5i 



that they contemplated the cultivation of this product on a large 

 scale, and it is thus to be hoped that millions of plants will be 

 produced from these seeds. 



' The successful cultivation of tobacco in Jamaica is now an 

 accomplished fact, and it may be considered one of our staple 

 products. Considering the paucity of the staple products of 

 Jamaica, the desirability of introducing new objects of cultivation 

 and the reluctance exhibited on the part of private enterprise to 

 embark in new undertakings, the position that tobacco has 

 taken is highly gratifying, and augurs well for the future of the 

 island. 



' Considerable difficulties have to be encountered in the intro- 

 duction of a new cultivation ; amongst others are a proper selec- 

 tion of soil and climatic conditions, and the ignorance of the 

 peasantry both with regard to cultivation and manufacture, and 

 it is to be hoped that persons entering upon this cultivation will 

 duly consider such difficulties, as there can be no doubt that suc- 

 cess will, in a great measure, depend upon their doing so. 



' It should be remembered that it is to the Cuban refugees that we 

 are mainly indebted for the introduction of the tobacco cultivation, 

 for it is to their enterprise, and to the advantage that has been 

 taken of their skill, that we must attribute whatever has been 

 done in regard to this. Amongst those gentlemen who deserve 

 the best thanks of the country for their determined and persever- 

 ing efforts to establish this important industry, I would mention 

 the name of Simon Soutar, Esq., whose beautiful cultivation of 

 100 acres of tobacco does him great credit. With regard to an- 

 other gentleman who has also taken a leading part in the estab- 

 lishment of this plant, I have great pleasure in extracting the fol- 

 lowing valuable notice from the Journal of Applied Science, the 

 editor of which is a high authority on colonial vegetable products. 

 A writer in that journal, treating of the importance of colonists, 

 in view of the increasing competition in the production and man- 

 ufacture of the great staples, turning their attention to minor pro- 

 ducts, makes the following remarks with regard to tobacco : — 

 " The Spaniards have hitherto monopolised this trade, alleging 

 that parts of the soil of Cuba were alone suited to the production 

 of the Havana tobacco. This assertion is now disproved, for with 

 good choice of seed, soil, curing of the leaf, and skilled manufac- 

 ture of the cigars, Jamaica now sends into the market as excellent 

 a cigar as was ever shipped from Cuba, and at a far cheaper rate. 

 We have lately been favoured with samples of excellent cigars 

 from the estate of Count Jose Duaney, Jamaica. He was among 

 the first to introduce the planting of the real Cuban seed there 

 and his estate, Hall Head, which is in a district in the east of the 

 island, has produced the best cigars up to the present time, 

 although many other estates have gone into tobacco culture. If 

 the quality of this brand be maintained, and the remarkably low 

 price at which they can be sold wholesale continued, it will be a 

 real boon to smokers, and lead to extensive orders." 



