Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-10-16
CUBAN TOBACCO.
Evidences That 1t Has Greatly Deteori'
ated of Late.

Evidence, That 1T Has Greatly Deteori.
ated of Late.
Consul General Grave in his repor. 20
the Foreign Office on the agriculture OF
Cuba, says: "Cuban tobacco has lost
its prestige through forcing and artif.
cial manures, and has to sustain sharp
competition from abroad, where it for.
merly commanded the market, and /
believe some years must elapse before
the soil can recover from the excessive
and indiscriminate use of artificial fer
tilizers. A few years ago the leaf har-
vested in the Fuelta Abajo was not suf-
ficient to meet the large demand, and,
in order to increase the yield, growers
made use of guanos of all sorts, and
with such bad results that they find it
now difficult to place on reasonable
terms more than half, and sometimes
less, OF their crops at very low prices.
In few localities only the soil has not
been spoiled by spurious manurcs. and
the leaf grown there commands very
high prices, and is warmly competed
for by local manufacturers and buyers
for the United States. Notwithstanding
the last crop has been of better quality
than heretofore, growers were compel
led to abandon the tobacco cultivation
for certain time and devote the ground
to other purposes. 1t appears that this
change of cultivation is absorbing the
fertilizers and restoring to the soil its
former good qualities, and. if one can
judge from the splendid appearance of
the leaf and the ready sale it now meets
hnf ha al 70
Abajo fields are regaining their former
renown.
The total tobacco production is esti-
mated at between 100000 and 500,0
quintals Gone quintal about 100 pounds }
AS is we'll known, that grown in the
Vuelta Abajo or district west of Havana
is the best kind, and has given Cuba its
well-earned reputation. About $1,000
acres are cultivated under the denomi-
nation. l have no reliable statis-
tistics to show how much of the
raw product is manufactured in the
island, probably not more than one.
fourth Very large quantities of the
leaf are exported in bales and rolled
abroad. 1t is evident, however, that,
given the total production and corre-
spending result in the manufactured
form, but small portion of the cigars
sold in Europe and elsewhere as Havana
cigars have the slightest claim to con-
nection with Cuba. The chief and only
important manufactures of these cigars
are in Havana. and much care and
money is expended in producing a
handsome-looking article. AS much as
$40 in gold are paid to skilled laborers
per 1000 for making up frst-class
goods. About 1900 operatives are
employed in this manufacture in Ha-
vana alone.
One the largest establishments here
is that supplying the Henry Clay brands,
which is ated to turn out from $4,000
10 10000 cigars daily, and there are
many others of considerable Importance
with a well-earned and old-estabished
reputation for fine goods. The quality
of tobacco, like other agricultural pro-
duce, depends on seasons, soil, and
many natural causes. which may battle
the most careful cultivator. There has
been no really fine-fayored aromatic
leaf harvested since 1881. Much of
that since garnered has been simply
bad. Great hopes are entertained Of
the coming 1885 crop, and present indi-
cations are in favor of this assumption.
Intelligent smokers with sensitive pal
ates will find no cheap tobacco here fit
to smoke; sos. I er 100 and upw ard is
what must be paid at present for really
fine Favored aromatic cigars; beyond
SOS. or S5s. prices become fancy ones,
and are paid for the smart cases and
envelopes. Even at the rates quote 1t
is not easy to lind what is wanted. There
is abundance of dark powerful tobacco
OF fine quality at much lower rates. but
not light tobacco with flavor or aroma
or without strength, such as the edr,ca-
ted Qallude to tasle) Epglishman seeks.
| belieye that only about ten per cent
of the tobacco harvested in ordinary
years Is of the light color i refer to;
hence the difficulty in supplying the de-
mand, and the artiiices resorted TO 10
supply the defeIapey,r--Epadop Sian
dad,