The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-08-04
TOBACCO FOR MONARCHs.
The choicest Cuban Leaf Is Exported
to Europe Only for Roy
a1ty's Use.

none OF the choicest quality OF Cuban
tobacco is imported into the United
States. 1t is said that there are only
two farms in the whole of Cuba that de-
velop the very choicest quality of to-
bacco and all Of this is sent to Europe
for the exclusive use of the monarchs
and nobility of that continent. Soil
varies in Cuba, if such thing is posi-
BILE, more than it does in Florida, but
the climate is less changeable than
here. 1t is stated that the best tobacco
in the island grows in sandy lands, like
those of Florida-an encouraging fact
though most of the Cuban soils are
clay. The facts in regard to the pine
apple soils of Cuba are also encourage
ing to Florida growers. The best soils
Tor this fruit are sandy and at least
two-thirds of the pineapples hereto
fore exported from Havana have been
grown upon sandy tract about ten
miles long and from two to five miles
wide. There is another still smaller
tract suitable for pineapples little far
Their from Havana. In short, frst@class
pineapple and tobacco land is more linn
tied in Cuba than in Florida.
1t may be we'll to explain here that
the celebrated Vuelta Abaja (speak
Vwel-tah Ab-ah-ho) tobacco is not
named from any particular locality.
The words denote "the lower circuit or
round trip" arising from the former
habit OF the governor of making a round
trip through that section, the western,
or lower, end of the island. In like man
ner Vuelta Arriba (Ar-ree-wah) denotes
1.-The upper circuit the eastern end of
the island, and no good tobacco IS
grown in that section. Fortunately
Florida can and does produce first-class
tobacco in both her upper and lower
circuits, both in west and south Florida,
1t is the part Of candor and of true
commercial policy as well to admit that
Florida tobacco is not at present equal
to the Cuban. This is true under the
present autocratic sway of masculine
fashion, but the reverse may be true
in decade, just as the equally capri
cious goddess of feminine fashion de.
creed a. change from the fabrics made
of the stiff, lustrous English woods to
the soft, dull manufactures of French
and American merino.
In the first place, the Cuban tobacco
is grown in the cool, dry season, the
winter :of the almanac, while most of
the Florida crop is developed under the
frequent and heavy showers of the
rainy season. Second, there is some
thing in soil and atmosphere, at pres.
ent underlined and perhaps undefinable,
which gives a flavor and a sharp,
tongue7biting quality to the Cuban leaf
which IS not equally pronounced in the
Florida product. During the winter in
Cuba the worm does not trouble the
plant as it does in the summer in Flor
ida. But it does not follow that Florida
tobacco, with. American genius and
money behind it, will not eventually
be brought up to the high plane of pop
ularity now occupied by the Cuban, if
not elevated above it. The little, wild.
rugged strawberry of the New England
meadows is thought by many good
judges to possess an aroma and piquant
flavor never equaled in any of the gor.
geous berries developed out of it by the
horticulturist, and it's selling qualities
are nowhere in comparison-they are
simply nothing. Some years, ago the
American taste ran strongly in favor
of champagne, which the willy Euro
peans, knowing the national prefer.
ence, and slowed and doctored with
cognac, viellesseur and spirit of pc.
tatoes to develop the lying sparkle. But
of5late more educated taste is setting
in, which chooses the far richer, "stiD
vines And it may be the privilege OF
Florida to assist in educating in favor
of a less fiery and heady tobacco than
that grown in the rank atmosphere OF
the tropical island.@ChicagQ Chronicle