Agricultural Cuba 22 



THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY OF CUBA 



Up to the beginning of the present European 

 War, the tobacco industry of Cuba ranged in 

 importance, second only to that of sugar. The 

 annual value of the crop in normal circumstances 

 is about $32,000,000.00. 



Since the beginning of hostilities in Europe, 

 and the practical prohibition of tobacco and cigar 

 imports on the part of England and France, and 

 the cancelling of the customary orders, sent in 

 from European countries, export of tobacco, 

 especially finished cigars, has fallen off in the 

 neighborhood of thirty per cent. 



With the restoration of peace, and the resump- 

 tion of normal conditions, it is reasonable to 

 suppose that tobacco culture will again assume 

 its original importance in the agricultural indus- 

 tries of the Republic; especially so, since Cuba 

 has always been able to produce a grade of 

 tobacco unequalled for its quality in any part of 

 the world. 



Tobacco, unlike sugar cane, appears to be 

 dependent for its superior qualities, largely upon 

 particular chemical characteristics of the soil, not 

 easily determined, hence it is that the production 

 is localized. Certain sections are given over 

 entirely to tobacco production and yield a product 

 many times more valuable than the product grown 

 only a few miles distant. 



The small selected areas, where the best tobacco 

 is grown, are known as 'Vegas." 



The acknowledged superior tobacco of the 

 world, as to flavor and aroma, is grown within 

 a comparatively short distance from the City of 

 Pinar del Rio, in the Central Western section of 



