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
peculiarities 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 formations; 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 producing
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 so intimately connected with all that
pertains to the plant, that it should be done well in order that the
best results may follow. Tobacco of good body, color, and texture,
cannot be grown on land devoid of fertility. The field selected for
tobacco, if heavy sward, should be plowed early in the spring or the
fall before, and later in the season if the turf is well rotted. After
spreading on the manure, the field may be plowed again and harrowed
frequently until all the lumps are made fine, and the surface mellow.

In the use of fertilizers select, if a light colored leaf is desired,
either horse