Many circumstances combine to account for the different qualities and appearance of the numerous varieties of tobacco used for smoking. Tobaccos raised in various places naturally present some points of difference; variations will, as already shown, appear in different parts of the same crop; and the retention or rejection of the stalk, the nature and extent of the moistening, and the degree of fineness of the fibres, occasion still further differences. A coarse variety called shag, which is used both for chewing and smoking, is formed of the darkest coloured leaves, well liquored, which darkens them still more. Pig-tail tobacco consists of a rope or cord, about as large as the thicker end of a tobacco-pipe, and as long as the manufacturer can conveniently make it. It is produced by a process similar to spinning, and requires the simultaneous aid of a man and two boys.
The manufacture of cigars is described in another article. [Cicart MA NITTACT UR 8.] Snuff is made either from stalks only, from leaves only, or from a mixture of tho two. Tbafknown as Scotch snuff is made either wholly of stalks, or with a very small admixture of leaves High-dried snufFs owe their peculiar qualities chiefly to a degree of drying which imparts a scorched flavour to them; and innumerable varieties are produced by the choice, mixture, and preparation of different tobaccos. Most of the snuff made near London is ground in mills whose machi nery is impelled by the river Wandle, near Mitcham in Surrey. In these mills two kinds of grinding-machine are employed. One consists of two cylindrical stones, several feet in diameter, and one or more in thickness, set up on edge, side by side, upon a circular slab or bed. These stones hero a two-fold motion imparted to them, resembling that of a carriage wheel compelled to revolve in a small circle. The effect of this peculiar motion is a grinding action upon the bed where the snuff is laid, peculiarly adapted to the required purpose. Some kinds of muff,however, ars better ground by the other sort of machine, which consists of a kind of rolling pestle, act in motion by an ingenious train of wheels and set of jointed arms or levers. Little is done at the snuff-mills beyond a preparatory drying of the tobacco and the actual grinding ; but the snuff usually receives some finishing operations from the maker after it leaves the mill.
Tobacco Trade.—The discoverers of the New World learned the habit of smoking tobacco from the natives; and on their return the practice was at first introduced into Spain and Portugal, and soon spread to other parts of the Continent. The settlers who accompanied Raleigh on his expedition to colonise Virginia, which returned unsuccessful in 1586, introduced the habit into England. Before the establishment of the colony of Virginia in 1606, all the tobacco imported into this country was raised by the Spaniards in the West India Islands. King James's Invectives against the use of this weed are now curious matters of history. In 1604 he took upon himself, without the consent of Parliament, to raise the duty on tobacco from 2d. to es. 10d. the lb. In 1615 the colonists of Virginia regularly betook themselves to the cultivation of the tobacco-plant, abandoning the manufacture of ashes, soap, glue, tar, and the planting of vineyards, which they had already commenced. James felt that, without abating his well-known aversion
to tobacco, in the infancy of the colony this proceeding of the planters must be tolerated. In the first instance he commanded that the pro duction of tobacco should not exceed the rate of a hundred-weight for each individual planter. The cultivation was forbidden in England, and the plants already growing were ordered to be uprooted. At the same time he confined the right of importing the commodity to such persons u he should license for the purpose. In the last year of his reign the exclusive supply of the English market was given to the English plantations in America.
Being regarded as a source of revenue, tobacco is not allowed to be grown in England. In 1786 tobacco paid an import duty of 10d. per lb. ; it was raised to It. 3d. in 1787, ls. 7d. in 1796, and by gradual steps to 4.. in 1815, at which it remained till 1825. In the last-named year the duty was lowered to 8s. if from foreign countries, and to 2s. 9d. if from British posicesions. The discriminating duty was after wards removed, the British was raised to the same rate ea the foreign, and the duties settled down at these rates-3s. on unmanufactured tobacco, M. on snuff, and 9s. on cigars, plus 5 per cent. Down to 1825 an excise an well as a customs duty was levied on tobacco; but In that year the former was removed, except In so far as concerned a license for the traders and a supervision of the trade. Great restrictions are placed on the importation. Specified ports, about thirty Iii number, are alone permitted to Import tobacco. The importer is not compelled to pay the duty at once ; ho may allow the tobacco to remain in bond, in the queen's warehouses at the several ports, for any space of time not exceeding five years, paying a rent of 4a. on every hogshead, cask, chest, or case. Every soldier and sailer on British service in foreign parte may purchase duty free to the extent of 2 lbs. of tobacco per month ; but all other tobacco must pay the duty before being taken out of bond. As the price of tobacco in bond, after all the expenses of growth and freight have been paid, varies from 3d. to ID& (perhaps averaging ad.), it follows that the duty (about 3s. 3d.) is enormously heavy, and this leads both to smuggling and adulteration. It has been pertinently remarked by Mr. Cooley, that the retail sale of genuine tobacco at 3d. per oz. is a commercial impossibility. The tobacco mast be adulterated, in order to pay the planter, importer, manu facturer, wholesale dealer, and retailer, and to pay also the duty ; or, if genuine, then the duty must be evaded by smuggling. The govern ment officers, as well as chemists acting unofficially, have detected sugar, treacle, molasses, malt, roasted grain, chicory, lime, sand, umber, ochre, sea-weed, and leaves or herbs of various kinds, in tobacco. Dye-drugs are often mud, not to increase the weight, but to impart a tobacco-colour to adulterants.