plantation

Workers on a tobacco plantation in South Africa, where the climate suits these large-leafed plants belonging to the nightshade family. The leaves are dried, and cured, before being processed into tobacco products.

Large farm or estate where commercial production of one crop - such as rubber (in Malaysia), palm oil (in Nigeria), or tea (in Sri Lanka) - is carried out. Plantations are usually owned by large companies, often multinational corporations, and run by an estate manager. Many plantations were established in countries under colonial rule, using slave labour.

Plantation

City in Broward County, southeastern Florida, USA, 10 km/6 mi west of downtown Fort Lauderdale; population (1990) 66,700. One of the largest residential suburbs in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, it also has some light industry. Many of its inhabitants are retired. The city was incorporated in 1953, and expanded at its greatest rate in the 1970s.