unci 1 instructed him to set on toot a methodical and systematic 
cultivation of Tobacco. I his was done with the unanimous 
approval of the Council, and the attempt has, I believe, been 
crowned with a certain amount of success. 
There are many other Islands in the West Indies such as 
liinidad, Dominica and St. Kitts where similar physical and 
geographical conditions exist. I maintain that good Tobacco 
can be grown in all ot these Islands. Colonial Legislatures, 
Planters as well as Governors have been very much to blame in 
allowing Hayti, San Domingo and Germany to forestall the West 
Indies in that profitable trade, which properly should have been 
theirs, of supplying Cuba with thousands of tons of tobacco 
annually for “ filling” purposes. 
If I were to assert that I was a capital Sugar planter I should 
be laughed at—but any one might say without fear of criticism 
or contradiction that he understood the cultivation and curing 
of Tobacco, or the manufacture of Lime Juice. Why—for the 
simple reason that these are supposed to be “Minor Industries.” 
—Any stick is good enough to beat a dog with, and therefore 
anybody is good enough to take up “ Minor industries” so long 
as the Sugar god is paramount. But the Sugar god will never 
again occupy the high pedestal of past years; and with every 
apology to the cane grower I fearlessly maintain that the culti¬ 
vation and curing of Tobacco is an Art, (the word is used 
advisedly) which is of far greater difficulty and much more 
profitable, when mastered, than the manufacture of Crystals. 
The rules are simple so far as cultivation is concerned, but 
the curing is really a science and requires special skill and 
knowledge. 
For general information and guidance I would state from my 
own experience the following facts :— 
1. Any ground intended for the growth of tobacco should be 
cleared of bush by the end of July at latest. The bush should 
be cut as low as possible and the stumps extracted if practicable. 
2. Seed should be sown in the middle of the month of August 
