GARDEN CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 
203 
When they have attained the proper substance and strength (which every good 
propagator well understands), they should be removed singly to the smallest pots of 
light-loamy earth, then watered and shaded in a warm frame till growth becomes 
thoroughly established. A removal into a larger size pot, wherein a firm ball 
might be formed, would, without any loss of time, be found very advantageous. 
Fifty fine plants would furnish a very ample supply of leaves for a moderate 
establishment. 
Soil and future cultivation. — The plant will grow in any kind of ground, but as 
the gardener's object must be to produce a herb replete with highly laborated 
juices, it will be essential to select a place in the garden where the earth is a strong 
(not clayey) unctuous loam, deeply enriched by low-placed manure, and rendered 
open by a fine siliceous sand. We know that the organic products of the foreign 
Tobacco, grown in the hot districts of America, contain narcotic and poisonous pro- 
perties, which are to a certain degree more feeble in the plants of our gardens ; 
nevertheless, during our hot summers, such as those of 1842, 1844, 1846 and 1847, 
if the site lie well to the sun, leaves of great intensity will be produced between June 
and September. In the absence of any correct analysis of the chemical constituents, 
but judging from the slow and progressive combustion of the dry leaves — somewhat 
resembling that of weak touch-paper — it should seem that some nitrous salt is 
present in the organism. Hence, we would infer that nitrate of soda or saltpetre 
might appropriately be applied to the ground, but yet in quantity not exceeding half 
a pound to the rod of 30£ square yards. The bed, or land for a single long row, 
being prepared, and somewhat settled, the plants are transferred with balls entire 
into holes made with a trowel about 18 inches to two feet asunder; the earth of each 
hole should be loosened by the tool, and the exterior parts of the roots of the plant 
carefully liberated prior to placing each in its hole : the soil must then be insinuated 
among the rootlets, made basin-form over them, and a liberal supply of soft pond- 
water given from a rose. It will be understood that the season of removal should 
correspond with that devoted to the bedding-out of ornamental plants in May, and 
also, that if the plants be from 6 to 8 inches high, strong, and vigorous in stem and 
leaf, the promise of success will be proportionately great. 
We have never observed the caterpillar spoken of in the previous quotation, but 
there are depredators which call for a regular inspection ; and moreover, if the season 
be dry, the gardener should be alert to give timely waterings, after which the surface 
soil should be moved with a hand-fork, to obviate any baking or incrustation that 
generally results from artificial waterings. Where there is plenty of room, as the 
Tobacco plant is very ornamental — quite as much so as the Digitalis — it will not be 
amiss to introduce it here and there, in sunny spots of the shrubbery or garden-plots, 
wherein tall plants are admissible. 
Curing. — We approve of the removal of side-shoots, in order to divert all the 
powers of the plant, to the production and sustenance of expansive leaves, but 
cannot see any necessity for the destruction of the flower, at least of those at the 
