It should be remembered that there is no essential difference in cigar, pipe smoking or cigarette tobaccos. The differences are physical only. All kinds may be obtained from the same species or even the same variety of the species by suitable culture and crossing. REFERENCES ANASTASIA, G. E. _Le varietá della Nicotiana Tabacum._ Scafati, 1906. COMES, O. _Delle razze dei tabacchi._ Naples, 1905. KILLEBREW, J. B. and MYRICK H. _Tobacco leaf; its culture and cure, marketing and manufacture._ Part I. New York, 1897. LOCK, C. G. W. _Tobacco growing, curing, and manufacturing._ Chapter I. London and New York, 1886. WOLF, J. _Der Tabac._ Chapter II. Leipzig, 1912. BILLINGS, E. R. _Tobacco; its history, varieties, etc._ Chapter I. Hartford, Conn., 1875. CHAPTER II THE CULTIVATION OF THE TOBACCO PLANT CLIMATIC AND SOIL CONDITIONS. TREATMENT OF THE GROWING PLANT. SHADE GROWN TOBACCO. HARVESTING. THE CULTIVATION OF THE TOBACCO PLANT A few general facts concerning the culture of the tobacco plant and its treatment until it reaches the hands of the manufacturers will be of interest for the smoker. The general principles underlying the culture of tobacco are the same whether it is intended for the cigar, pipe smoking or cigarette trade; but the treatment of the leaf after it is harvested differs considerably. Tobacco is a perennial plant. It is, however, usually raised each year from seed. The seedlings are usually ready for planting towards the end of May and are generally planted between the last week in May and the middle of June. The successful raising of tobacco depends on four principal factors: (1) the climate, (2) the nature of the soil, (3) the seed, and (4) on the method of culture. The _climate_ must be such as to favor rapid growth and therefore must furnish sufficient heat and moisture during the time the plant is growing. The fineness of the texture and the elasticity of the leaf depend on the climate. On the _soil_ the plant depends for its food, and for the absorption of those chemical constituents on which depend the burning qualities, the strength and the color. The physical qualities of the plant, structure and form, thickness of veins, size, shape and distribution of leaves, are derived from the _seed_. Finally, on the _method of cultivation_ (including the curing process) depends in part the final color, flavor and aroma; the type and trade value; that is to say, on successful culture and harvesting and treatment at the right time and in the best way, must depend the grower's hopes of the final value of his crop. The quantity of nicotine, essential oils, etc., on which flavor and strength depend, is regulated to the greatest extent by the time of cutting.