Tobacco derives its botanical name (Mcotiana) from Jean Nicot, who introduced it into France. In that country, its use in the form of snuff began in the reign of Francis II. About the same time, a snuff-manufactory was established at Seville,which produced the celebrated Spanish snuff. The tobacco plant was soon after introduced into other . countries of Europe. In 1657, the manufacture and sale of tobacco were farmed out in Venice, and began to yield a considerable revenue. Much revenue has since been de . rived from the same source, in many countries. Tobacco is now extensively cultivated in many parts of Europe, as well as in Asia and America. Prohibitory laws alone pre vent its cultivation in the southern parts of Britain and Ireland, of which the climate is quite suitable to it. The quality of the leaf, however, deteriorates in the more northern regions in which it is cultivated, as in Germany, when it is continuously raised from home-grown seed, and seed is therefore imported from warmer countries.
Cultivation and Co nmerce.—The cultivation of tobacco requires a rich, loose soil, and the strongest manures are advantageous. The influence of soil, climate, and manures on the quality of the produce is very great, almost beyond what is known in any other cul tivated plant. Vegetable manures are best for tobacco intended for smoking; animal.
manures are preferred for that which is to be made lute snuff. In the more northern regions in which tobacco is cultivated, the seed is sown in a hot-bed, protected from frost by mats, and the plants are planted out in rows from two feet to three feet apart in the field. The ground is frequently hoed and stirred. Where the plants are not in tended for seed, the top is usually broken off, so as to prevent flowering, that its whole strength may be directed to the leaves. In America, when the leaves begin to become yellow, or are marked with yellow blotches, the plants are cut down, and hung up in a large barn to dry, but in Germany, the leaves are gathered as they become yellow, are tied in small bunches, and are hung up in a shady place to dry.
The cultivation of tobacco is comparatively easy, and, although a warm climate suits it best, it is without much raised In most parts of Europe. The usual plan in the great tobacco-producing countries is to sow the seed in seed-beds of rich soil, and, as the seed is extremely minute, it is first mixed largely with sand or wood-ashes, to assist in spreading it thinly. In Virginia, which may be taken as one of the best tobacco-growing districts, this is usually done in the first week in January. After the seed-beds have been carefully prepared and sown, small branches of trees are laid over, to protect the seed, when it germinates, from the effects of frost; but these are removed as soon as can be done with safety, and. the plants then grow rapidly, and are ready for transplanting into the fields about the beginning of June. The land in the fields is very carefully prepared,
and small hillocks are raised up in rows; each is about a foot in diameter, and flattened at the top. With the first appearance of rain, the plants are carefully raised from the seed-beds, and carried usually by children, who deposit one on each hillock, on which it is carefully planted by experienced men, who follow after the children. Only wet weather will do for planting, so that this operation often lasts until the end of July. When planted, the tobacco crop requires much careful attention to weeding, and a watch ful eye to prevent the ravages of various insect enemies. Much of this latter work is done by flocks of turkeys, kept on purpose by the planters. As soon as the plants begin to throw up the flower-shoot it is nipped off; otherwise it would weaken the leaves; but this process is neglected in some countries, especially in Turkey and Greece, where small leaves are preferred, and where, in some cases, as in the celebrated Latakia tobacco, both leaves, buds, and flowers are used. The time generally chosen for cutting it is mid-day, or when the sun is powerful, and the morning and evening dews absent. The cutting is done by hand, and only such plants are chosen as are ready, which is known by a clammy exudation which forms over the leaf, often giving it a spotted appearance. If the plants are very large, the stalk is often split down, to facilitate the drying. They, are then removed from the field to tobacco-house, around which are erected light scaffolds, to which the plants are suspended, generally by passing a thin stick through a split in the stalk'of each, and so placing a number of plants on each stick, just near enough to prevent them touching each other. After some time hanging in the open air, the plants on the sticks are removed, and suspended in a similar way inside the curing house, until the drying is completed. The leaves are next removed from the stalks, and all bad ones rejected. The chosen ones are tied up in bundles called hands, and these are packed in hogsheads, enormous pressure being applied in the packing. These hogs heads are very large casks, which must not contain less than 950 lbs. net in the United States, where the government exercises a very strict surveillance over the weight and quality of all tobacco grown and cured there. Previously to the late disastrous war with Brazil, a large tobacco-export had been carried on by Paraguay. The quality, though not equal to that grown in the United States, was, however, fair, and had been improv ing. Turkey has also, for-several years past, been steadily, increasing her exports of tobacco to Great Britain. The quality of Turkish tobacco is very peculiar: it is small in the leaf, and of a light color—either a bright yellow, a yellowish green, or a yellow ish brown. Being extremely mild, it is a favorite with many smokers.