The district of Sarisbaban produces on the average about 2,000,000 lb. annually, but the crop of 1871 reached 2,800,000 lb. About is as bashi-baghli. That grown on the plain and hills is termed ghynbeh, and forms the bulk; that from the slopes, about 500,000 lb. a year, is the beat, and is known as ghubek. All is packed up in small boghchas (parcels), of 30-50 lb., which are distinguished as beyaz, from the white cotton wrappers used for the beat sort, and henavir, from the canvas coverings of the inferior kinds. The best goes to Constantinople, secondary to Smyrna and other home markets, and the worst to Europe. The district of Yenidji, near the Gulf of Lagos, affords some 3,500,000 lb. per annum, chiefly as bassma, and bearing a very general resemblance to the produce of Sarisbaban. The best goes to Constantinople and Russia. Ghiumirgina (Ghumur djina, or Komuldaina), grows about 300,000 lb. yearly of dark-coloured bassma, of the Alma class, which is used locally ; and Sultan-Yeri gives 400,000 lb. of still darker bashi-baghli. The produce of these districts is shipped at Lagoa (Karagatch) or Cavalla.
The most delicate and valued of all the tobaccos raised in this portion of European Turkey is the celebrated "golden leaf" from the CaZa of Yenidji, on the Vardar (Nestus) river. After it, in declining order, come the produots of Drama, Persocciao, Sarishaban, Cavalla, and Pravista. Of the whole Drama and Yenidji produce, it is estimated that Austro-Hungary takes 40 per cent. Italy buys annually about 150,000-200,000 kilo. France, Germany, and Switzerland receive very little. Rusaia is a large customer. Before the war, considerable quantities were sent to the countries on the Lower Danube. England imports every year some 10,000 bales, or 400,000 okes (of 2.83 lb.) of Praviata tobacco. The refusa, or waste leaves, &c., is sent everywhere for making into cigarettes, most largely perhaps to Egypt. A kind of tobacco known as ayiasoulouk is grown in considerable quantities in the opium districts, almost exclusively for export to Europe, the natives having a strong prejudice against it.
The necessity for manuring is well understood by the Turks. They dress the seed-beds with goat- and sheep-dung, and manure the fields during winter with horse- and cattle-dung. In the spring, sheep and goats are folded on the land. The soil of tobacco lands will be found quite impregnated with ammonia and nitrate of potash, both absorbed by the plant ; the former is thought to influence the aroma, and the latter may be seen in crystals on the surface of the dried leaf. In order to keep the leaves entail and delicate, the planting is performed very close, the usual distances being 5 in. apart, and 9 in. between the rows.
The district of Latakia, in the northern part of Syria. has long been celebrated for its tobacco,
which is the chief product of the mountainous part. There are several kinds :—(1) Abu Biha or Dgebeli, found in its best state among the mountains of the Nesseries (Ansaries), which possesses a peculiar and much admired aroma, derived from its being exposed, from November to April, to the awoke of fires of ozer (Quercus Ilex, or Q. Cerris); (2) Dgidar, including a number of kinds, of medium strength, and in great favour locally on account of its low price ; (3) Seheik-el-Bent, almost equal to Abu-Riha, and often substituted for it.
The plain of Koura is remarkable for its tobaccos, which are rather strong, but much admired. The villages of Lebail and Serai produce better tobacco than Koura. The district of Gebail (Gebel) in Kesrasan (Castravan) affords the best and dearest tobacco in Syria ; it is very brittle, and its ash is quite white, The country south of Lebanon yields very ordinary qualities, known as Salili, Tanone, and Takibe, or generically as Berraoni; these are mixed with stronger kinds for use. The best of the Abu-Biha is yielded by the plant called Karn-el-Gazel ; the second quality is termed Bonati.
The exports of tobacco from Alexandretta in 1879 were :—To Egypt, 91 tons, value 6380/. ; Turkey, 24 tons, 19201. ; England, 51 tons, 2550/. ; France, 1 ton, 80/. The exports from Aleppo in 1878 were 30 tons, value 1200/., to Great Britain. The yield of the crop in Thessaly was 1,116,000 okes (of 2'83 lb.) in 1877, 210,000 in 1878, and 890,000 in 1879. The crop of Prevesa in 1878 was 4000 okes, value 215/. The exports from Dedeagatch were about 260 bales, value 10001., in 1878; and 600 bales, value 24001., in 1879. Considerable quantities are grown around Sinope. Tobacco is one of the principal products of the district of Sarnsoun, and is of good quality. The average yield is 7,000,000 lb. yearly. It is grown near the sea-shore, and not eastward of Yomurah, at Matchka and Trebizond, and especially at Akeh6-Abad. But the aggregate crop in these localities is hardly # of the quantity produced at Samaoun, and the quality is far inferior. The Samsoun product is usually purchased largely on account of the French Government. The exports from Samsoun in 1878 were :—To Turkey, 2,680,000 kilo., value 160,800/. ; France, 583,500 kilo., 28,008/. ; Russia, 575,000 kilo., 57,500/. ; Germany, 400,000 kilo., 7200/. ; Austria, 327,220 kilo., 31,266/. Great Britain, 87,567 kilo., 1576/. ; total, 4,653,267 kilo., 286,350/. The exports of Turkey produced tobacco from Trebizond in 1879 were :—To Turkey, 14,864 cwt., value 44,592/. ; Russia, 866 cwt., 25981.; Great Britain, 490 cwt., 1470/. ; Austria and Germany, 204 cwt., 6121.; total, 16,424 cwt., 49,272/.