CHAPTER XIV. 
THE PRODUCTION, COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO. 
EW comparatively of the users or even of the 
growers.and manufacturers of tobacco, are aware of the 
vast amount cultivated, manufactured and used. Many 
suppose that its cultivation is confined to the United 
States and a few of the West India Islands, having no idea 
of the large quantities grown in Europe, Asia and Africa 
and the islands of the East India Archipelago. The Spaniards 
first began the cultivation of the plant on the Island of St. 
Domingo, afterwards extending it to Trinidad, the coast 
of South America, Mexico and the Philippine Telanda: In 
Portugal the cultivation commenced about 1575-80, and 
continued some years. The Dutch a little later, began the 
production of tobacco in the East Indies, and in connection 
with the Spaniards and Portuguese were the only cultivators 
of tobacco until the English commenced its growth in 
Virginia in 1616. 
The first production in St. Domingo by the Spaniards was 
sometime previous to 1535, and the island has continued to 
produce the great staple until now. In Trinidad, however, 
a finer article was yielded, and its cultivation became more 
general here until the Spaniards began to plant it in Cuba in 
1580. From the West Indies, South America and the East 
Indies, Europe raised its supply of tobacco until the English 
colonists commenced its cultivation in Virginia. The Span- 
iards and Portuguese at first controlled the trade in tobacco, 
and extorted most fabulous prices for it. As soon, however, 
as the Dutch and English began to cultivate it and receive it 
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