consistency of
a board, and then cut into shavings by a carpenter's plane.
This is, however, about the worst method, and even the best
tobacco, if treated in such fashion, loses its flavor and
valuable qualities."

[Illustration: Chinese tobacco field.]

In China[67] tobacco is cultivated in the western part of the empire,
and grows almost as large as most American varieties. Chinese tobacco
is usually light in color, of a thin, silky texture, and mixed with
Turkey tobacco, is a considerable feature in the export trade of that
country. The Chinese cultivate the plant like the Japanese, and give
it as much care and attention as they do the tea plant. The leaves are
gathered when ripe, and are dried and well-assorted before baling. The
Chinese planter often raises large fields of the plants, and employs
many hands to tend and cultivate them. We give a cut of a tobacco
field and the planter looking at the field and noting the progress of
the laborers.

[Footnote 67: I saw also great plantations of tobacco,
which they call tharr, and which yield very considerable
profit, as it is universally used in smoking, by persons
of all ranks, of both sexes in China; and, besides great
quantities are sent to the Mongolls, who prefer the
Chinese manner of preparing it before any other. They
make it into a gross powder, like saw-dust, which they
keep in a small bag, and fill their little brass pipes
out of it, without touching the tobacco with their
fingers.--_Bell's Travels in Asia_, 1716, 1719, 1722.]

[Illustration: Tobacco field in Persia.]

In Persia tobacco is cultivated near Shiraz, which gives name to the
variety. The soil is very fertile and richly cultivated. Not only does
the tobacco plant flourish finely, but all kinds of vegetables grow to
perfection. The Persians cultivate the plant principally for their own
use. It is a fine smoking tobacco, and when cured properly is said to
be equal to Latakia. Their mode of curing is unlike that adopted by
any other cultivators of the weed but is very successful, and is no
doubt the proper method of preparing the leaves for use. Their mode of
pressing in large cakes is unlike that of any other growers--but
doubtless adds to the aromatic quality of the leaf which makes it so
popular in the East.

The tobacco field is tre