28 



THE CUBA R E \' I E W 



Cuban tohncco vepa or iilaiiuiiiuii near San T.uis in Pinar del Rio I'roviiice. View sliows 

 owner's house in a mango grove and two curing sheds. The growing tobacco in the fo'eground 

 is the second growth, or sucker crop left for seed. It is a typical vega of the middle grade, 

 yielding its owner a most comfortable living, enabling him to purchase practcally all food com- 

 modities. It seems to be the rule in the N'uclta Abajo, say observers, that where tobacco is raised 

 as a specially nothing else is raised to amount to anything. 



Vega 6 plantacion de tabaco en Cuba, cerca de San Luis, en la Provincia de Pinar del Rio. 

 El grabado muestra una vista de la casa del hacendado, en una alameda de mangos, y dos cobertizos 

 para secar el tabaco. Las plantas del tabaco del frentc son la segunda plantacion 6 retonos para 

 semillas. Esta es una vega tipica de mediana clase, (|ue proporciona a su ducno una vida comoda. 

 facilitandole el poder comprar todo lo ncccsario para cl sustento. Hay la crecncia en Vuelta Aliajo 

 de f|ue donde se planta tabaco como esi)ecialidad no pueda darse otra cosa (|ue sea de alguna utilidad. 



The Tobacco Commission's Report. 



The tol)acco commission appointed by 

 President Gomez some months ago to 

 investigate the tobacco interests of Cuba, 

 including the cause of lower prices, the 

 lessening of the amount of tobacco 

 grown and the acknowledged decline in 

 quality of the leaf in some parts, has 

 made its report. 



The commission was composed of the 

 folowing members: the presidents of the 

 Economic Society of Friends of the 

 Century, the Chamber of Commerce, 

 the Agrarian League and Sres. Leslie 

 Pantin, Hoening & Co., Theodore L. Gar- 

 l)a(le, and General Alberto Xodarse. 



The report recommends among other 

 remedies the establishment of an ex- 

 tensive irrigation system in the Velta 

 Abajo. The decrease in the exportation 

 of manufactured tobacco to European 

 countries is discussed, especially the de- 

 crease in the exportations to Spain du- 

 ring the past twelve years. In Spain the 

 consumption decreased from $631,666 in 

 cigars and $100,125 in cigarettes, in 1899, 

 to $217,451 and $637,000, respectively, in 

 1907, the last available official statistics. 



The report also shows that the ex- 

 portation of the natural leaf, especially 

 to the United States, has increased, but 

 suggests the manufacture of tobacco and 



its expdrtation in the linished state, be- 

 lieving that the large cigar manufactur- 

 ing interests at Tampa and Key West. 

 Fla., to partly account for the decline in 

 the exportation of the manufactured 

 article, and the increase of the shipment 

 of the leaf. 



The committee also makes these 

 recommendations : 



To give practical instruction> at the 

 different tobacco plantations teaching 

 the most approved methods of gathering 

 the crops and its preparation. 



An adequate law for the introduction, 

 manufacture and sale of fertilizers. 



The holding of fairs with attractive 

 prizes for the best exhibits. 



The promotion of immigration for held 

 labor, and that the Government is urged 

 to closely study the relations between 

 employers and employees in order to 

 prevent disagreements, expensive strikes 

 and lockouts and to provide against any 

 cessation of work. 



Late January reports from Pinar del 

 Rio tell of the promising aspect of the 

 tobacco crop. The fields of the famous 

 Hoj'o de Monterey vega, where L600,- 

 nOO young plants are growing, are ex- 

 pected to produce a wonderful yield. 



