THE USE OF THE WEED. 21 



And with the increasing competition of foreign leaf in 

 the markets of the world, it is evident that the suprem- 

 acy of American tobaccos will depend, in great measure, 

 upon their quality. Present profits and' future prosper- 

 ity will be governed by the quality of the leaf produced. 

 This fact cannot be too often reiterated. To this end, 

 our scientists must cooperate most earnestly with plant- 

 ers, while much is yet to be learned about preservation 

 and improvement of quality in the processes of packing, 

 handling and manufacturing. 



Our statesmen must also be educated to pursue a 

 policy that shall develop, instead of discourage, this 

 great industry. This country's policy of removing 

 every possible obstruction in the way of domestic tobacco 

 culture, trading and manufacture, is the only right 

 method. The product can stand a reasonable amount 

 of direct taxation, when imposed and collected by the 

 comparatively simple and effective system now in vogue. 

 It imposes on growers no restrictions of any moment, 

 while taxes on the finished product and on licenses are 

 moderate, and are collected with little friction. 



While we should jealously guard our interests in 

 the foreign market for the surplus of American leaf, 

 the certain increase in production and quality in other 

 parts of the world must be reckoned upon. The idiotic 

 restrictions on tobacco culture in other countries (it is 

 prohibited in Great Britain and Spain, and seriously 

 hampered in other European States), are likely to be 

 succeeded by the American system, which is equally 

 successful as a revenue producer, without depriving farm- 

 ers of the benefits of growing this profitable crop. 

 The longer those restrictions are maintained abroad, 

 the better the opportunity for American leaf in for- 

 eign markets. But it is inevitable that' these older 

 nations will gradually encourage tobacco culture, while 

 newer lands possess vast areas of soil, now virgin to 



