icularly for home use and for exporting to Europe,
where it is considered one of the finest of tobaccos. Of the other
varieties grown in the West Indies such as St. Domingo, Jamaica, and
Trinidad, much may be said both in praise and dispraise. St. Domingo
and Trinidad have been cultivated for more than two hundred years. St.
Domingo tobacco has a large leaf, but is of inferior flavor to most
varieties of West India tobacco.

[Illustration: Virginia tobacco.]

Virginia tobacco has acquired a reputation which has gradually
strengthened for more than two hundred and fifty years. It was one of
the first products to be cultivated by the English colony, and in less
than a quarter of a century after the settlement of Virginia, had
acquired a reputation hardly surpassed by its well known rivals,
Trinidad, Brazil, St. Domingo, and Various tobaccos. The plant grows
to the height of from five to seven feet; the leaves are long and
broad, and when cured are of various colors, from a rich brown to a
fine yellow. The finest of Virginia tobacco comes from the mountainous
counties, but the amount is small in proportion to the vast quantities
raised on the lowlands of the Dan and James rivers and their
tributaries. The leaf grown in the higher counties of South-western
Virginia is much lighter in color and much softer than the ordinary
Virginia tobacco. Shades of color in Virginia tobacco (as well as in
most others) serve to determine its use, while texture and length of
leaf affect as well its market value. There are various grades of
Virginia tobacco, especially in that grown in Southside, Virginia.
"Long bright leaf" is considered the finest, while that known as
"Luga" is the poorest and lowest grade of leaf.

The staple known as James River tobacco has acquired a world-wide
reputation, and the same ground is cultivated and planted with tobacco
now as in 1620. Virginia tobacco is known chiefly as a cut tobacco;
"good, stout snuff leaf" is also obtained from it, which brings as
much in European markets as "fine spinners." Missouri, Kentucky, and
some parts of Ohio also produce large quantities for manufacturing
into chewing and smoking tobacco.

OHIO TOBACCO.

[Illustration: Ohio white tobacco.]

The tobacco plant has been cultivated in this State for nearly fifty
years. Sullivan, in describing the kinds used for cutting, says:--

"Two kinds of seed are used, viz., the 'Thick Set' and the
'Pear Tree,' and of late