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Admiralty, S.W., 2lst October, 1905. 

 The Under Secretary of State 



for the Colonies, Downing Street, 

 Sir, 

 I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 

 to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Lucas' letter of the 26th ultimo, 

 No. 33923/1905, on the subject of the supply from British Colonies 

 of the Tobacco required for H. M. Naval service. 



2. In reply, I am to acquaint you for the information of the Sec- 

 retary of State for the Colonies, that with the assistance of Mr. 

 Chalmers, the Admiralty obtained a supply (1,508 lb.) of Leaf To- 

 bacco from Jamaica, but, as it transpired that this tobacco by itself 

 was not suitable for pipe smoking and that there is not at the 

 present time any Colonial grown Tobacco suitable for blending 

 with it, arrangements were made for it to be blended and manu- 

 factured with a quantity of Virginia grown Tobacco, the proportion 

 being 1,508 lb. Jamaican to 5,075 lb. Virginian. This preparation 

 is now undergoing trial in the Fleet and my Lords will be happy 

 to communicate the general results of the experiment in due course. 



3. As, however, more than 75 per cent, of the blend now under 

 trial is of American origin, it is evident that this test does not go 

 very far in the direction of substituting Colonial for Foreign grown 

 Tobacco, and it is doubtful whether such a step is practicable at 

 the present time. It is true that My Lords are informed that much 

 attention is being given to the cultivation of Tobacco in Victoria 

 and Rhodesia, and that it is hoped eventually to produce there a 

 type possessing the same qualities as that now grown in Virginia, 

 and therefore suitable for blending with West Indian Tobacco. 

 But planting in these. Colonies seems to be, as yet in the experi- 

 mental stage, whilst, so far as their Lordships are aware, supplies 

 even of Jamaica Tobacco, are not at present procurable in the 

 open market in any quantity. 



4. In the event, therefore, of the present trial proving successful, 

 it must still be a matter for careful consideration whether any re- 

 liance can be placed upon obtaining regular and sufficient supplies 

 of Colonial grown Tobacbo at a reasonable price, and it would be 

 very helpful to their Lordships in dealing with this question if 

 they can be given fuller information with regard to the position 

 and prospects of the Tobacco planting industry in the Colonies 

 generally, and also as to whether the Secretary of State is pre- 

 paring to take any special action in regard to the promotion of 

 Tobacco cultivation which will be likely to assist the Admiralty in 

 obtaining adequate supply from Colonial sources. 



I am, etc., 

 (Sgd.) GEO. H. HOSTE, Pi. Sec. 



The following paragraphs are taken from a letter of a corres- 

 pondent in Africa, who has had considerable experience in grow- 

 ing Sumatra tobacco in Sumatra. His notes will be of great 



