lity or peculiarity of flavor and texture may be
obtained. The quantity of produce is so great that, should
it be found practicable to cure the leaf well enough to make
it a salable article in the European market, a source of
profit by no means insignificant would be opened up to the
Guzerat ryot. For the native market the country plant is
more suitable, and its cultivation consequently the more
profitable.' In Dharwar the superintendent was enabled to
distribute seed in sufficient quantities to those applying
for it, but found the ryots would not cultivate it on a
large scale, being apprehensive of loss. Native tobacco he
considers less liable to injury than the exotic varieties
during the squally weather prevalent about the time the leaf
is approaching maturity."

Robertson, in replying to the assertion that the tobacco of India
contains little if any nicotine, says:

"It appears to me that there must be some mistake as to the
tobacco containing little or no nicotine. Very many have
tried the tobacco, and pronounce it to be good, with,
however, the fault of being exceedingly strong. Now, the
strength of tobacco comes from its nicotine, and if the
specimens I sent contain no nicotine, whence the strength? I
believe that nothing destroys tobacco so much as moistening
it. How, then, are acetic acid and chloride of soda to be
used in the curing? If the process of desiccation had been
carried on too quickly, the tobacco would have been of
either a green or greenish-yellow color. If too slowly, it
would have been black, like much of the country tobacco. I
perceive that the amount of nicotine in a great measure
depends on the extent to which the leaf is allowed to ripen.
The riper the leaf the more the nicotine. The amount of
nicotine does not appear to depend on the amount of curing.
The soil the tobacco was grown in is a hardish red moorum
soil, containing much iron; probably that may account for
the red coloring matter being so much developed. I intend to
have some of each description of the tobacco leaf analyzed,
and also intend to submit the soil in which it was grown to
the same process. I have had some of the cigars packed up
for some months to test how far they are proof against
insects. None have been attacked by insects. Some Man