TOBACCO. 613 



but in former years they have been very badly made ; for the last two years, 

 (writing in 1843,) my crops were destroyed by the unfavorable weather. This 

 growth and manufacture do not interfere with my cultivation of other crops ; 

 in fact they are wholly unconnected with the other operations of the farmer." 

 He mentions having obtained a premium from an agricultural society, for 

 having produced on one and a half acres, growth and manufacture included, 

 of Spanish tobacco 504 dollars net profit. 



The following letter from Mr. Clarke, to the Hon. H. L. 

 Ellsworth, Washington, speaks favorably of a new variety of 

 tobacco : 



"Willow Grove, Orange County, Virginia, 

 Feb. 13, 1844. 



Dear Sir, Agreeably to my promise I enclose you the Californian tobacco 

 seed. It grew from the small parcel given to me by Mr. Wm. Smith, in 

 your office in March last. On getting home, although late, I prepared a bed, 

 and sowed the small parcel, the first week in April, and not having seed enough 

 to finish the bed, sowed the balance of the bed in Oronoko tobacco seed, and to 

 my astonishment the Californian plants were soon ready to set out, as soon as 

 the other kinds of tobacco sown in the month of January ; and the Oronoko 

 seed, that was sown with the Californian, did not arrive to sufficient size until 

 it was too late to set out. The Californian tobacco, if it continues to ripen and 

 grow for the time to come, as it did for me on the first trial, must come into 

 general use first, because the plants are much earlier in the spring (say ten 

 days at least), than any kind we have ; secondly, when transplanted, the growth 

 is remarkably quick, matures and ripens at least from ten to fifteen days earlier 

 than any kind of tobacco we have in use amongst us. It is a large broad, 

 silky leaf, of fine texture, and of a beautiful color, and some plants grow as 

 large as seven feet across, from point to point; upon the whole, I consider it 

 a valuable acquisition to the planting community. 



Tobacco is one of the chief staples of Cuba. There are many 

 qualities, but it is usually classed into two kinds. That which is 

 raised on the western end of the island and is unequalled for 

 smoking, is called " Vuelta abajo." That which is raised east of 

 Havana, is called " Vuelta arriba," and is far inferior to the former. 

 The best Havana tobacco farms are confined to a very narrow 

 area on the south west part of Cuba. This district, twenty-seven 

 leagues long and only seven broad, is bounded on the north by 

 mountains, on the south and west by the ocean, whilst eastward, 

 though there is no natural limit, the tobacco sensibly degenerates 

 in quality. A light sandy soil and rather low situation suit the 

 best. 



The " Vuelta abajo" is usually divided into five classes. 

 Calidad or Libra. 

 Tnjuriado Principal or Firsts. 

 Segundas or Seconds. 

 Terceiras or Thirds. 

 Cuartas or Fourths. 



Calidad is the best tobacco, selected for its good color, flavor, 

 elasticity and entireness of the leaves. The bales contain sixty 

 hands of four gabillas, or fingers of twenty-five leaves each, 

 and are marked L.60. Tnjuriado Principal has less flavor, and is 

 usually of a lighter color. The leaves should be whole and some- 

 what elastic. The bales contain eighty hands of four gabillas, or 

 thirty leaves each, and are marked B. 80. Segundas is the most 



