771 



exhibited both in this and in the Russian Department. It is very fine, 

 and of peculiarly delicate flavour, much more so than the tobacco 

 usually cultivated in Turkey. 



• M. Hyams' samples of British-made cigars and cheroots, from the 

 New Granada leaf, deserve notice from their extraordinary cheapness, 

 as does his specimen of Columbian tobacco. The Jury also mention 

 Buckland and Toplis for their neatly fabricated cheroots of tobacco, 

 and other narcotic herbs and drugs, required as medicine or for luxury. 

 A piece of wood at the mouth extremity retains the oil effectually (an 

 old invention). These cheroots draw well, but are very rank. 



The most important exhibition of German tobacco is that from 

 Mannheim, sent by Wm. Sachs, which, unfortunately, owing to the 

 lateness of the crop, arrived too late to be placed on the Award List. 

 It is but fair to the producer to state that it has been pronounced 

 superior in flavour, and in point of curing, to any European tobacco 

 known in the English market. The Agricultural Society of Baden 

 has encouraged the culture of this crop, which has rapidly increased to 

 200,000 cwt., annually grown on the banks of the Rhine. The culti- 

 vation is carried on by small proprietors, and employs 20,000 hands ; 

 and the produce is sold at a very cheap rate. It is exported in leaf, 

 in vast quantities, to England, Belgium, Spain, and, in bad seasons, 

 to the Havannah itself j and the cigars are consumed in the United 

 States to a great amount. Great attention is paid to the selection of 

 fine covering leaves, upon the goodness of which the burning and 

 drawing so materially depend; and in this the manufacturers, judging 

 from the samples exhibited, seem to have been eminently successful. 

 Though still inferior to the best American tobacco, it surpasses much 

 that is brought into the market. 



The Spanish department excels all others in the beauty and variety 

 of its cigars. The Havannahs are here alluded to, for the Manilla 

 cheroots are scarcely represented in the Exhibition, which is very 

 much to be regretted. 



The best Havannah tobacco-farms are confined to a very narrow 

 area on the south-west part of the great island of Cuba. This district, 

 27 leagues long and only 7 broad, is bounded on the north by moun- 

 tains, on the south and west by the ocean, whilst eastward, though 

 there is no natural limit, the tobacco sensibly degenerates in quality. 

 A light sandy soil, and rather low situation, suit the best. Of the 

 small collection of cigars shown, two exhibitors have been awarded 

 Prize Medals. The one, Don Buenaventura Gonzalez Alvera, for his 

 " Ramas" cigars : these are considered the best it is possible to pro- 



