THECUBAREVIEW 21 



most cases being dark brown or black. Many of these soils are of considerable 

 depth, though others are underlaid at ten to eighteen inches from the surface with 

 a permeable clay subsoil which assists in retaining moisture. Irrigation has to our 

 knowledge never been practised in this region, though, beyond a doubt, at times it 

 would be beneficial. 



The traveler in our various tobacco sections in July, August and September 

 wovild notice little or no activity on the part of our tobacco growers. He would be 

 looking, lu)wever, merely at the curtain drawn down in front of the true activities 

 on the stage. Tobacco is grown entirely from plants transplanted from seed beds, 

 and it is, therefore, necessary to prepare these, sow the seed and attend to the 

 weeding and other processes required in the production of the small seedling. This 

 work nuist commence in early August if seed beds are to be made on open laud, and in 

 late June and July if the seed beds are to be made in forest land. The reader will 

 from the above know that two classes of seed beds are utilized in Cuba, open 

 land beds and forest beds, known here as "canteros" and "moute" respectively. As 

 is the case in the tobacco growing regions of the United States, preference has 

 always )jeen given in Cuba to the forest seed beds, though doubtless the Cuban 

 tobacco grower has not been able to assign the proper reason for the better results 

 very frequently secured from these. In the making of the forest seed bed an area 

 of sufficient size to produce the number of plants required and covered, with either 

 virgin forest or a heavy growth of brvish, is chosen ; the forest or brush is then cut 

 down, chopped into relatively small lengths so as to lie close to the ground, allowed 

 to remain in this condition until dry enough to burn with fair freedom, and fire 

 is then applied. The result is that the surface layers of the soil are thoroughly 

 sterilized by the heat from the burning material, weed seeds are destroyed, and 

 worms, bugs and injurious insects are killed. As a result the small sprouting seed- 

 lings find a soil free from both disease germs and injuriovis insects and weeds, so 

 that their growth is uninterrupted and strong, healthy plants result. The open 

 land seed beds are usually made in August at the same time that the seed is sown 

 in the forest seed beds. For the open land beds an area of sandy loam with suffi-. 

 cient slope to drain well is selected, plowed and harrowed thoroughly until the surface 

 is exceedingly fine. The land is then divided into beds from two to four feet wide, 

 separated one from the other by a patch which allows access to all parts of the bed 

 to enal)le the workers to perform the necessary weeding and spraying operations. 

 Invariably these open land seed beds ai-e heavily fertilized with a high-grade 

 commercial fertilizer, after which the seed is scattered over the surface and worked 

 in very lightly by passing over the beds a light brush or the limb of a tree. 

 The tobacco seed is so extremely small that almost no covering can be given it, other- 

 wise the young plant would not have strength to reach the surface. 



Thus we find that during July, August and September the tobacco grower is busy 

 preparing his seed beds and caring for the young plants therein. During September 

 also he begins the preparation of the soil in his fields. The careful planter is very 

 particular in this respect, plowing and harrowing, cross plowing and cross harrowing, 

 and repeating this operation until the Avhole surface of his farm is in the very finest 

 of tilth and in such condition as to offer to the young plants a suitable place in 

 which to develop rapidly. As this work is in progress during September and October, 

 our most rainy months, it is frequently necessary if heavy rains fall, to perform 

 again the Avork which before the rain had been left finished. Yet the patience of our 

 tobacco producers, accustomed as they have become to overcome every vagary of 

 nature, enables them to confront this task without a nun-mur. 



The seedlings from the seed beds sown during the early part of August are ready 

 for planting in early October, and it is the custom among our most progressive 

 planters to attempt to start small plantings about the 15th of that month. Weather 

 conditions, however, are so fickle and rainfall frequently so heavy that all work 



