The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-05-12
TIE MOST POPULAR PLANT IN TIE Would.

| TIE MoST POPULAR PLANT IN TIE WonLD
There ~ no plant whose history shows so
MANY viclssitudes as that of the Tobacco
(N'cotid1a fdbacum.) Imported from Amcri-
ca soon after the discovery of that Continent,
it was received into the old world with
species of enthusiasm. 1t was not long,
however, before some of the evils and ncon-
venicnces involved in the use of it began to
appear, and a host of enemies were raised UP
against it. Theologists pronounced it al in
vention of Satan, which DESTROYED the cfiica-
cy of fasting. Councils forbade it to all
ecelesia sites under their control Popes Ur-
ban VIII. and Innocent XT. punished the
use Of it with accommodation; Sultan
Amurath ". with the most cruel of death;
Shah Abbas III. with penalties almost as
severe; Michael Fcodorovitch Tourief Offered
bastinado for the first offence, cutting off
the nose for the second. and the head for tho
third offence; Prussia and Denmark simply
prohibited; and james, of England, wrote
against 1t. Finding. however, that no pen.
alties however severe, could check the in
diligence in luxury so highly appreciated.
Sovcrelgns and their Governments soon found
1t much more advantageous to turn it into a
source of revenue: and the cultivation and
manufacture OF tobacco were gradually sub
jected almost every where to fiscal regulations
or monopolies Tobacco was in such general
use iii America when first discovered, and is
there so widely spread, that it is difficult to
come to any CONCLUSION as to what precise
part OF that vast continent is it's native coun-
try-probably some portion of the Mexican
empire. AS to the precise date of its intro
duciion INTO Europe, it has been already
stated that it followed closely upon the disco
very of America. The Spaniards under
Columbus had scarcclcy landed in Cuba in
l4o2 when they began to smoke cigars; but
lh,ey could only fully appreciate its luxrieS
Whcn, Ill 1918, Fernando Cortez occupied
the island Tobago, where the plant was
found growing in great abundance. Herman
dez, the naturalist, was. it IS believed the
hist who brought it into Spain from Mexico,
IN 1889. 1t was introduced into Portugal
from Florida by one Flamingo, and into
France by Father Andre Thcyet, or by some
friend of his, although the moro comon opin-
ION Is that the first seeds received there were
those sent about the Fyear 1860 to Queen
Catharine Of Mc'licis b. Jean Nlcol, French
Ambassador in Portugal. 1t was probably
raised also in England few years later, but
received no notice till its well known intro
ducllon by Sir Francis Drake, from Virginia,
IN 1856. In Tuscany it was first cultivated
under Cosmo de Medici, who died in 1874,
having been originally raised by Bishop Al
tonso Tornabuoni from seeds received from
his nephew, Monsignor Nicolo Tornabuoni.
Next to salt, tobacco is the most generally
consumed of all productions Tho annual
consumption here IS on an average 1886
ounces, or considerably more than pound
weight to every man. woman, and child
throughout the United Kingdom. Moreover,
this consumption Is greatly on the increase
Between the years 1921 and 1881 the increase
was at the rate of about one ounce per head; |
during the next ten years it was somewhat
less than al ounce; but from 1872 to 1851 it |
was three ounces; making an increase of !
IT. per cent. in proportion 10 the population
within the last 80 years. In Denmark.
exclusive Of the Duchics. the average con.
in 1851 was nearly 20 ounces per
head. Bat this is nothing to W hat is used in |
warm countries. Ifthe population of the earth |
be taken at l 900 millions, and the consum.
ption rckoncd as equal to that of Denmark, /
Or 20 OF. per head. the produce of the whole |
world Will amount to nearly two millions of |
tons .953, 1851 a year. The value of the
quantity thus reckonc,l at I'd. pound,
amounts to above f36, 100000 stcrling.-
London Pupef.