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tion and curing. Large growers can always secure the services 

 of a Cuban, but small settlers require demonstrations in their 

 tobacco fields and in their curing houses to supplement and to 

 illustrate the teaching imparted in the leaflets on tobacco. 



In 1902-3, only two acres were planted for the purpose of giving 

 the apprentices an opportunity of gaining practical experience; 

 and in the following year 1903-4, besides 2 acres in Havana 

 tobacco, I acre was grown in Sumatra tobacco under a cheese- 

 cloth tent to test whether the very expensive Sumatra wrapper 

 imported from America could not be grown in Jamaica. The 

 result of the experiment was to show that uuder cheese-cloth a 

 very fine grade of wrapper can be grown, quite equal if not 

 superior to that imported from America. Owing to the dryness 

 of the climate at Hope, difficulty was experienced in curing, but 

 this was overcome on further trial during the following season 

 {1904-05). During the next year (1905-6) the Sumatra tobacco 

 was grown in the open as well as under cheese-cloth, and the 

 opinion of an expert, Mr. F. V. Chalmers, was that the sun-grown 

 Sumatra was superior to that grown under cloth, and that the 

 flavour of both kinds and of the Havana is ' unsurpassable when 

 fully fermented.' 



A small sample of the Sumatra tobacco grown under shade 

 cloth was sent for report as to quality and value in the English 

 market to the Imperial Institute in the year 1905. The Director, 

 Prof. W. R. Dunstan, reported as follows : — 



' The sample consisted of six leaves of the wrapper type of 

 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 determination 

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

 as follows : — 



"The tobacco is of 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 ; the burning is 

 very fair and the flavour not unsatisfactory. 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 



