The French took the reins of control in the area and 

 immediately stressed the importance of growing to- 

 bacco. England had been selling large quantities of 

 tobacco grown in its American colonies to France, and 

 the latter had a great desire to escape this dependence. 

 Louisiana, many French officials felt, could be the 

 answer. 



Colonial French tobacco did prosper but later polit- 

 ical events brought the area into the control of Spain 

 and, eventually, the United States of America. 



Tobacco agriculture remains today as a fascinating 

 activity of farmers in St. James Parish, direct descend- 

 ants of 18th century Acadian settlers, and particularly 

 one of them, Pierre Chenet, whose nickname, "Perique," 

 is used to identify the distinct, aromatic type of tobacco 

 grown only in the parish. 



