GARDEN CULTURE OF TOBACCO. 
203 
\\eii they have attained the proper substance and strength (which every good 
p] )agator well understands), they should be removed singly to the smallest pots of 
li; t-loamy earth, then watered and shaded in a warm frame till growth becomes 
tl’oughly established. A removal into a larger size pot, wherein a firm ball 
id lit be formed, would, without any loss of time, be found very advantageous. 
F y fine plants would furnish a very ample supply of leaves for a moderate 
elblishment. 
Soil and future cultivation . — The plant will grow in any kind of ground, but as 
gardener’s object must be to produce a herb replete with highly laborated 
es, it will be essential to select a place in the garden where the earth is a strong 
clayey) unctuous loam, deeply enriched by low-placed manure, and rendered 
0 n by a fine siliceous sand. We know that the organic products of the foreign 
Tiacco, grown in the hot districts of America, contain narcotic and poisonous pro- 
p ties, which are to a certain degree more feeble in the plants of our gardens ; 
n ertheless, during our hot summers, such as those of 1842, 1844, 1846 and 1847, 
ilpe site lie well to the sun, leaves of great intensity will be produced between June 
a . September. In the absence of any correct analysis of the chemical constituents, 
b judging from the slow and progressive combustion of the dry leaves — somewhat 
rambling that of weak touch-paper — it should seem that some nitrous salt is 
P sent in the organism. Hence, we would infer that nitrate of soda or saltpetre 
right appropriately be applied to the ground, but yet in quantity not exceeding half 
abound to the rod of 30^ square yards. The bed, or land for a single long row, 
lag prepared, and somewhat settled, the plants are transferred with balls entire 
ip holes made with a trowel about 18 inches to two feet asunder; the earth of each 
Fe should be loosened by the tool, and the exterior parts of the roots of the plant 
c efully liberated prior to placing each in its hole : the soil must then be insinuated 
8 ong the rootlets, made basin-form over them, and a liberal supply of soft pond- 
mer given from a rose. It will be understood that the season of removal should 
(''respond with that devoted to the bedding-out of ornamental plants in May, and 
e o, that if the plants be from 6 to 8 inches high, strong, and vigorous in stem and 
1'f, the promise of success will be proportionately great. 
We have never observed the caterpillar spoken of in the previous quotation, but 
t Are are depredators which call for a regular inspection ; and moreover, if the season 
1 dry, the gardener should be alert to give timely waterings, after which the surface 
1 1 should be moved with a hand-fork, to obviate any baking or incrustation that 
i nerally results from artificial waterings. Where there is plenty of room, as the 
•bacco plant is very ornamental — quite as much so as the Digitalis — it will not be 
liss to introduce it here and there, in sunny spots of the shrubbery or garden-plots, 
lerein tall plants are admissible. 
Curing . — We approve of the removal of side-shoots, in order to divert all the 
•wers of the plant, to the production and sustenance of expansive leaves, but 
nnot see any necessity for the destruction of the flower, at least of those at the 
