National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-15

Tho tobacco plant Is q native of America,
and Is one Of the most extensively cultivated
Of tropical plants. It was nrst discovered BY
the sailors sent by Columbus to discover the
island Of Cuba, the first week Of November,
i49a. Although native Of tropical cline
IL grows more freely in O temperate climate
ranging from forty to ffty degrees Of latitude.
The plant varies In height according to spe-
cies and locality, some varieties Of which
grow TO the altitude Of ten feet, In others not
reaching more than three feet from the
ground. Nearly forty Varieties Of tha plant
have been noted by botanists, who class them
all among the solanacea and narcotic polsons
The three principal varieties Of the plant
most commonly grown are virginian, Syrian,
and Shiroz, The Virglnian tobacco nico-
tiano-tobacum, linneus) Is the variety which
was first brought to Europe by sir Francis
Drake. This variety grove to the height Of
about seven feet Is of o strong, coarse
growth, the leaves Of which arc from two to
two and one-half feet In length. The flowers
grow In bunch on the summit Of the plant,
and are OF q pink color. ,
The Syrian tobacco (nlcotlano -rustica)
differs from this IN many essential features,
the principal being the branched stem, each
offshoot bearing flowers; the leaves do not
clasp the stem, but are attached by long
stalk, and not lanccolate but ovate In form;
the flowers arc green and the segments Of the
corolla arc rounded. II does not reach the
altitude Of the American plant BY about two
feet, while It is lnilder in flavor and Is used
for the more delicate cut tobacco and cigars.
The Lotoka "a variety first brought to this
country some few years since by Bayard
Taylor) aud that known rs Turkish, are both
manufactured from this plant. The Shiroz
tobacco (nicotiano-penslcu, Lindlcy) differs
from both IN the form Of the leaves and the
| color Of the flowers, which are white and the
sogments Of the corolia unequal. The plant
Is u native Of Persia, and Ia used for the man
ufacture Of their most delicate kinds for
smoking. Lindley In speaking OF II, says
that 1t Is not fitted to form cigars, as II does
not readily ignite; while Fonbolt says II Is
never used incidentally as other tobaccos arc
or have been.
From these three varieties OF tho plant have
| sprung all the others, which Is owing to the
climate and condition OF the soil. The color,
texture, and favor Of these varieties deter,
mine the peculiar uses to which each kind Il
devoted, Some varieties Of tobacco are ospe
clally adapted for wrappers for cigars, and
consequently must possess good color, nn'
texture and small veins other kinds are bet
| ter adapted for snuff or tho pipe, Connect
| cut seed leaf aud Havana tobacco arc tn
best known varieties for cigar wrappers, boil
OF which form, 10 a remarkable extent thos
qualities so essential IN good wrapper
There has been some dispute in regard u thu
origin Of Connecticut seed leaf tobacco, bu
what variety II came from Is now hurdl
known. II doubtless stands ut The head
tobacco known US cigar wrappers, while u
tho same time IL does not possess the mn
flavor Of its great rival, Havana. II 10 III
finest variety grown In this country, tower
Ing far above the seed products OF othe
States, Ever since iIs nrst introduction M