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FLORIDA PLANTATION. 



both wrappers and fillers, and when grown on " new ground " 

 the staple is exceedingly fine. The leaf cures as rapidly, and 

 is of as good color as in Cuba, and in a favorable season 

 and when harvested fully ripe, is destitute of that bitter 

 taste formerly ascribed to it. The plants grow large, and 

 have that smooth, shiny appearance peculiar to Havana to- 



FLORIDA TOBACCO PLANTATION. 



bacco, the leaves growing erect, and frequently covered with 

 " specks " of " white rust," one of the best evidences of a 

 fine flavored and a good-burning tobacco. A Florida tobacco- 

 grower gives the following account of the plant : 



" The Gadsden ' wrapper-leaf was always in high repute, 

 and extensively used in the manufacture of cigars, being in 

 size, firmness, and texture fully equal to the best Cuba, and 

 far superior to the Connecticut seed-leaf. Where the variety 

 known as the Cuba filler has been tried, it has succeeded 

 finely in this county, possessing that delicate and peculiar 

 aroma so highly prized in the Havana cigars. "We need but 

 the capital to make the most profitable crop that is grown. 

 It is a fact, that of all the counties of the State, many of 

 them abounding in the very finest soil, Gadsden is the only 

 one that has succeeded in making the Cuba tobacco a staple 

 market-crop. Prior to 1860 it rivaled in net returns the 

 great staple cotton, and from present indications, it is about 



