FLORIDA TOBACCO. 335 
to any great. extent excepting in Gadsden County where 
the: plant flourishes as well as in Cuba. 
The seed used in Havana and the plant resembles it so 
closely that even Cuban planters cannot distinguish it from 
that grown on the island. The mode of cultivation is nearly 
the same, and the soil is said to produce a leaf of tobacco 
similar to that of the celebrated Vuelta de Albajo. For- 
merly the product was sent to New Orleans, and the leaf 
was pronounced by some dealers to be bitter, but most of 
them considered it valuable. The planter selects the high 
lands or hummocks, the soil of which is light and rich for 
the tobacco field. The plants are carefully drawn from the 
bed, and transplanted afterwards. The mode of culture is 
to plow between the rows and hoe the plants carefully. 
A Florida tobacco field in appearance is not unlike a vega, 
or Cuba tobacco field; the same’ luxuriant growth of the 
forest may be seen on every hand, and the “queen of herbs” 
grows underneath or near the fragrant Orange and the stately 
Magnolia. The soil of Gadsden County is in some re- 
spects unlike that of the rest of the State in that there is an 
entire absence of limestone, which is found elsewhere all 
through Florida. The climate of the State is well adapted 
for the growth of tobacco, and is less changeable on the Gulf 
side than along the Atlantic coast. 
Formerly larger crops were raised than now. Under the 
old regime when on every plantation were a score or more of 
idle negro urchins, a large portion of the labor could be per- 
formed by them, such as worming, dropping the plants, and 
picking up the primings, while now the labor has to be paid 
for in money or its equivalent. At this time, the “wrapper 
leaf” was considered to be among the best for cigars, and 
brought high prices. In the days of slavery, tobacco was 
considered to be as profitable as the cotton crop, and good 
tobacco plantations were considered to be the most valuable 
in the State. 
This peculiar tobacco region is without doubt capable, with 
proper management, of producing asuperior article for cigars, 
