55 



production now gives employment to a great number of hands. 

 Of the workmen that are employed, by far the larger number still 

 are Cubans, but we are glad to see the natives gradually adopting 

 the profession and taking part in the general competition.' 



In the Report for 1883-4, the Director says : 'The cultivation 

 of this once promising industry on a large area would appear to 

 be decreasing, chiefly owing, I believe, to want of success in 

 properly curing and preparing the crop for the market. 



' In many parts of the island, however, tobacco growing in 

 small patches is being extended gradually, and numerous 

 applications are made for the best qualities of Havana tobacco 

 seed. 



' As is usual, not only in Jamaica but in most of the West India 

 Islands, there is a great want felt for plain practical hints as to 

 the cultivation of new economic plants, and the preparation of 

 the produce so as to gain good and remunerative prices. 



' On the subject of properly curing tobacco, which is one of the 

 most important points connected with this industry and one, 

 moreover, in which most Europeans who have attempted it in 

 Jamaica have failed, there is a great demand for reliable informa- 

 tion. The Cubans settled in the island are apparently the only 

 persons who can cure tobacco properly, but unfortunately, their 

 numbers are decreasing, and in many cases they take up other 

 industries which appear to them to offer better returns for their 

 labours.' 



He also quotes from a communication to him from Dr. Neish 

 as follows : ' General Vijegas, formerly of Cuba, but now an 

 extensive cultivator of Havana tobacco at Colbeck's Plantation,* 

 informs me that sowings of tobacco seed are usually begun in 

 August with successive sowings throughout the following months, 

 namely, September, October, November, and December, and 

 mentions that the earlier sowings give leaf of very mild quality, 

 with fine flavour, and that the later sowings furnish stronger 

 tobacco, the leaves gaining in strength with the advancing 

 season. The very strongest kinds are furnished by plants sown 

 in November and December. His opinion is that there are in 

 Jamaica many thousands of acres well adapted for the cultivation 

 of Havana tobacco, and that, contrary to a common opinion, the 

 drier parts of the island, provided suitable soil be selected, are 

 quite well adapted to tobacco. He maintains that it is only in 

 the season of planting out that much moisture in the soil is 

 essential ; that tobacco grown in a comparatively dry district 

 will have a fine and distinct flavour, different in aroma to that 

 grown in a wet locality. Further, I have his authority for the 

 observation that tobacco grown in wet districts, such as parts of 

 the eastern end of the island, and in some northside parishes, 

 will not keep long, but must be sent to the European markets as 

 soon as it can be cured, and that cigars made of such tobacco 

 will not keep for more than a year without deteriorating, both in 



* Near Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica. 



