Blend Tobacco – Part 2

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The tobacco plant would grow freely in UK, if government would allow its cultivation; it is now the policy to prohibit it, for the benefit of our colonies, whose trade with the mother country would be seriously damaged but for these restrictions. It was at one time extensively cultivated in the North-riding of Yorkshire; but in the early part of the reign of George III., penalties were inflicted on the growers, to the amount of �30,000, and the tobacco publicly burned. In Scotland it was also grown when our colonial trade was interrupted by the American war. About Kelso and Jedburgh a considerable tract of land was devoted to this purpose, the Act of Charles II. which made the growth illegal in England, of course not affecting Scotland; to meet which emergency the Act of the 19th of George III. was passed, which prohibits the cultivation of more than will occupy half a rod of ground; and which is to be used for medicinal purposes, or the destruction of insects. In Ireland it was successfully grown, particularly in the county of Wexford, some years after the restrictive law just named was passed for England, and which, curiously enough, repealed the similar laws for Ireland. Tobacco products could therefore be grown at home with us, as with other European cigarettes nations; if it were our legal policy to permit it. Holland, which is in our latitude, but colder and damper in its soil, carries on a large trade in its growth. France cultivates it also ; but the larger quantity is grown in Germany: the time of harvesting the leaves is an interesting period for a stranger to visit the villages, which put on a new aspect as every house and barn is hung all over with the drying leaves. The European tobacco is less powerful in flavour than the American ; and the native tobacco of Germany may be smoked to a continuous extent, which would be dangerous or disagreeable if the New World tobacco were used. Temperate climates, with a deep rich soil ranging from forty to fifty degrees of latitude, are said to be the most favourable for its free development. It is grown from seed ; but frost is particularly injurious to young plants: the lower leaves are sometimes gathered as they ripen or begin to change colour, an operation performed at intervals till all are removed; or the growth of the plant is arrested by cutting off the top, to prevent the formation of flowers and seed, and enlarge the growth of leaves; or the plant is cut down entire, dried in the sun, and the leaves separated afterwards. The Dutch tobaccos are mild and deficient in flavour. The darker kind is the strongest, and much esteemed for moist snuffs, the weaker kinds being employed in the commonest little cigars and cheroots. Manilla tobacco is much esteemed for cheroots. Mixture of the leaves produced in different countries gives great variety in the flavour of manufactured tobaccos, requiring considerable skill and attention on the part of the manufacturer.

The same author also notes:

among the adulterations which have from time to time been discovered in manufactured tobacco, the following substances may be named: Leaves of Khubarb, Dock, Burdock, Coltsfoot, Beech, Plantain, Oak and Elm, Peat-earth, Bran, Sawdust, Malt-rootlets, Barley-meal, Oatmeal, Bean-meal, Pea-meal, Potato-starch, and Chicory leaves steeped in tar-oil.

To which may be added the leaves of the cabbage and lettuce in the manufacture of cheap cigars.

A parliamentary return was made between the years 1852�4, of persons who had rendered themselves liable to prosecutions for infringement of the tobacco laws, from which it appeared that the cases of adulteration were numerous, and the materials used named therein add a few more to the above list: they consisted of sugar, alum, lime, flour of meal, rhubarb leaves, saltpetre, fuller’s earth, starch, malt commings, chromate of lead, peat moss, treacle, common burdock leaves, common salt, endive leaves, lampblack, gum, red dye, and black dye, composed of vegetable red, iron, and liquorice.

It is not intended in this volume to renew the much vexed and always unsatisfied question�Is tobacco injurious?

Who shall decide when doctors disagree? has been asked in many similar cases: in this one doctors have disagreed to an unexampled extent; their opinions have been far as the poles asunder,

and quite as unlikely to join issue, as lawyers phrase it, and come to any satisfactory conclusion. Some opponents (and all worshipful men who write M.D. after their names, and are greatly in earnest) find every disease under the sun originating in tobacco smoke. Others declare as loudly in its favour, and quote quite as many instances of good resulting from the practice. Truth, as usual seems to lie between, undiscovered by the belligerents, but perfectly well known to the honest smoker who wonders from amid his peaceful cloud what all the turmoil means. Can the smoking of the pipe of peace; the harmless sedative of an amiable man, raise all this storm? Can his quiet and consoling habit be the cause why so many decent men should grow quarrelsome and even vindictive about the matter? Alas! gentlemen fighters, know you. not that the herb first gained its reputation for its extremely sanatory uses? that it was styled Sana sancta Indorum � Herbe propre a tous maux? and that doctors themselves first originated the laudatory words of Captain Bobadil, and affirmed it to be the most sovereign and precious.

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Blend Tobacco – Part 2