N I C 
N I H 
N I C 
be thoroughly Incorporated with the soil. 1 he 
best situation for a tobacco- plantation is the 
southern declivity of a hill rather gradual 
than abrupt, or a spot that is sheltered from 
the north winds: but at the same time it is 
liecessary that the plants enjoy a free air; 
for without that they will not prosper. 
Having sown the seed, on the least appre- 
hension of a frost after the plants appear, it 
will be necessary to spread mats over the 
beds, a little elevated from the ground by 
poles laid across, that they may not be crush- 
ed. When the tobacco has risen to the 
height of more than two feet, it commonly 
begins to put forth the branches on which the 
flowers and seeds are produced ; but as this 
expansion, if suffered to take place, would 
drain the nutriment from the leaves, which 
are the most valuable part, and thereby 
lessen their size and efficacy, it becomes 
needful at this stage to nip off "the extremity 
of the stalk to prevent its growing higher. 
In some climates the top is commonly cut off 
when the plant has 15 leaves: but it the to- 
bacco is intended to be a little stronger than 
usual, this is done when it has only 13. 
The apparent signs of maturity are these : 
the leaves, as they approach a state of ripe- 
ness, become more corrugated or rough ; 
and when fully ripe appear mottled, with yel- 
lowish spots on the raised parts ; whilst the 
cavities retain their usual green colour. 
Tobacco is subject to be destroyed by a 
worm ; and without proper care to extermi- 
nate this enemy, a whole field of plants may 
soon be lost. This animal is of the horned 
species, and appears to be peculiar to the to- 
bacco-plant; so that in many parts of Ame- 
rica it is distinguished by the name of the-to- 
bacco-worm. In what manner it is first pro- 
duced, or how propagated, is unknown : but 
it is not discernible till the plants have attain- 
ed about half their height ; and then appears 
to be nearly as large as a gnat. Soon after 
this it lengthens into a worm ; and by de- 
grees increases in magnitude to the bigness 
of a man’s finger. In -shape it is regular from 
its head to its tail, without any diminution at 
either extremity. The colour of its skin is, 
in general, green, interspersed with several 
spots of a yellowish white; and the whole 
covered with a short hair scarcely to be dis- 
cerned. These worms are found the most 
(predominant during the end of July and 
the beginning of August ; at winch time the 
plants must be particularly attended *to, and 
every leaf carefully searched. As soon as a 
wound is discovered (and it will not be long 
before it is perceptible), care must be taken 
to destroy the cause of it, which will be found 
near it, and from its unsubstantial texture 
may easily be crushed. 
When the tobacco is fit fov being gather- 
ed, on the first morning that promises a 
fair day, before the sun is risen, take an axe 
or a long knife, and holding the stalk near 
the top with one hand, sever it from its root 
with the other, as low as possible. Lay it 
gently on the ground, taking care not to 
break off the leaves, and there let it remain 
exposed to the rays of the sun throughout the 
day, or until the leaves, according to the 
American expression, are entirely wilted ; 
that is, till they become limber, and will bend 
any way without breaking. But if the wea- 
ther should prove rainy without any intervals 
Vo l. II. 
of sunshine, and the plants appear to be fully 
ripe, they must be housed immediately. This 
must be done, however, with great care that 
the leaves, which are in this state very brittle, 
may not be broken. They are next to be 
placed under proper shelter, either in a barn 
or covered hovel, where they cannot be af- 
fected by rain or too much air, thinly scat- 
tered on the floor ; and if the sun does not 
appear for several days, they must be left to 
wilt in that manner ; but in this case the 
quality of the tobacco will not be quite so 
good. 
When the leaves have acquired the above- 
mentioned flexibility, the plants must be laid 
in heaps, or rather’ in one heap if the quan- 
tity is not too great, and in about 24 hours 
they will be found to sweat. But during this 
time, when they have lain for a little while, 
and begin to ferment, it will be necessary to 
turn them ; bringing those which are in the 
middle to the surface, and placing those 
which are at the surface in the middle. The 
longer they lie in this situation, the darker- 
coloured is the tobacco. After they have 
lain for three or four days, for a longer con- 
tinuance might make the plants turn mouldy, 
they may be fastened together in pairs with 
cords or wooden pegs, near the bottom of the 
stalk, and hung across a pole, with the leaves 
suspended in the same covered place, a pro- 
per interval being left between each pair. In 
about a month the leaves will be thoroughly 
dried, and of a proper temperature to be 
taken down. This state may be ascertained 
by their appearing of the same colour with 
those imported from America. Rut this can 
be done only in wet weather. The tobacco 
is exceedingly apt to attract the humidity of 
the atmosphere, which gives it a pliability 
that is absolutely necessary for its preserva- 
tion; for if the plants are removed in a very- 
dry season, the external parts of the leaves 
will crumble into dust, and a considerable 
waste will ensue. 
Cure.— As soon as the plants are taken 
down, they must again be laid in a heap, and 
pressed with heavy logs of wood for about a 
week ; but this climate may possibly require 
a longer time. While they remain in this 
state it will be necessary to introduce your 
hand frequently into the heap, to discover 
whether the heat is not too intense; for in 
large quantities this will sometimes be the 
case, and considerable damage will be occa- 
sioned by it. When they are found to heat 
too much, that is, when the heat exceeds a 
moderate glowing warmth, part of the weight 
by which they are pressed must be taken 
away ; and the cause being removed, the ef- 
fect will cease. This is called the second, or 
last sweating ; and, when completed, which it 
generally will be about the time just men- 
tioned, the leaves may be stripped from the 
stalks for use. Many, however, omit this 
last sweating. 
When the leaves are stripped from the 
stalks, they are to be tied up in bunches or 
hands, and kept in a cellar or other damp 
place ; though if not handled in dry weather, 
but only during a rainy season, it’is of little 
consequence in what part of the house or 
barn they are laid up. At this period the 
tobacco is thoroughly cured, and as proper 
for manufacturing as that imported from the 
colonies. 
Tobacco is made tip into rolls by the in- 
M m 
2/3 
habitants of the interior parts of America, 
by means of a machine called a tobacco- 
wheel. With this machine they spin the 
leaves after they are cured, into a twist of 
any size they think fit ; and having folded 
it into rolls of about 20 pounds each, they 
lay it by for use. In this state it will keep 
for several years, and be continually improv- 
ing, as it always grows milder. The Illinois 
usually form it into carrots; which is done 
by laying a number of leaves, when cured, 
on each other after the ribs have been taken 
out, and rolling them round with packthread 
till they become cemented together. '1 hese 
rolls commonly measure about 18 or 20 
inches in length, and nine round in the mid- 
dle part. 
NICTITATING Membrane. See Com- 
parative Anatomy. 
NIG ELLA, fennel flower, or devil in a 
bush, a genus of the pentagynia order, be- 
longing to the pentandria class of plants. 
There is no calyx ; the petals are five, and 
five trifid nectaria within the corolla ; there 
are five connected capsules. There are five 
species, all of them annuals, and natives of 
the warm parts of Europe ; and rising from a 
foot to a toot and a halt high, adorned with 
blue or white flowers. They are propagated 
by seeds, which in a dry and warm situation 
will thrive very well ; and the plants ripen 
sec-ds in this country. 
NIGHT-MARE. See Medicine, 
NIG RINA, in botany, a genus of the mo- 
nogynia order, belonging to the pentandria 
class of plants. The corolla is funnel-shaped ; 
the calyx inflated; the stigma obtuse; the 
capsule bilocular. 
NIGR1NE. This ore has hitherto been 
found only near Passau in Bavaria, and at 
Arendaal in Norway, and near St. Gothard. 
It was discovered by professor Hunger. It is 
sometimes disseminated, but more commonly 
crystallized, in four-sided prisms, not longer 
than one-fourth of an inch. Primitive form 
a rhomboidal prism. 
Colour reddish, yellowish, or blackish- 
brown ; sometimes whitish-grey. Powder 
whitishrgrey. Lustre waxy, or nearly metal- 
lic. Texture foliated. Brittle. Specific 
gravity 3.510. Muriatic acid, by repeated 
digestion, dissolves one-third of it. Ammo- 
nia precipitates from this solution a. clammy 
yellowish substance, Infusible by the blow- 
pipe, and also in a clay crucible ; but in. char- 
coal is converted into a black, opaque, po- 
rous slag. 
According to the analysis of Klaproth it is 
composed of 
33 oxide of titanium 
35 silica 
33 lime 
101 . 
The mineral called sphene by Hauy be- 
longs to this species. According' to the ana- 
lysis of Cordier it is composed of 
33.3 oxide of titanium 
28,0 silica 
32-2 lime. 
93.5 
NULL DIGIT, a failure in the defend- 
ant to put in an answer to the plaintiff's de- 
