ies the color of
the flowers is pink excepting Syrian or Latakia which bears yellow
flowers while those of Shiraz or Persian and Guatemala are white
while those of the Japan tobacco, are purple. The segments of the
corolla are pointed but on some varieties unequal, particularly that
of Shiraz tobacco. The flowers impart a pleasant odor doubtless to all
lovers of the weed but to all others a compound of villainous smells
among which and above all the rest may be recognized an odor
suggestive of the leaves of the plant.

[Illustration: Bud and flowers.]

When in full blossom a tobacco field forms a pleasant feature of a
landscape which is greatly heightened if the plants are large and of
equal size. The pink flowers are the largest while those of a yellow
color are the smallest. The plant comes into blossom a few weeks
before fully ripe when with a portion of the stalk they are broken off
to hasten the ripening and maturing of the leaves. After the buds
appear they blossom in a few days and remain in full bloom two or
three weeks, when they perish like the blossoms of other plants and
flowers. The flowers of Havana tobacco are of a lighter pink than
those of Connecticut tobacco but are not as large--a trifle larger
however than those of Latakia tobacco. Those varieties of the tobacco
plant bearing pink flowers are the finest flavored and are used
chiefly for the manufacture of cigars while those bearing yellow
flowers are better adapted for cutting purposes and the pipe.

The American varieties of tobacco bear a larger number of flowers
than European tobaccos or those of Africa or Asia. The color of the
flowers remain the same whether cultivated in one country or another
while the leaves may grow larger or smaller according to the system of
cultivation adopted. Those varieties of the plant with heart-shaped
leaves have paniculated flowers with unequal cups. The flower stems on
the American varieties are much longer than those of European tobaccos
and also larger. The season has much to do with the size of the
flowers; as if very dry they are usually smaller and not as numerous
as if grown under more favorable circumstances.

THE CAPSULE.

As soon as the flowers drop from the fruit bud the capsules grow very
rapidly until they have attained full size--which occurs only in those
plants which have been left for seed and remain untopped. When topped
they are not usually full grown--as some growers top the plants when