OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  SPECIES  OF  NICOTIANA.  473 
with  the  leaves  of  stramonium  and  foxglove,  and  with  opium. 
There  is,  however,  no  end  to  the  dishonesties  practised  by  to- 
bacco manufacturers. 
I  now  proceed  to  describe  the  plant  as  it  has  come  under  my 
observation,  premising  that  I  do  not  believe  that  the  species  here 
noted  are  any  where  to  be  found  in  a  perfectly  wild  or  native 
state.  Mr.  Lehman,  the  last  authority  on  this  subject,  enumer- 
ates twenty-one  species.  I  have  seen  but  four,  and  one  of  these 
looks  very  much  like  some  other  genus.  I  allude  to  JV.  quadri- 
valvis.  The  other  species  of  Nicotiana  have  but  two  valves  in 
the  capsules.  The  three  remaining  species,  I  know  from  ex- 
perience, mutually  mix  together.  I  omit  a  description  of  the 
genus. 
Nicotiana  tabacum.  Annual,  viscid,  branching.  Leaves 
oblong  lanceolate,  broad,  acuminate,  most  entire,  for  the  most 
part  strictly  sessile,  at  the  base  more  or  less  decurrent,  subam- 
plexicaul.  Flowers  paniculately  corymbose,  terminal,  with  linear 
lanceolate  bractes.  Calyx  oblong,  five-cleft,  the  divisions  lance- 
olate acute.  Corolla  infundibuliform,  much  longer  than  the 
calyx,  the  tube  viscid,  greenish,  the  limb  pale  rosy,  spreading, 
the  lobes  ovate  acute,  capsule  a  little  longer  than  the  calyx, 
stigma  transversely  sulcate  on  the  top. 
This  is  the  common  tobacco  of  commerce,  called  by  different 
names,  Virginian,  Kentucky,  Nagadoches,  &c.  It  is  not  agree- 
able to  smoke,  unless  weakened  by  washing  in  water.  It  is  the 
only  kind  fit  for  chewing.  Too  much  care  cannot  be  taken  in 
the  operation  of  curing  it,  and  much  of  its  goodness  depends 
upon  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been  dried  and  fermented.  The 
Indians  in  this  country  are  in  the  habit  of  mixing  it  with  the 
leaves  of  Rhus  glabrum  and  Laurus  Borbonia,  or  the  scraped 
bark  of  Cornus  sanguinea,  all  of  which  improve  its  taste  in  a 
remarkable  degree. 
N.  fruticosa.    Perennial,  pubescent,  viscid,  branching  
Leaves  lanceolate,  acuminate,  most  entire,  sometimes  very 
shortly  petiolate,  most  generally  sessile,  the  lower  ones  am- 
plexicaul.  The  infloresence  the  same  as  of  the  preceding,  stigma 
subbilobate. 
This  is  the  far-famed  tobacco  of  the  Island  of  Cuba  and  of  all 
the  tropical  parts  of  America.    I  have  been  told  that  it  is  the 
