428 PREPARING THE SOIL. 
sand and 4 to 2 of decayed vegetable matter. In St. Domin- 
- go the soil is not uniform. The planters select.a deep black 
loam or tenacious clay, or even loams mixed with sand. The 
most fértile places are on the banks of the Yuna, from Laxay 
to Jaigua, in the vicinity of Mocha, on the banks of the 
Camoo, and around La-Vega. Around Santiago, clay and 
sand predominate, and the soil can not be highly praised. 
Most of the tobacco grown in the island is raised in the 
valley of the Vega. 
Cussree, in treating of this subject, says :— 
“ The quality of tobacco depends as much upon the nature 
of the soil as of the climate. The plant requires peculiarities 
of soil to develop certain of its qualities. And these peculi- 
arities are such that art cannot furnish the conditions to 
produce them where they are naturally wanting. The sugar- 
cane grows chiefly on soils derived from calcareous forma- 
tions; but few or none of these are fitted for tobacco, which 
is cultivated only on sandy loams. Both the Cuban and 
American planters concur in asserting that a large quantity 
of silicious matters in soils is essential for the growth of 
good tobacco. 
“ As already noticed, the rich clay loams on the banks of 
the James River, in Virginia, do not grow good tobacco; 
while the less fertile silicious soils in the county of Louisa 
produce it much superior in quality. Small patches of 
tobacco are everywhere seen growing over the sugar produc- 
ing districts of Cuba; but I saw no tobacco plantations in the 
calcareous regions over which I traveled. The soils rest 
upon the primary formation. Even in the tobacco districts 
the planters know the spots in the different fields that produce 
the various qualities of leaf.” 
In 
PREPARING THE SOIL 
for the reception and growth of the plants, the fertilizing as 
well as the plowing of the fields should be performed in the 
most thorough manner. The first is essential’ for a large 
and vigorous growth, while the latter renders the cultivation 
of the plants much easier. The careful preparation of soil is 
80 intimately connected with all that pertains to the plant, 
that it should be done well in order that the best results may 
