University of Virginia Library

22. How to raise Tobacco
By Alsop (1666)

THE three main commodities this country affords for trade, are tobacco, furs, and flesh.[97] Furs and skins, as those of beavers, otters, musk-rats, raccoons, wild-cats, and elk or buffalo, with several others, were first sold by the Indians of the country. They were sold to the white people living near, and by them to the merchants who carried them into England and other places where they became salable.

Tobacco is the only regular article of trade of this province. The use of it was first found out by the Indians many ages ago. Its use was brought into the Christian world by that great discoverer of America, Columbus.[98] It is generally made by all the people of this province. Between the months of March and April, they sow the seed, which is much smaller than mustard-seed, in small beds and patches. These patches are dug up and made with care. About May the plants commonly appear green in those beds. In June they are transplanted from their beds, and set in little hillocks in distant rows, dug up for the same purpose.

Twice or thrice they are weeded, and freed from poor leaves that are peeping out from the body of the stalk.[99] They cut off the tops of the several

plants as they find occasion, when they grow too fast. About the middle of September they cut the tobacco down, and carry it into houses, made for that purpose, to bring it to its purity. And after time has brought it to perfection, it is then tied up in bundles, and packed into hogsheads. It is then laid away for trade.

Between November and January there arrive in this province ships to the number of twenty sail and upwards. All are trading vessels loaded with goods to sell or trade. They trade with the planter for silks, hollands, woolens, and broadcloths, and other necessary goods, at such rates as shall be thought fair and lawful for tobacco at so much the pound. Advantage on both sides is considered. The planter has given his work, and the merchant has risked coming; with his goods into a far country. Thus is the trade on both sides made in a fair and honest way.

The people of this province are seldom or never put to the fear of being robbed of their money, nor of dirtying their fingers by counting vast sums. They have more bags to carry corn than coin; but the very product of the dirty ground of this province affords as great a profit to the inhabitants as the gold of Peru does to the Spaniard.

Our shops of Maryland are the merchants' storehouses, where with few words goods are bought and delivered. They are not like those shop-keepers' boys in London that continually cry, "What do ye lack, sir ? What do ye buy ?"

Tobacco is the coin of Maryland, and will purchase goods from the merchant quicker than money. I must confess the New England men that trade into this province, had rather have fat pork for goods, than tobacco or furs.