224 TOBACCO. 



The British West Indies have only recently appreciated 

 the importance of tobacco cultivation. Many portions of 

 Jamaica seem as well fitted for it as the vuelta dbajo of 

 Cuba, and already Jamaica tobacco in the Hamburg 

 market ranks next to the best Havana, and is considered 

 superior to such Cuban growths as St. Jago, Manzanillo, 

 Yara, &c. Tobacco cultivation may now be said to have 

 a place in the industries of Jamaica, a fact mainly due to 

 Cuban refugees. The most extensive plantations in 

 the island are Potosi in St. Thomas Parish, and Morgan's 

 Valley in Clarendon. Much of the produce goes to 

 the German market, the remainder being made into cigars 

 for local consumption, and said to be quite equal to some 

 of the best Cuban brands. Some experiments made with 

 Bhilsa tobacco have given great satisfaction, on account 

 of the robust habit and immense yield of the plant. It is 

 especially adapted for very wet districts, and its cultiva- 

 tion will be widely extended, if justified by its market 

 value. Tobacco is, and for very many years has been, 

 grown by the peasantry in small patches ; from this, they 

 manufacture a smoke-dried leaf, which, twisted together 

 in rope form, sells readily in the home market. The 

 acreage occupied by the crop was 297 in 1874-5, 442 

 in 1875-6, 331 in 1876-7, and 380 in 1877-8. The 

 slopes of valleys in many parts of Dominica, too, are 

 eminently suited to this crop, particularly the district 

 between Eoseau and Grand Bay. The experiment of 

 tobacco culture in New Providence on a large scale has 

 not proved satisfactory, owing to the difficulties encoun- 

 tered in curing and preparing the leaf ; the cigars made 

 are fit only for local consumption. 



