The bulk of the Indian tobacco exported consists of leaf, the kinds chiefly shipped being the " Bispah " and " Poolah " varieties of the Rungpore kind ; the quantities of cigars and other manu factured tobacco exported are very small. The exports in lbs. for the last four years were On the other hand, a considerable quantity of manufactured tobacco, averaging over 11 million lb. yearly, is imported, showing that India is still merely a producer of raw material, and is dependent upon other countries for the manufactured article in a condition fit for consumption. Even as regards the raw material, India might do a great deal more than at present, for there would be a large and constant demand on the continent of Europe for Indian leaf, if it could be obtained of somewhat better quality. The French and Italian tobacco departments are prepared to take Indian tobacco in large quantities, if it can be supplied of a quality suited to their purposes ; and there would also be an extensive demand from Austria and Germany. Although the shipments consist mainly of leaf tobacco, and that not of good quality, tobacco-manufacture is now making a promising beginning. In the enterprise being carried on at Ghazipore, in the N.-W. Provinces, and at Poosab, in Bengal, both the cultivation and manufacture are under the supervision of skilled American growers and curers. Some of this tobacco sent to the Administration des Tabacs in Paris has been very favourably reported on. The factory at Ghazipore is now turning out about 500 lb. a day of all classes, the greater part being black cavendish and honeydew, for the army. The machinery is capable of turning out 3500 lb. a day, as soon as sufficient hands have been trained.
Hither to no Indian tobacco has realized any valuation approaching that of American. The average price of the American "shipping tobacco " is 5-6d. a lb., higher classes of bright leaf from Virginia realize as much as 7-13d. a lb., while the price of Indian tobacco has generally been 1-2d. a lb. But the 15,000 lb. of Poosah leaf from the 1877 crop reached England when American shipping leaf was at 4-5d. a lb., or 25 per cent. below the normal rate. The consignment was, moreover, packed in rather damp order, and contained a quantity of moisture which caused it to be assessed under the highest rate of the new tariff, which imposes 3s. 10d. duty when the moisture is over 10 per cent., against 3s. 6d. under 10 per cent. This made a difference in the value, estimated at ld. a lb. The price obtained was Rd., which would have been 41d. had the tobacco been drier, and the sale has been followed by orders of large shipments.
The high prices, too, realized for the best samples of the 1876 and 1877 crops, indicate that Indian leaf can be turned out equal to the best shipping tobacco from America. A tierce of strips from the 1876-77 crop from Ghazipore sold for 7d. a lb., and the greater part of the rest for 5d. or more, while a portion of the Poosah leaf of 1877-78 was valued at 5d. when the market was 25 per cont. below normal rates. These facts seem to guarantee future success, since the quantity of the higher classes can be largely increased, and a greater portion of the crop be brought to the same higher level. The chief point to be ascertained was whether a sufficiently high level could he attained at all. It has been attained. The cured leaf of 1878 is very much superior to any hitherto turned out, especially that from Ghazipore. A new market is not unlikely to open in France. The French Government have already asked for a consignment for trial of 1000-1500 lb.
The reason why the manufacture of smoking tobacco for Indian consumption has oocnpied so large a share in the operations is, that the Indian market, though small, pays far more handsome profits than the English market. The price paid for reasonably good American manufactured
tobacco in India ranges from one to three rupees a lb. Ghazipore and Poosah tobacco is sold at half that price, at a much higher profit than can be obtained by sending cured leaf to England.
While Indian cured leaf can find a sale in the English market at prices which will enable it to compete there with American cured leaf, Indian manufactured leaf is proved to compete successfully with American manufactured leaf in India itself, with a fair prospect of success in a similar com petition in the colonies. It may be stated in general terms that 4d. a lb. for cured leaf in England, and 6-10 annas for manufactured leaf in India, will secure sufficient or even handsome profits. The opening for profits will perhaps be better understood if it is explained that ld. a lb. represents an asset of about 5/. an acre. The one great advantage which India has over America is cheap labour. It is now proved that the leaf is, for all practical purposes, as good as the American leaf, and there is hardly any doubt that America cannot afford to send home leaf at the price at which India can sell.
The exports of tobacco from British India during the years 1874-5 to 1878-9 have been as follows :— Italy.—Tobacco is cultivated in Italy in the provinces of Ancona, Benevento, Terra di Lavoro, Principato Citeriore, Terra d'Otranto, Umbria, Vicenza, and Sardinia. The area and produce in the following years were :—in 1870, 9544 acres, 67,192 cwt.; 1872, 12,256 acres, 82,349 cwt. ; 1874, 8202 acres, 90,300 cwt. The exports from Naples in 1879 were 2006 kilo., value 401/.
Japan.—Japanese tobacco is well-known in the London market, but it is often in a soft con dition, and then scarcely saleable. More care is needed in drying it before packing.
Java.—Tobacco, termed by the natives tombaku, or sdta, is an article of very general cultivation in Java, but is only extensively raised for exportation in the central districts of Kedu and Ban yumas. As it requires a soil of the richest mould, but at the same time not subject to inundations, these districts hold out peculiar advantages to the tobacco-planter, not to be found on the low lands. For internal consumption, small quantities are raised in convenient spots everywhere. In Kedu, tobacco forms, after rice, by far the most important article of cultivation, and, in consequence of the fitness of the soil, the plant grows to the height of 8-10 ft., on lands not previously dressed or manured, with a luxuriance seldom witnessed in India. Cultivated here alternately with rice, only one crop of either is obtained within the year ; but after the harvest of the rice, or the gathering of the tobacco-leaves, the land is allowed to remain fallow, till the season again arrives for pre paring it to receive the other. The young plant is not raised within the district, but procured from the high lands in the vicinity, principally from the district of Kalibeber, on the slope of the moun tain Dieng or Prahu, where it is raised and sold by the hundred to the cultivators of the adjoining districts. The transplantation takes place in June, and the plant is at its full growth in October. The exports in the year 1877-8 were 212,500 piculs to Holland, and 213 to Singapore ; in 1878-9, they were 248,566 piculs to Holland, and 872 to Singapore. The value of the export to Holland in 1879 was stated at 1,250,000/.