276 



"quarter of an acre was grown as an experiment and there is 

 " therefore none for sale. I shall be very glad to have a report 

 "on its quality and value." 



DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLE. 



The sample consisted of six leaves of the " wrapper" type o* 

 cigar tobacco showing a dull, olive brown tint. The leaves were 

 of fair length, uniform in colour, thin and free from 'stains' and 

 'burns.' They were somewhat brittle when handled, but this was 

 probably due to their having been packed between sheets of 

 cardboard which had absorbed the moisture, rendering the leaves 

 abnormally dry. 



When ignited the tobacco burned evenly and steadily, evolving 

 a fairly fragrant aroma and leaving a greyish white ash. 



As the sample was very small it was impossible to submit it to 

 chemical examination. It was therefore sent to a firm of tobacco 

 experts to be tried for " wrapping" cigars and for the determina- 

 tion of its commercial value. The experts' report on the tobacco 

 was as follows : — 



" The tobacco is a very handsome appearance, thin in texture 

 " and therefore highly productive as a ' wrapper' for tobacco, in 

 " use it is somewhat ' tender' and does not appear to have quite as 

 " much elasticity as Sumatra tobacco of similar texture ? (see note 

 " under " Description of sample" as to probable reason of this 

 " tenderness') the burning is very fair and the flavour not unsatisfac- 

 " tory. Similar tobacco well put up would fetch on the English 

 "market up to about 3s. per lb. for first lengths, say 2s. 3d. per lb. 

 " for the second lengths and from Is. 3d. to is. 6d. per lb. for 

 " the third lengths. 



" We feel sure that the soil, and climate which have produced 

 " this tobacco are suitable for growing ' wrapper' tobacco equal to 

 " most in the world and if labour is plentiful and cheap and the 

 " area of suitable ground large enough there is a chance in time 

 " of this district of Jamaica becoming a serious competitor of 

 " Borneo, Sumatra and Java. 



" It will, however, be advantageous to prepare tobacco of this 

 " class in a similar manner to that in which East Indian tobaccos 

 " are got up for the European markets. If it were put up on the 

 " market in the same form as the Mexican, Havana and other West 

 " Indian tobaccos this would probably detract considerably from 

 " its value." 



The experts go on to suggest that it might be worth while to 

 carry out a similar cultivation experiment in Jamaica with Java 

 tobacco as this would probably yield a ' wrapper' leaf, which 

 would be stronger in texture and of even better flavour than the 

 present sample. 



The results of the experts' trial of this tobacco show that it is of 

 good quality and that if a similar quality can be placed on the 

 English market in quantity it will probably realise remunerative 

 prices. 



