TOBACCO.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 28 September 1872, Page 3

TOBACCO.

Tobacco was iaken to Europe in the first Instance. profeaWy aoont 1010, from the island of Tobago! Before smoking became general it received violent opposition from various nntbord ies. Kim* James A of England wrote a book eg.iust tbe use Zc\ZZcl‘ Iho Grand Duke of Mo ? cw forbade tbe entrance ot _ it in o his territory—penalty, for the first time be-ng Ico knout, and for the second death. The Emperor of the Turks, the King of Persia, and the Pope issued similar prohibitions. How different from the n C'Ciu, time, when most sovereigns derive a lar*e poi lton of their revenue from tobacco. Although It was nob allowed by law to be grown in England except m small patches of half a rood for mechcnl purposes, the cultivation gradually made headway till in the year 1783 great qu mUfiea of it were publicly ioTnnn Y ° rkS - n r®’ a ‘i d P<snallles to <he amount of £3p,QOO were .inflicted. In Scotland it was largely cultivated at one n’tne, the produce being generally about 4Solbs. to the acre; but an Act of Parliament obliged the grower to sell to tbe Government at 4cl a lb. Inlreland. in the year 1839. there were 1 000 acres m Wexford r,lone planted with tobacco. Ihe climate and soil of New Zealand is well fitted for fie cultivation of tobacco. The natives grow quantities, end an attempt is being made in A nek la »d to grow undtnanufaci.uro it, to make it an article of commerce. The art of growing tobacco is “imple enough, but considerable skill is required to conve, t it into a marketable commodity, though for one own use Igas care might do. S