Part 6

_Nicotiana glutinosa_, or clammy-leaved tobacco: leaves petioled, cordate quite entire; flowers in racemes, pointing one way, and ringent. Stalk round, near four feet high, sending out two or three branches from the lower parts. Leaves large, heart-shaped, and a little waved.

_Nicotiana pusilla_, or primrose-leaved tobacco: leaves of oblong oval, radical; flowers in racemes, acute. This has a pretty thick taper root that strikes deep in the ground; at the top of it come out six or seven leaves spreading on the ground, about the size of those of the common primrose, but a deeper green. This kind was discovered by Dr. Houstoun at Vera Cruz, and he sent the seed to England.

_Tabacum Minimum_ (Gen. Em. 358.) appears to be another species, hitherto unsettled, with a branched leafy stem, a span high; leaves ovate on footstalks, opposite; and stalked acute, greenish-yellow flowers. The N. minima of Molina (Poir. in Lum. Diet. iv. 481.), is probably another species, or perhaps the same.

Culture.--Tobacco thrives best in a warm, kindly rich soil, that is not subject to be over-run with weeds. In Virginia, the soil in which it thrives best is warm, light, and inclining to be sandy; and, therefore, if the plant is to be cultivated in Britain, it ought to be planted in a soil as nearly of the same kind as possible. Other kinds of soil might probably be brought to suit it, by a surface of proper manure; but we must remember, whatever manure is made use of, must be thoroughly incorporated with the soil. The best situation for a tobacco plantation is the southern declivity of a hill, rather gradual than abrupt, or a spot that is sheltered from the north winds: but at the same time it is necessary that the plants enjoy a free air; for without this they will not prosper.

As tobacco is an annual plant, those who intend to cultivate it ought to be as careful as possible in the choice of the seeds; in which, however, with all their care, they may sometimes be deceived. The seed should be sown in the middle of April, or rather sooner in a forward season, in a bed prepared for this purpose, of such soil that has been already described, mixed with some warm rich manure. In a cold spring, hot beds are most eligible for that purpose; and gardeners imagine that they are always necessary: but Mr. Carver[22] tells us, that he is convinced, when the weather is not very severe, the tobacco seeds may be raised without-doors: and for this purpose gives us the following directions:

"Having sown the seed in the manner above directed, on the least apprehension of a frost after the plants appear, it will be necessary to spread mats over the beds, a little elevated from the ground by poles laid across, that they may not be crushed. These, however, must be removed in the morning, soon after the sun appears, that they may receive as much benefit as possible from its warmth and from the air. In this manner proceed till the leaves have attained about two inches in length and one in breadth, which they will do in about a month after they are sown, or near the middle of May, when the frosts are usually at an end. One invariable rule for their being able to bear removal is, when the fourth leaf is shrouded, and the fifth just appears. Then take the opportunity of the first rains or gentle showers to transplant them into such a soil and situation as before described; which must be done in the following manner:--The land must be ploughed or dug up with spades, and made as mellow and light as possible. When the plants are to be placed, raise with the hoe small hillocks at the distance of two feet or a little more from each other, taking care that no hard sods or lumps are in it; and then just indent the middle of each, without drilling holes, as for some other plants.

"In some climates the top is generally cut off when the plant has fifteen leaves; but if the tobacco is intended to be a little stronger than usual, this is done when it has only thirteen; and sometimes, when it is designed to be remarkably powerful, eleven or twelve are only allowed to expand. On the contrary, if the planter is desirous of having his crop very mild, he suffers it to put forth eighteen or twenty.

"This operation, called _topping_, is much better performed by the finger and thumb than with any instrument, because the grasp of the fingers closes the pores of the plant: whereas, when it is done by instruments, the juices are in some degree exhausted. Care must also be taken to rip off the sprouts that will be continually springing up at the junction of the leaves with the stalks. This is termed _succouring_ or _suckering_ the tobacco, and ought to be repeated as often as occasion requires.

"When the plantation comes to a proper growth, it should then be cut down and placed in a barn, or covered house, where it cannot be affected by rain or too much air, thinly scattered over the floor; and if the sun does not appear for several days, they must be allowed to _milt_ in that manner; but in this case the quality of the tobacco is not so good."

"_Cure._--After the plants have been transferred, and hung sometime, pressing or SMOKING, as it is technically termed, they should be taken down, and again laid in a heap and pressed with heavy logs of wood for about a week: but this climate may probably require a longer time. While they remain in this state it will be necessary to introduce your hand frequently into the heap, to discover whether the heat be not too intense; for in large quantities this will sometimes be the case, and considerable damage will be occasioned by it. When they are found to heat too much, that is, when the heat exceeds a moderate glowing warmth, part of the weight, by which they are pressed, must be taken away; and the cause being removed, the effect will cease. This is called the second or last sweating; and when completed, the leaves must be stripped from the stalks for use. Many omit this last sweating; but Mr. Carver thinks it takes away its remaining harshness, and makes it more mellow. The strength of the stalk is also diffused by it through the leaves, and the whole mass becomes equally meliorated. When the leaves are stripped from the stalks, they are to be tied up in bunches or _hands_, and kept in a cellar or other damp place. At this period the tobacco is thoroughly cured, and as proper for manufacturing as that imported from the colonies.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

NEW WORDS TO AN OLD TUNE.

A COMIC DITTY.

Lieutenant Fire was fond of smoke, And cash he ow'd a deal; Tho' some said he'd a heart of OAK, For others it could feel: With wit he was,--not money stor'd,-- His landlord thought it meet, As he'd liv'd free so long on board, Why he should join the FLEET.

The station he lik'd not at all, And wish'd the duty o'er; He saw some fights, and many ball, But ne'er saw such before. To banish care, he sought a rod, And smok'd like any mid, But unlike some,--altho' in quod,-- Disdain'd to take a QUID.

And though a man, both short and stout, All knew him in a crowd; For oh, he never mov'd, without His head was in a CLOUD: In pris'n he met a friend he'd known Full many years ago, In 'four in hand' his cash had flown, And now he'd come to WOE.

Poor Brown, alas! he had been GREEN, And so his hopes had marr'd; But thought it strange in turn, I ween, He should be driven HARD. Now he took snuff, in _quantum suff._, He thought it calm'd his woes,-- While one friend blew the light cigar, The other blew his NOSE.

"As we have bask'd in fortune's calm, Now squalls come we'll not flinch," Thus spoke the tar, and gave his arm, And Brown gave him a PINCH. "Now, Fire, all snuffs are good, we know, Except when ill-prepar'd, I love a BOX and you a BLOW, But keep me from BLACKGUARD.

At _Lundyfoot_ I am no hand, Seldom its dust I take, ah! Each day or so, by turns, I go From STRASBURG to JAMAICA." "'Tis well, my boy," return'd the tar, "Such journeys you can wend, For fuel here don't go so far, Here's plenty of WALLS-END."

Of future scenes of happiness, The tar he often spoke; But they, indeed, as you may guess, But ended all in SMOKE. At length there money came one day,-- Each left the walls unkind; The tar went out--yet strange to say, His ASHES left behind!

ODE ON TOBACCO.

Gently o'er my senses stealing, Indian-weed, I love thee well; Raising, soothing, passion's feeling, Who can all thy magic tell: Who can paint the soft entrancing, All thy virtues who can know? Moving visions, sweetly glancing, Giving joy and calming woe.

Tell me, do the proud ones scorn ye, Does the monarch on his throne, In the countries where are born ye, In the lands of either zone; Prince and beggar, both caress thee, And to thee their homage pay; From Ind to Lapland, myriads bless thee, All bow to thy sovereign sway.

True, there are some soft ones ever, Like a drop within the sea; Weak in nerves, yet vastly clever, Who have vainly 'countered thee: But thy strength, their own excelling, Moves the wrath they cannot quell; Envy makes their breast its dwelling, And the grapes are sour as[23]----

STANZAS TO A LADY.

IN DEFENCE OF SMOKING.

What taught me first sweet peace to blend, With hopes and fears that knew no end, My dearest, truest, fondest friend? My pipe, love!

What cheer'd me in my boyhood's hour, When first I felt Love's witching power, To bear deceit,--false woman's dow'r? My pipe, love!

What still upheld me since the guile, Attendant on false friendship's smile, And I in hope, deceiv'd the while? My pipe, love!

What cheer'd me when misfortunes came, And all had flown me?--still the same, My only true and constant flame, My pipe, love!

What sooth'd me in a foreign land, And charm'd me with its influence bland, Still whisp'ring comfort, hand in hand? My pipe, love!

What charm'd me in the thoughts of past, When mem'ry's gleam my eyes o'ercast, And burns to serve me to the last? My pipe, love!

THE LAST QUID.

He seiz'd the quid,--'twas hard and dry, The last one in its nook; The beggar'd sailor heav'd a sigh,-- Despair was in his look. And have I fought, and bled in vain, Are all my comforts o'er-- When shall I see thy like again, Thou last one of my store.

High and dry I've kept thee here, In hopes of getting aid; My cruise, alas, is lost, I fear-- Oh why was BACCE made! I've borne all weathers, wind and rain, And patiently I bore-- When shall I see thy like again, Thou last one of my store.

His gaze was on the muddy ground, And mis'ry in his eye; Sudden he sprang with eager bound, On something glitt'ring nigh: A sovereign's aid, 'tis very plain, Thank heaven, I ask no more; Soon shall I see thy like again, Thou last one of my store.

ANECDOTES.

_The Precious Pipe._--Napoleon greatly patronized the habit of smoking in the French army, so that it soon became actually indispensable for the continuance of that _gaite du coeur_, for which his troops were remarkable, even in the moments of severest peril. Under the cheering influence of the pipe, they surmounted all difficulties; and, under its consoling power, bore fatigue, and hunger, and thirst with a fortitude and philosophy, remarkable in the annals of military record. During the latter end of their march to Moscow, and after the burning of the Russian capital, they endured severe privations from the loss of their favourite herb, the stock of which was all expended: nor was this all; they suffered exceedingly through want of food and the inclemency of the weather, with many other evils, the smoking of tobacco had hitherto consoled them for. Such was the general state of the army, when a private of the _Garde Imperiale_, being out with a detachment on a foraging party, chanced to stray from the rest, and, in the skirt of a wood, came upon a little low deserted hut. Overjoyed in the hopes that he might find something to relieve his necessities, he stove in the door with the butt end of his musquet, and instantly commenced a scrutiny, to see if anything had been left behind by those who had evidently lately quitted it. The few articles of comfort it had formerly contained seemed, however, all to have been carried away in the flight of its late inmates, and he was about abandoning his search, when he perceived something stuffed up between the rafters of the ceiling. Thrusting it with his bayonet, a dark bundle fell at his feet: his joy may be better imagined than expressed, when, on untying the rag that bound it, he found a quantity of coarse tobacco. After filling his pouch with it, and stowing the rest of the (to him) invaluable treasure about his person, he pulled forth a short clay pipe, whose late empty bowl he had so often contemplated with melancholy regret, and, having struck a light, filled it with his darling herb, and commenced smoking immediately. "Never," said the soldier, who himself narrated the tale to us in Paris, "since the campaign began, when we started with the certainty, almost, of returning with plunder to enrich the rest of our lives, did I feel half the pleasurable emotions I did, the hour I spent, sitting in the darkened room of that hut, whiffing the grateful fumes from my short pipe. Indulging in visions that for a long time had been a stranger to me, the much-boasted pleasures of the opium eaters, were nothing in comparison to mine.--I seemed in heaven, sir."

After having regained the camp, it soon became a subject of remark and discussion, how Faucin (the soldier's name) got his tobacco to smoke, and looked so cheerful, when his comrades would have given all they were worth for the same luxury. Knowing his extreme danger if it should be discovered he had any quantity of tobacco in his possession, he took every opportunity, when questioned, as he often was closely on the subject, to state that it was only a trifling remnant he had preserved. Under this pretence, he refused the numerous applications that were made him for portions, however small. At length, as his short pipe was still perceived week after week, emitting its savoury steam, on their toilsome march homewards, it was generally suspected, and he was openly told, he had plenty of tobacco in his knapsack, and he was threatened, in case of his refusal to divide a share. Firmly believing he should be robbed, if not murdered, by some of his comrades, who watched him with selfish eyes for the sake of the tobacco he carried, he was obliged by prudence to confess the secret to two corporals and a serjeant, and divide a quantity among them. While their line of march was daily and nightly strewed with the dead and dying, and many a gallant fellow breathed his last on the cold beds of snow, they were wonderfully sustained by the tobacco, that kept up their spirits throughout the scene of famine and desolation, and he reached France with the few wretched remnants of the fine troops, who had quitted it with the eagle's flight, amid the shouts of _vive Napoleon_.

_An old Quiddist._--A late messenger in a certain public law-office had rendered himself remarkable for the very excellent economy he pursued in the consumption of tobacco. In term time he had always plenty to do, and picked up a sufficient sum to supply the deficiency of business in the short vacations, which enabled him to obtain as much shag as he could well chew at those times, but he never lost sight of the 'rainy day.' He frequently got drunk but never forgot the miseries of the 'LONG VACATION,' and accordingly acted upon the following plan, which, for its genius, has never been equalled in the annals of chawing:--He would begin, for instance, the first day of Michaelmas term, which succeeds the long vacation, with a NEW QUID, which he would keep only about half the usual time in his mouth, and extract only a portion of its nectarine sweets. This quid, instead of casting it at his feet, he would then transfer to a certain snug little shelf in the office, with the most reverential caution, and obtain another. This practice he would repeat five or six times in the course of the same day, and every day during the times before mentioned, and what was the result? When the long vacation commenced, and he had nothing to do, he had collected the amazing quantity of between 14 and 1500 quids!!! These he worked upon, _de novo_, during the long recess, and 'rich and rare' indeed was the collection; it was the poor messenger's only comfort.

_Dr. Aldrich._--His excessive love for smoking was well known to his associates; but a young student of his college, finding some difficulty to bring a fellow collegian to the belief of it, laid him a wager that the Dean Aldrich was smoking at that time (about ten o'clock in the morning). Away went the latter to the deanery; when, being admitted to the dean in his study, he related the occasion of his visit. The dean, instead of being disconcerted, replied in perfect good humour, "You see, sir, your friend has lost his wager, for I am not now smoking, but only filling my pipe!"

_Chinese Arrogance._--As a precursor to the following, it will only be proper to relate, that in China the use of smoking and snuff-taking is general, although buildings are not thought requisite for curing tobacco, as in the West Indies, there being little apprehension of rain to injure the leaves when plucked. Thus the Chinese grow tobacco enough for their own consumption, and will not allow any to be imported, so as to discourage their own cultivation. This prohibition, which has long existed in that country, was some years ago notified to Mr. Wilkodes, the American consul, then at Canton, in the following manner:

"May he be promoted to great powers! We acquaint you that the foreign opium, the dirt which is used for smoking, is prohibited by command. It is not permitted that it shall come to Canton. We beg you, good brother, to inform the honoured president of your country of the circumstance, and to make it known, that the dirt used for smoking is an article prohibited in the celestial empire."--_Paunkbyquia Mowqua, &c. Kai Hing, 22nd year, 5th Month, 22nd day, Canton, May 22nd, 1818._

_Sir Isaac Newton._--This illustrious individual was remarkable for smoking and temporary fits of mental abstraction from all around him; frequently being seized with them in the midst of company. Upon one occasion, it is related of him, that a young lady presenting her hand for something across the table, he seized her finger, and, quite unconsciously, commenced applying it as a tobacco-stopper, until awoke to a sense of his enormity by the screams of the fair one.

_Extraordinary Match._--Some years ago, in a public room at Langdon Hills, in Essex, the conversation chancing to turn on smoking, a farmer of the name of _Williams_ boasting of the great quantity of tobacco he could consume at a sitting, challenged the room to produce his equal. Mr. _Bowtell_, the proprietor of the great boot-shop, Skinner-street, and remarkable for smoking "pipes beyond computation," travelling his round at that time, chanced to be present, and immediately agreed to enter the lists with him for five pounds a-side. A canister of the strongest shag tobacco was placed by the side of each at eight o'clock in the evening, when they began the match. Smoking very fast, by the time the clock had struck twelve, they had each finished sixteen pipes, when the farmer, through the dense atmosphere, was observed to turn pale. He still continued, however, dauntlessly on, but, at the end of the eighteenth pipe, fell stupefied off his chair, when the victory was adjudged to his opponent, who, calling for an extra glass of grog, actually finished his twentieth pipe before he retired for the night!

DIVANS.

Nor ball, nor concert, nor theatre can boast, With all their frippery and senseless fun; Nor broiling taverns, when they shine the most, By hot unruly spirits overrun;-- In dance, or song, or drunken laugh, and toast, With elegance and comfort, cheaply won,-- To cheer the spirits and to refine the man: Hail! books and mocha,--cigars and the divan!

It is with feelings of pleasure we have remarked of late years the change that has gradually taken place in regard to places of public nightly amusement. Formerly, the metropolis had no other allurements than were comprised in the theatre or the tavern,--the former of these being but too frequently a precursor to the latter; and that latter, in its turn, among young men in general, to scenes of a worse, and, in the end, more fatal description. As a preventative in a great degree to the above incentives to dissipation, must we welcome the appearance of divans amongst us, forming, as they do, in their quiet and elegant seclusion, a pleasing and intellectual contrast to their more boisterous contemporaries. Divan, or more properly speaking, _Diwan_, by some writers is said to be of eastern origin, and the plural of _diw_, a devil. The appellation, says a Persian lexicographer, was first bestowed by a sovereign of Persia, who, on observing his crafty counsellors in high conclave, exclaimed, _Inan diwan end_--"these men are devils." _Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur_, may be pertinently applied, in this instance, to the councils of more sovereigns than those of Ispahan. Another derivation, and a more probable one, perhaps, is the Turkish word for sopha,--a luxury abundantly supplied in every divan in Turkey. In that country it is a chamber of council held by the Grand Seignior, his pashas, or other high tributaries, in which all the councillors assembled smoke their chibouques during the debate in all the sedate pomp of eastern magnificence. The interiors of these divans are represented by travellers as superbly grand, falling little short of the far-famed description of their harems. Coffee, it must be remarked, is the common beverage used by the Turks whilst smoking, and is commonly handed round with little or no milk or sugar, in small china cups. Taken thus, perhaps, nothing harmonizes with smoking so well on the palate; as the Rev. Dr. Walsh says, in his Travels in Turkey, speaking of tobacco, and in whose judicious remarks we cannot but concur, "I do not wonder at the general use of this most indispensable of Turkish luxuries; it is always the companion of coffee (mocha), and there is something so exceedingly congenial in the properties of both, that nature seems to have intended them for inseparable associates. We do not know how to use tobacco in this country, but defile and deteriorate it with malt liquor. When used with coffee, and after the Turkish fashion, it is singularly grateful to the taste, and refreshing to the spirits; counteracting the effects of fatigue and cold, and appeasing the cravings of hunger, as I have experienced."

The popularity of divans in England may be best known by the rapid increase of their numbers since their first adoption here.

At the present period there are no less than six popular divans (independent of several obscure ones) in London.

These are,--

The Oriental Divan, Regent-street. The Private Subscription Divan, Pall Mall. The Royal City Divan, St. Paul's Churchyard. The Royal Divan, King-street, Covent Garden. The Royal Divan, Strand. The Divan, Charing Cross.

The whole of these divans are fitted up in a style of Asiatic splendour and comfort, that produces to the uncultivated eye a very novel and pleasing effect; while, upon a closer examination, the other senses are no less delighted.