394 RUSSIAN TOBACCO. 
aromatic odor not like that of Havana tobacco, but stronger 
and less agreeable. 
The plant was introduced into this country by Bayard 
Taylor, and attains its full size in the Connecticut valley, 
where it has been tested by many growers. After curing, 
the leaf is a bright yellow of agreeable flavor, having the 
odor of ashes of roses. The flavor is similar to Turkish 
tobacco, but is said to be less delicate. 
After harvesting, the plants cure rapidly and on account 
of their small size rarely sweat. Latakia tobacco, however, 
is not adapted to the taste of American smokers, most of 
whom prefer tobacco of home growth to even the finest of 
Turkish leaf. Latakia tobacco can be raised with less labor 
than most varieties. Its diminutive size and its unpopular- 
ity, however, prevent its general culture in this country. 
RUSSIAN TOBACCO. 
In no other country in Europe is the tobacco plant attract- 
ing as much as attention as in the empire of Russia. The 
varieties grown in America, Cuba, Turkey, and Persia, have 
been tried, renewing the seed once in two or three years. 
The tobacco of Russia is mild, and of inferior flavor, and 
brings from 40 to 80 kopecks per pood. A very good quality 
of tobacco is grown in the trans-Caucasian provinces; it also 
flourishes well in the Southern provinces. 
The plants attain good size, but lack that fine flavor when 
cured that other tobaccos possess. A recent traveler through 
Russia, describing the tobacco, says: 
“Russian tobacco is very mild and rather sweet flavored, 
thorgh not equal in aroma to the Havana, or posessing that 
rich ripe taste so much prized in that well known tobacco.” 
COLOMBIA TOBACCO. 
Colombia has long been celebrated for the quality and 
varieties of its tobacco. Its cultivation has been carried on 
for more than two hundred and fifty years, and Varinian 
tobacco had obtained a well established reputation in Europe 
