1912] HASSELBRING—CUBAN TOBACCO Es§". 
the forms occur with great frequency and form the predominating 
elements of the mixture, others are rarer, although distinctly marked. 
Some of the more striking forms can be recognized and described 
taxonomically, but for the majority of the intergrading forms 
cultural work is necessary in order to determine their constancy. 
The condition here described exists, so far as I have been able to 
determine by examination of the fields or by growing seeds from 
different sources, in all the tobacco fields of western Cuba, or the 
regions known as the Vuelta de Abajo and the Partidos districts. 
It is not likely that the tobacco fields of the eastern district will be 
found to differ in composition from those of the other regions. The 
condition shows that there has been no systematic effort directed 
toward the amelioration and improvement of the tobacco plant in 
Cuba. The persistence of the present condition is explained by the 
special methods of agriculture in vogue in Cuba. 
Methods of agriculture 
In the regions of Cuba which have been long under cultivation, 
great difficulty is experienced in growing posturas, or young tobacco 
plants. The soil is so thoroughly infected with fungi that a rain 
at any time during the season for growing posturas is sure to result 
in the entire destruction of the plants in the seedbeds. I have 
seen many acres of seedbeds in the finest condition destroyed in a 
few days by fungi following a heavy rain. As a result of this, it is 
customary to grow a large part of the posturas in the newer lands 
in the mountains, in soil which is partly sterilized by burning 
brush on the surface. The posturas are tied in bundles, which are 
packed in large bales and sent to the various tobacco districts of 
the island. Any grower who has lost his posturas makes up the 
supply by purchase from the mountain growers. Many growers 
depend entirely on these mountain-grown postwras, seed for which 
is gathered in various parts of the island. Whether the grower 
is gathering seed for sale or for his own use, no attempt is made 
to select seed from the best plants. All the plants in the fields are 
topped and harvested. It is not even customary to allow any of 
the plants to flower on the main stem and produce seed. After 
the harvest of the leaves, the stems are cut off close to the ground, 
