“From the foregoing it will be seen that about one-ninth of the whole crop of 1881 has been exported to the United States.
“The entire crop, excepting about 1700 bales remaining in the hands of the original importers or consignees here, on December 31, 1882, was disposed of at an advance of about 1 cent, United States currency, in the average price as compared with that realized in 1881 for the crop of 1880; or, in other words, the total crop of 1880 brought on the average about 45¾ cents, whereas the crop of 1881 averaged about 46¾ cents, United States currency, per half-kilogram.
“This refers to the prices originally obtained at the various sales throughout the year by the importers or consignees, first hands.
“As regards the prices for the particular sorts which during the year found their way to the United States, and which are usually purchased from quite a number of firms in the wholesale tobacco trade through the mediation of brokers, they differed all the way from about 45 cents to 95 cents, United States currency, for the half-kilogram.
“Thinking it might prove interesting, if not important, to parties in the United States in any way concerned in this matter, to be informed as to the extent and quality of the crop of 1882, I made inquiries relating to it, and ascertained as follows, viz.:—‘That whilst it is impossible to state, at this early day, with accuracy the yield of the crop, it is generally considered and expected to have been again in excess over the previous one, and that it amounts to about 90,000 bales.’
“Its quality is represented by the planters to be very good, as far as they are able to judge; but this can, of course, only be determined later on, after the tobacco has gone through the process of fermentation.
“The first parcels of this new crop will arrive here about the month of March next, and will be offered for sale about a month or six months thereafter.
“In concluding this report, I would remark that the year 1882 has been a most favourable one for tobacco planters in Sumatra and for those interested in tobacco plantations there, and so have those connected with the trade here realized handsomely by the year’s operations.
“I am, therefore, induced to state that so long as the present general demand for the article continues there will be neither lack of capital nor labour, so long as either can contribute to an increase in its production, and it would seem to be more a question as to the extent of acreage in Sumatra adapted for its cultivation, as only once in four or five years a crop can be raised on the same soil without danger of producing a very inferior quality of tobacco.”
Turkey.—The Turkish empire has long been known as producing some of the finest tobaccos in the world. In the sanjac of Drama, which forms the vice-consular district of Cavalla, tobacco is the staple article of production and industry, and some 75,000 acres were devoted to its culture in 1873. The whole crop of 1871 was reckoned at 11,200,000 lb., the exports having been 7,600,000 lb., value 37,825l. The tobacco of this district, though derived entirely from one species, is divided into two classes, known as Drama and Yenidji. The former leaf is larger, stouter, and more potent, and generally of deep reddish-brown colour; the latter is smaller, slighter, less narcotic, with a peculiarly delicate aroma, and the best is of a rich yellow colour, whence its name “golden-leaf.” The Drama kind is principally grown in the western portion of the district, and is the class supplied to European markets. The differences in the two kinds seem to be due solely to the soil.