Virginia Tobacco History

[cjdavis]

Hey guys!
I was hoping that some of you here might be able to answer this for me. Is the Virginia tobacco of today the same as the "sweet-scented variety" that was cultivated in Virginia in the 17th century? From it's description as a milder and sweeter tobacco, it would seem that it is likely, but I can't find any resources that state that explicitly. The other option was the "Orinoco variety." Any of you guys have any insight on this? Thanks!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

We know that the current Virginia Gold seed stock was cultivated after the Civil War, late 1800's, and yes it is from the Orinoco line of upright-leaved tobacco plants. as a side note - You know... you can tell the burley from the Virginia Varieties from how the leaves set on the plant.

 

[calabashed]

Aren't burley and VA both descended from Orinoco? I thought Rolfe's tobacco strains formed the basis for all tobacco grown in the region, except the native Rustica, but that isn't used in pipe blends. I've read that Burley first showed up as a variant strain in the 1800's in Ohio, but a variant of what?

 

[jitterbugdude]

The colonists in Virginia planted Sweet Scented. As the tobacco progressed north (into Maryland) Orinoco was planted. It was considered inferior (due to its thin leaf) to Sweet Scented. Many, many generations later Orinoco morphed in to what we now call Maryland Tobacco. I think (not sure) that the Sweet Scented became Virginia (flue cured).