more moderate dimensions, and starved into fineness- 

 objects easily affected by a less rich nourishment, and a drier and 

 more open atmosphere, both attainable in poorer, though good soils, 

 or the more elevated parts of the peninsula, and in many parts of 

 India, as along the banks of the Ganges, as well as in Tirhoot, Rohil- 

 cund, and the Doab ; and across India, in Bundelcund, Malwa, and the 

 northern provinces of the Bombay presidency. Success will still de- 

 pend upon the skill of the agriculturist, in suiting the richness of his 

 soil to the dryness of his climate, diminishing the former in proportion 

 to the moisture of the latter, though it is doubtful whether as fine to- 

 bacco can be grown in a moist as in a dry climate. It must be remem- 

 bered, that the present excellence of American tobacco is not the 

 spontaneous effusion of the soil, but the result of the unwearied atten- 

 tion of both the Government and cultivators to the improvement of its 

 produce ; for some of the American planters seemed to think in former 

 times, as Indian Zumeendars appear to do at the present day, that 

 ' any thing loas good enough for the merchants.'' (Tatham, p. 141). 

 The Government, jealous of the good name of Virginian produce, 

 issued rules for checking over-luxuriance, and appointed officers to see 

 them enforced, as well as for rooting up inferior plants : while every 

 hogshead of prepared tobacco was taken to Government warehouses, 

 to be inspected by competent officers before it could be exported ; and 

 all of an inferior quality condemned to be burnt (Tatham, p. 69 — 106 . 

 and 138, 207). 



" It is unnecessary to dilate on the cultivation and cure, as these are 

 detailed in the instructions sent out to India by the Court of Directors 



