218 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL, 
An infusion in wine and water, in small doses,- so as to act with 
moderation on the stomach, is powerfully diuretic, and is employed 
with great success in dropsy and dysuria. The infusion is ap¬ 
plied externally for the cure of psora, tinea, and other cutaneous 
diseases; and forms a powerful lotion for obstinate ulcers. It is 
employed both in infusion and smoke in the form of clysters, in 
cases of obstinate constipation. The oil applied to a wound is 
said by Redi to be as fatal as the poison of a viper. 
Tobacco is nevertheless capable of producing deleterious 
effects on the living body, whether taken in the stomach in 
substance or solution, or into the lungs in the form of smoke, 
or applied to abraded surfaces. The human system becomes, 
indeed, sooner or later, habituated to its action; and there are 
not wanting persons who use large quantities as a luxury 
without experiencing any other inconvenience than that which 
is invariably attached to their being unable to relinquish it, when 
the practice of using it becomes confirmed. 
It is not, however, either in a moral or political point of view, 
that I propose to refer to the use of this herb. Its effects may 
be exhilarating to the minds of some men; and its use, like all 
other habits, may exercise over them an indomitable sway. To 
the horticulturist its use is of a different nature, and consists in 
its being made the vehicle of destruction to myriads of his 
insect enemies, which too often attack the objects of his care, 
and which without some remedy such as this, at once safe, cer¬ 
tain, and easy of application, would seem almost to offer an 
insuperable bar to the accomplishment of his purposes. 
The quantity which is often by this means in requisition in 
horticultural establishments, would render it an item of magni¬ 
tude if procured in the way of purchase ; and in consequence 
of this it is very frequently cultivated to an extent sufficient to 
furnish the requisite supply. Its cultivation, and the manner 
of curing and preserving the produce, becomes therefore an 
object of some interest; and in the remainder of this paper I 
propose to direct the attention of the readers of the Florist’s 
Journal to the subject. 
The plants are treated as annuals ; the seeds which are most 
profusely produced, being sown about the beginning of April in 
shallow pans of common light soil, and then placed in any con¬ 
venient situation, such as a vinery or hot-bed frame, where they 
