314 BEST CONNECTICUT TOBACCO LANDS. 
located in the vicinity of Hartford about fifty miles from 
Long Island Sound. These lands are near enough to the 
sound to get the salts in the atmosphere from the south 
winds that blow up the valley in the precise amount which 
the plant needs. Not much farther north does the atmos- 
phere possess this peculiar. quality, while lower down the 
river the salt air is too strong for the plant, and the leaves in 
consequence are thick and harsh. Fine tobacco leaves can 
be manufactured as well as fine broadcloth or costly silks, 
These results depend in a great manner upon the proper soil 
and the fertilizers, applied together with the most thorough 
cultivation of the plants. The soil of our best Connecticut 
tobacco fields is alluvial, varying in composition from a heavy 
sandy loam to a light one containing very little clay. 
For the past few years light soil has been preferred for 
the tobacco field, on account of the demand for light colored 
leaf. The soil can hardly be too light when leaf of a light 
cinnamon color is desired ; as the color.of all kinds of tobacco 
depends upon the soil and the fertilizers used. 
A quarter of a century since Havana tobacco commanded 
very high prices, both in this country and in Europe. It 
burnt freely and.purely. The Cuban planters, although get- 
ting rich on the ordinary crops, were not satisfied with their 
gains, and attempted to increase their crops by the use of 
guano and artificial fertilizers. They secured heavier crops, 
but the quality became poorer. The prices fell off and the 
planters did not realize as much for their crops as formerly, 
although the growth was larger. About this time Connecti- 
cut seed leaf became known as a cigar wrapper, and in a short 
time took the lead for this purpose, as it still continues to. 
It cured finely, burnt white and free, and in a short time 
brought high prices. The profit realized from its growth led 
some Connecticut growers into the same mistake as it did 
the Cuban planters, when they, by misguided culture, nearly 
ruined their crops and anared the reputation of Cuban 
tobacco. 
Artificial fertilizers and strong manure produce a leaf 
