336 FLORIDA PLANTATION. 
both wrappers and fillers, and when grown on “new ground” 
the staple is exceedingly fine. The leaf cures as rapidly, and 
is of as good color as in Cuba, and in a favorable season 
and when harvested fully ripe, is destitute of that bitter 
taste formerly ascribed to it. The plants grow large, and 
have that smooth, shiny appearance peculiar to Havana to- 
FLORIDA TOBACCO PLANTATION. 
bacco, the leaves growing erect, and frequently covered with 
“specks” ot “white rust,” one of the best evidences of a 
fine flavored and a good-burning tobacco. A Florida tobacco- 
grower gives the following account of the plant: 
“The Gadsden ‘wrapper-leaf? was always in high repute, 
and extensively used in the manufacture of cigars, being in. 
size, firmness, and texture fully equal to the best Cuba, and 
far superior to the Connecticut seed-leaf. Where the variety 
known as the Cuba filler has been tried, it has succeeded 
finely in this county, possessing that delicate and peculiar 
aroma so highly prized in the Havana cigars. We need but 
the capital to make the most profitable crop that is grown. 
It is a fact, that of all the counties of the State, many of 
them abounding in the very finest soil, Gadsden is the only 
one that has succeeded in making the Cuba tobacco a staple 
market-crop. Prior to 1860 it rivaled in net returns the 
great staple cotton, and from present indications, it is about 
