Tobacco as a Farm Crop for England. 
231 
Lawes said, regarding this analysis, that my soil, though poor in 
potash for tobacco-growing, is not so for ordinary agriculture. 
Mr. A. Wingham, of the Royal School of Mines, has kindly 
analysed some of the tobacco grown by Lord Harris, Mr. W. L. 
Wigan, and myself. Unfortunately, 1 was unable to obtain any 
analysis of that grown by Lord Walsingham. These analyses 
are curious, and are well worth the study of tobacco-planters 
and agriculturists in general. Sir John Lawes, after reading 
them, considered they fully demonstrated the value of the 
analysis of the ash of a plant as indicating the close connection 
between the composition of the manure and the ash of the crude 
green leaves of the plant. He advised sulphate of potash instead 
of kainit, if a manure was to be used, and suggested making 
experiments in this direction at once, calling my attention to 
the fact that ripe seeds differ very little, though different manures 
may have been applied ; yet the composition of green parts of 
plants is greatly influenced by the manure. 
The scrutiny to which the tobacco-plant is subjected is very 
severe. No other plant is made to endure so crucial a test, since 
tobacco has not only to be tasted, but also to be smoked and 
smelt ; whereas, to satisfy one of these tests is all that is re- 
quired of an ordinarv plant. An excess of chlorine, for 
instance, would retard the combastion. Lord Harris's tobacco 
contained as much as 28 ' 52 per cent., while Mr, Wigan's and 
my tobacco contained 9*15 and 9 "63 per cent, respectively 
of chlorine. The excessive amount of chlorine in Lord Harris's 
tobacco is attributed by Sir John Lawes to the use of salt as a 
manure, a quantity equal to 8 cwt. an acre having been used. 
By Mr. Wingham's analysis. Lord Harris's tobacco was found 
to contain 8'02 percent, of potash, Mr. Wigan's, 11'32 per cent., 
and mine, 9'30 per cent. ; while tobacco grown in Maryland 
was found to contain no less than 4012 of potash. In each of 
the three English samples, Mr. Wingham discovered about 40 
per cent, of lime, i.e. nearly four times as much as was found in 
the Maryland tobacco. 
Q. — Do you consider these analyses to be favourable or un- 
favourable to English growers ? 
A. — On the whole, perhaps, unfavourable. Still, when we 
consider that Lord Harris's tobacco contained three times as 
much of the objectionable chlorine as mine, it seems to indicate 
that a means may be found of overcoming our difficulties. 
Q. — Do the Americans pay much attention to particular 
manures ? 
A. — Certainly. They consider the use of proper manures as 
absolutely essential, and a fertilizer (as the Americans call 
manure) known as the "Anchor Brand," and sold by the 
