harm their own persons and goods, and render them- 
selves scorned and contemned by strangers, who 
should come among them, by persevering in “a cus- 
tome loathsome to the eye, hatefull to the nose, and 
harmfull to the braine.” 
In Russia, also, smoking was forbidden under 
the pain of having the nose cut off ; and so late as 
1690, the Romans were excommunicated if detected 
in using snuff or tobacco in the church of St. Peter. 
In various other countries, also, the public authori- 
rities have been at one time or other, equally stre- 
nuous in their endeavours to suppress the use of 
what one man calls a pernicious weed, whilst ano- 
ther designates it the ‘‘plant divine.” Men, like 
certain animals of inferior order, are but imitators of 
others’ actions, or smoking and snuffing would be 
far less prevalent in the present day. Its virtues, 
as it is usually employed, are very doubtful ; its 
gratifications artificial. 
Though it maybe cultivated in England with con- 
siderable success, its qualities are likely to be more 
acrimonious ; being found mild in flavour, in propor- 
tion to the heat of the climate in which it has grown. 
Its cultivation here is, however, prohibited by an 
act of Charles II., otherwise, than to the extent of 
half a pole, in a Physic Garden. 
Sow the seeds in March, in a pot of light soil, in 
a hotbed ; and when the seedlings are an inch or 
two high, pot them separately. Gradually harden 
them, and turn into the open ground in May, with- 
out disturbing the roots. Water freely. American 
growers take off the top and side shoots, leaving six 
or eight leaves only, to grow for use. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 1, 390. 
