The Florida agriculturist., 1885-04-29

take from her the American trade in
nne goods. The time was that Florida
had a bonanza in her broad leaf, but
that was the day in which Cuba con-
trolled the cigar market in good goods.
as the smoker took it for granted that
anything with the Spanish brand was
the best to be had, as it in reality was,
only to-day there are more "tricks of the
trade" Florida leaf then was much of
1t sold and mixed with Cuban, the
smoker then not dreaming but that all
CUBAN was pure. 1t was also a day of
llght-colored goods, when the thin Flor
ida leaf, not having to be put through a
resweat, answered the purpose of fine
wrapper. But the market to-day de-
manding dark goods and different flavor.
the tobacco has to be put through two and
sometimes three sweatings, which the
| delicate leaf did not contain body enough
to stand, and consequently to-day is not
marketable. 1t was fine tobacco for
broad leaf, yet it could not compare with
the Spanish or Cuban variety; vet of it's
kind was the best in the market, and
outsold all other localities, showing con-
clusively that Florida is favored sec
tion for the production of tobacco
Now, having plainly shown to you
Florida's superior advantages as a to-
bacco growing section, the question that
arises is, which variety shall we raise,
or, in other words, which variety is most
profitable? There being but two dis
tinct varieties-all else being variations
of climate, soil and cultivation-we are
not perpleXed in answering, the Spanish
or Cuban. In the first place, having a
protective duty of thirtyfive cents per
pound, it brings the highest price of any
in the market and is alrayS in demand,
while the other is often so depressed as
not to bring the first cost of production,
oftentimes there being no demand for
anything but the finest sound leaf.
While the Cubanis always salable, even
to the most ragged and torn-another
fully handled (Which it is very apt to be
here), it is salable, while the buyer
would not look at the broad leaf in that
condition. Mind, do not countenance
j careless handling, for it costs the pro-
ducer dearly, but | say the Cuban will
| bear it better. AS filler leaf it is worth
about half the price of wrapper, while
broad leaf filler is worth about three
cents per pound. Again, the Cuban is
better adapted to this climate, as it con-
tinues it's growth during the severest
drought, when the other will cease grow
ing or die entirely. On the other hand,
while it is serious matter to keep the
worms off the large growing, it is little
trouble to pick them from the Spanish.
Really the worms do not trouble it as
much, and being of quicker growth is
sooner out of the way. Either they are
not as fond of it, or from the fact that
the leaves taking on more of the upright
form do not afford them the protection
from the sun that the other variety does.
I The leaves being more erect also faciIi-'
tates picking them, consequently lessons
the expense and trouble. 1t also cures
more readily, and is easier to handle.
1t brings considerably more than double
the price of the other variety, while the
yield is two-thirds to three-fourths as
much. In reality, it is better in euerv
respect, from the raising of the plants
(Which grow quicker) to the selling OF
the crop. And l would say to old to-
bacco growers here, and to those who
anticipate going into the business, do
not be misled by visions of heavy Yields
of broad leaf, or representations of neac
tangled varieties, and led off into their
cultivation, for while doing that you are
losing valuable time, as you are missing
a golden opporunity.-C. HoUGHToN, in
the FloTidian.