131 



Extt act from a letter from the Board of Trade Commercial Department 

 (Intelligence Branch) — to the Colonial Secretary, Jamaica, dated 

 December 7, T904- 

 In the report from the expert, referred to above, interesting in- 

 formation is (as you are aware) given, embodying the results of 

 his inquiries and investigations into the growing of tobacco in 

 your colony, and the possibility of the establishment of a very 

 lucrative industry in connexion therewith, and there is no doubt 

 that the particulars contained in this report would be of consider- 

 able interest to the representatives of the tobacco trade in this 

 country. The value, however of the information given would be 

 materially enhanced if the report itself were accompanied by 

 samples of the various grades of tobacco produced, and such 

 samples (if procured) could be exhibited at the Offices of this 

 Branch in illustration of Mr. Chalmers' report, and could be re^ 

 tained here for examination by tobacco importers in this country, 

 and afterwards sent to the Imperial Institute, or otherwise disposed 

 of as might be directed. 



I should be glad, therefore, if arrangements could be made for 

 samples of such tobacco to be forwarded to this Branch for the 

 purpose indicated. 



Extract from Minute from the Director of Public Gardens and Plan- 

 tations to the Colonial Secretary, Jamaica. 



Professor Dunstan states that Jamaica Cigars are not of uniform 

 quality. This fact is due to the trade being at present of only 

 small dimensions, and there is no doubt that the quality will gra- 

 dually become uniform as larger stocks of tobacco are used for an 

 increased trade. 



Expert advice would be of great assistance, as Professor Dun- 

 stan suggests, especially as to Sumatra tobacco, when it is possi- 

 ble for the Government to spare the necessary money. 



The Department has, however, studied the problems of cultiva- 

 tion and curing with the help of trained Cubans, and has a prac- 

 tical school at Hope Gardens where any one is welcome to come 

 and learn and where the apprentices are taught during their time 

 of service. The attached leaflets are reprinted from the Bulletin, 

 and may perhaps interest Professor Dunstan. 



I have sent samples of tobacco to Mr. Worthington (of the Intel- 

 ligence Branch of the Board of Trade), but I do not think that it is 

 possible to do much at present in an export trade of leaf tobacco. 

 The samples should not, therefore, be put forward as soliciting 

 orders, but only as indicating what Jamaica can produce. All 

 that is now grown is required for the cigar business, which is 

 gradually growing, but large orders might lead again to a cata- 

 strophe in our trade. We should aim rather at quality than 

 quantity. 



