4 8 



In the Report on the Botanical Gardens for 1 871-2, Mr. Thomson 

 says : — 



' Plots of Manilla, Havana, Kentucky, and Latakia tobacco have 

 been grown, and samples of them will be sent to England for 

 valuation. The Latakia, which came from Kew a few years ago, 

 I observe, is already very generally cultivated by the peasantry in 

 many parishes, but, like most other cultivated plants in the island, 

 in small patches. 



'A great impetus has been given lately throughout the country 

 to the cultivation of tobacco on a much larger scale than formerly. 

 I have, during the last six years, distributed annually at the rate 

 of 200 small packets of five varieties of seeds which were first 

 received from Kew.' 



The collector of taxes for Kingston reported on January 2, 1874, 

 that a number of small manufactories of cigars have recently been 

 started in this city, principally by the refugees from Cuba ; and 

 although such cigars are very generally made of imported tobacco, 

 yet so much of our own weed is now employed as to affect very 

 considerably the importation of foreign-made cigars. 



He further continues as follows : — 



'There are also at present in Kingston two large establish- 

 ments where cigars are manufactured entirely of Jamaica grown 

 tobacco, and one of these large establishments (Messrs. Soutar's) 

 has succeeded in bringing into notice on the continent, particularly 

 in Austria, Prussia, and Turkey, the superiority of our Jamaica 

 cigars to the ordinary brands of Havana ; indeed, so excellent 

 have the cigars exhibited by Messrs. Soutar at the Vienna Exhi- 

 bition of last year been deemed by the Imperial Commissioners, 

 that a medal has been awarded to them for their exhibit. 



' I am also informed that some of our best samples compare 

 favourably with the very best Havanas, and that there is every 

 likelihood of a large export trade being established at no distant 

 date, and the cultivation of the weed being extended in this 

 country. 



' On reference to Customs' statistics, I find that in the year 

 1871-2, cigars were imported, amounting to 7,202 lb., whilst in 

 1872-3, the quantity fell off to 1,963^ lb., and that the exportation 

 of our island manufacture has increased from ioolb. in 1871-2 to 

 494 lb. in the past year. 



'It is therefore evident that tobacco will, within a few years, 

 become one of the staples of this island, and will not only displace 

 the imported article, but compete successfully in the markets of 

 the world against all foreign productions of the kind.' 



In November, 1874, the Governor directed the publication of the 

 following extract concerning tobacco produced in Jamaica, and 

 exhibited at the Vienna Exhibition, 1873, from a Report by Wm. 

 Robinson, Esq., Special Commissioner for the Crown colonies, and 

 Superintendent of the Colonial Section at that Exhibition, upon 

 the British colonies represented there, with particular reference 

 to their produce : — 



