CHAPTER XIY. 



THE PRODUCTION, COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO. 



r 



k EW comparatively of the users or even of the 

 growers and manufacturers of tobacco, are aware of the 

 vast amount cultivated, manufactured and used . Many 

 suppose that its cultivation is confined to the United 

 States and a few of the West India Islands, having no idea 

 of the large quantities grown in Europe, Asia and Africa 

 and the islands of the East India Archipelago. The Spaniards 

 first began the cultivation of the plant on the Island of St. 

 Domingo, afterwards extending it to Trinidad, the coast 

 of South America, Mexico and the Philippine Islands. In 

 Portugal the cultivation commenced about 1575-80, and 

 continued some years. The Dutch a little later, began the 

 production of tobacco in the East Indies, and in connection 

 with the Spaniards and Portuguese were the only cultivators 

 of tobacco until the English commenced its growth in 

 Virginia in 1616. 



The first production in St. Domingo by the Spaniards was 

 sometime previous to 1535, and the island has continued to 

 produce the great staple until now. In Trinidad, however, 

 a finer article was yielded, and its cultivation became more 

 general here until the Spaniards began to plant it in Cuba in 

 1580. From the West Indies, South America and the East 

 Indies, Europe raised its supply of tobacco until the English 

 colonists commenced its cultivation in Virginia. The Span- 

 iards and Portuguese at first controlled the trade in tobacco, 

 and extorted most fabulous prices for it. As soon, however, 

 as the Dutch and English began to cultivate it and receive it 



