THE RESOURCES OF THE ISLAND , ! 



parts of the island, but the chief seat of its cultivation is 

 along the southern slopes of the Sierra de los Organos, 

 in Pinar del Rio the famous Vuelta Abajo region, which 

 produces the finest article in the world. Good tobaccos are 

 also exported from Trinidad, Cienfuegos, and Santiago. 



The best tobacco-farms are known as vegas. These are 

 comprised in a narrow area in the southwest part of the 

 island, about eighty miles long by twenty-one in breadth, 

 shut in on the north by the mountains and on the south- 

 west by the ocean. These vegas are generally located on 

 the margins of rivers, their ordinary size not being more 

 than thirty-three acres. About one half of each vega is 

 planted in plat anos and vegetable gardens for feeding the 

 laborers. The usual buildings upon such places are a 

 dwelling-house, a drying-house, a few sheds for cattle, and 

 1-erhaps a few small bohios, or huts, for the shelter of the 

 hands, who in most cases number twenty or thirty to each 

 place, and are the lower class of whites, although some 

 negroes are employed. 



The vegas are beautifully kept places, and present to 

 the eye a handsome and imposing sight. They are usually 

 fenced with deep stone walls and have handsome arched 

 gateways, from which avenues of royal palms lead up to 

 the residence, which is a roomy house, with porches adapted 

 for comfort in this tropical climate. 



The Cuban tobacco-planters have a wonderful intuitive 

 knowledge of the delicate processes necessary to growing the 

 tobacco-plant and producing the desired results, such as 

 increasing its strength or height, or regulating the quan- 

 tity of foliage, and guarding against insect pests. The 

 plant grows to a height of from six to nine feet. The 

 Leaves are classified into four kinds, the best of which grow 

 ne.ir the top of the plant. The poorest quality, known as 

 the injuriarfo, comprises the lower leaves of the stalk. 

 EveU this grade is reclassified into three qualities on the 

 farm. It is not necessary to enter into the full details of 

 the classification of Cuban tobacco. It is sufficient to state 



