FLORIDA TOBACCO. 335 



to any great extent excepting in Gadsden County where 

 the plant flourishes as well as in Cuba. 



The seed used in Havana and the plant resembles it so 

 closely that even Cuban planters cannot distinguish it from 

 that grown on the island. The mode of cultivation is nearly 

 the same, and the soil is said to produce a leaf of tobacco 

 similar to that of the celebrated Yuelta de Alba jo. For- 

 merly the product was sent to New Orleans, and the leaf 

 was pronounced by some dealers to be bitter, but most of 

 them considered it valuable. The planter selects the high 

 lands or hummocks, the soil of which is light and rich for 

 the tobacco field. The plants are carefully drawn from the 

 bed, and transplanted afterwards. The mode of culture is 

 to plow between the rows and hoe the plants carefully. 



A Florida tobacco field in appearance is not unlike a vega> 

 or Cuba tobacco field ; the same luxuriant growth of the 

 forest may be seen on every hand, and the " queen of herbs " 

 grows underneath or near the fragrant Orange and the stately 

 Magnolia. The soil of Gadsden County is in some re- 

 spects unlike that of the rest of the State in that there is an 

 entire absence of limestone, which is found elsewhere afi. 

 through Florida. The climate of the State is well adapted 

 for the growth of tobacco, and is less changeable on the Gulf 

 side than along the Atlantic coast. 



Formerly larger crops were raised than now. Under the 

 old regime when on every plantation were a score or more of 

 idle negro urchins, a large portion of the labor could be per- 

 formed by them, such as worming, dropping the plants, and 

 picking up the primings, while now the labor has to be paid 

 for in money or its equivalent. At this time, the "wrapper 

 leaf" was considered to be among the best for cigars, and 

 brought high prices. In the days of slavery, tobacco was 

 considered to be as profitable as the cotton crop, and good 

 tobacco plantations were considered to be the most valuable 

 in the State. 



This peculiar tobacco region is without doubt capable, with 

 proper management, of producing a superior article for cigars, 



