The story of John Rolfe and tobacco

In American history, Virginia, occupy an important position. In 1607, the United Kingdom in the state's Jamestown to establish the first one of the settlements in North America. Not only that, the state also was born to Washington, founding president of the United States as the representative of 8 president known as the "president of the township". It can be said that Virginia U.S.. However, little is known about 400 years ago, one named John Rolfe, the British tobacco Virginia economy has pulled back from the brink of recession. In June 1609, in the voyage from England to colonial Virginia, John Rolfe, a paradise island in an unscheduled extremely important stopover.

 Lasted four days the storm battered many vessels, Rolf and his wife, Sarah traveled on the ship aground on an island of Bermuda. In the second year, when the construction of approximately 100 persons in distress, "patience" and the "rescued" two new ships in order to complete the remainder of the voyage to Jamestown, Sarah gave birth to the daughter of Rolf - Bermuda. In May 1610, Rolf arrived in London, James, his wife and daughter died on the way, unfortunately. A few years later, his own plantation called "Bermuda 100" in honor of his daughter.
Some historians believe that, during the retention Bermuda Rolfe discovered tobacco seeds. Regardless of whether it is where the tobacco seed, Rolf arrived in Virginia, have been quick with great enthusiasm cultivation played a variety of tobacco.

 Only a few years, he cultivated a new diversification of tobacco varieties. The tobacco was shipped back to Britain after popularity, the Virginia economy is struggling at the edge of recession marked by a needle "tonic". Rolf through the successful cultivation of the "green gold", the colony quickly became a thriving commercial center, build a strong agricultural economy and prosperity, to create a demand to expand the scale of investment and colonial European economic interests in Virginia . "Green Gold" Lindsay Gray, Henry Fox, Virginia Historical Park, agricultural experts.

Henry Alex Historical Park and Mead Farm Museum cultivated tobacco for 12 years, he can appreciate when Rolf hardships to cultivate new varieties of tobacco. The cultivation of tobacco is very difficult to start from seed germination. Gray speculated Rolf conducting tobacco Rearing, very likely from tomato seedlings, the size of the tobacco seedlings begin the.

Rolf patience to take care of these seedlings through the difficult stages of nursery, he had to solve the jump-level harmful insects. As a smoker, Rolf local Powhatan tribes Indian native grown tobacco taste is too strong, can not meet the needs of European smokers. From Trinidad, the Orinoco, and perhaps Spain tobacco seed, Rolf is likely the local tobacco and imported tobacco smoke fry together, close enough to each other pollination between them. Although there is no Rolf the 弗吉尼亚亨 Leake County life record, but speculated that he most likely had in the county's land on the farm experiments, Gray said. Experiments, Rolf improve an aromatic substances in tobacco.

Compared with the local tobacco leaf tobacco not only taste, he produced the softer, sweeter, and well adapted to the growing environment of Virginia. 1614, the Rolf boat cultivated part of the crop shipped back to Britain, and soon to create a sensational success. Tobacco immediately became the of Henrik main crops and exports. Despite being considered a quality below the quality of Spanish tobacco, mellow Virginia leaf tobacco is still to win the British, Dutch and French people like. Dr. Dennis Murray describes the impact of Rolf done in 2004 at a lecture of Henrik County. Funded the establishment of the colony of Virginia, UK constantly urged the colonists 'Do not Let the boats back empty, bring Wusuo sale'. "Murray said. Colonists brought back a lot of tobacco. In Henrik history, Louis Mana Lin wrote: 1619, 'Virginia tobacco mad'. " "This is a major breakthrough." Murray said, "Rolf colonial commercial reasons. Before that, the colonial just a military presence." Important marriage The spring of 1614, Rolfe and Powhatan tribe leader "dearest daughter" Bao Jia Kangdi wedding took place.

Bao Jia Kangdi Department has been abducted and taken to Jamestown. Initially, the kidnappers demanded the Powhatan tribe in exchange for British prisoners of war and weapons Bao Jia Kangdi. But the transaction failed, Bao Jia Kangdi was brought to the colony Enrico.

Where she learned English, converted to Christianity and changed its name to "Rebecca". Probably at that time, she walked into Rolf's life. Rolf and Bao Jia Kangdi marriage colonists and the Indians maintained a long peaceful coexistence, have created favorable conditions for the colonists to develop and expand the colony. Bao Jia Kangdi married Rolf live in the other side of the James River through Henrik's tobacco farm. Because since the combination of the concept of "diversity" (Variety,), Rolf he operated the farm named "Jeremy Wariner" (Varina). In Wariner farm, Bao Jia Kangdi often in the tobacco fields with her husband, alongside labor. In 1615, she gave birth to a son - Thomas.

 Two years later, in the family travel to the United Kingdom, Bao Jia Kangdi infected died. Heartbroken Rolfe Thomas to stay in the UK education, alone return to their home in Virginia. Since then, he again failed to see Thomas a. Later, return to the "Bermuda Hundred" plantation planted tobacco Rolf remarried, his wife bore him a daughter. In 1622, the Indian massacre swept Henrik Rolf died the same year.

Difficult to trace Rolf died in the massacre, but there is evidence that after he had fallen sick, and intestate in the year before. Rolf died more than 10 years, the 20-year-old Thomas back to Virginia, inherited the land of Rolf. "Savior" May 2000, in order to promote Rolf and Henrik in the course of development of the tobacco industry, Philip Morris USA, the deployment of 500 employees involved in the construction of Henry Alex Historic Park walking trails and exhibition area.
Today, funded by Altria Group, John Rolfe farm began to show warehouse was used for tobacco production and tobacco fields to the visitors. In the tobacco fields, Lindsay Gray, they use 17th century tools and methods of labor, showing the manner of the Rolf planting tobacco.

As a not very well known people in its own time, Rolf lifetime does not seem to realize that the role of nurture an important economic crops. There is no doubt that if he can foresee, will be admired for their cultivation of tobacco to make to such a position and was pleased. Rolf crop was not been looking for get rich quick scheme to the investors of the Virginia Company, tobacco cultivation does this company provide a sufficient profit. "This is not a rapid accumulation of wealth, but it is very stable." Gray said, smoking is becoming a habit of the people. Tobacco are lower in price, smoking is not a luxury hobby.

The comparison shows that the previous years, the business profits of the colonial narrowed to almost zero, the immigrant population is also true. With the development of the 17th century, tobacco production in the 1920s, the number of immigrants reached a peak. The new colonial wave, the new colonists in Virginia rivers downstream of the low-lying areas and constantly open up, bringing a rapid population growth, and ultimately pulled back the edge of the Virginia economy from recession.