428 PREPARING THE SOIL. 



sand and to of decayed vegetable matter. In St. Domin- 

 go the soil is not uniform. The planters select a deep black 

 loam or tenacious clay, or even loams mixed with sand. The 

 most fertile places are on the banks of the Yuna, from Laxay 

 to Jaigua, in the vicinity of Mocha, on the banks of the 

 Camoo, and around La Vega. Around Santiago, clay and 

 sand predominate, and the soil can not be highly praised. 

 Most of the tobacco grown in the island is raised in th& 

 valley of the Vega* 



Cussree, in treating of this subject, says : 



" The quality of tobacco depends as much upon the nature 

 of the soil as of the climate. The plant requires peculiarities 

 of soil to develop certain of its qualities. And these peculi- 

 arities are such that art cannot furnish the conditions to 

 produce them where they are naturally wanting. The sugar- 

 cane grows chiefly on soils derived from calcareous forma- 

 tions ; but few or none of these are fitted for tobacco, which 

 is cultivated only on sandy loams-. Both the Cuban and 

 American planters concur in asserting that a large quantity 

 of silicious matters in soils is essential for the growth of 

 good tobacco. 



" As already noticed, the rich clay loams on the banks of 

 the James River, in Virginia, do not grow good tobacco ; 

 while the less fertile silicious soils in the county of Louisa 

 produce it much superior in quality. Small patches of 

 tobacco are everywhere seen growing over the sugar produc- 

 ing districts of Cuba ; but I saw no tobacco plantations in the 

 calcareous regions over which I traveled. The soils rest 

 upon the primary formation. Even in the tobacco districts 

 the planters know the spots in the different fields that produce 

 the various qualities of leaf." 



In 



PREPARING THE SOIL 



for the reception and growth of the plants, the fertilizing aa 

 Well as the plowing of the fields should be performed in the 

 most thorough manner. The first is essential for a large 

 and vigorous growth, while the latter renders the cultivation 

 of the plants much easier. The careful preparation of soil is 

 so intimately connected with all that pertains to the plant, 

 that it should be done well in order that the best results maj 



