Introduction. 31 



M. Schwartner calculates the value of the annual growth, 

 ftt a hundred and ten millions of florins, (289,300,000 francs) 

 but he justly observes, that the quantity aimed at for exporta- 

 tion is too considerable, and that where the wines are indiffer- 

 ent it would be better to attend to the culture of grain. 



Tobacco is another production of no small importance; its 

 consumption being general throughout the country, and its 

 excellent qualities making it a desirable article of export. No 

 restraints are laid on the cultivation, but to enter Austria, ex- 

 orbitant duties are imposed. Hence, the peasant can only 

 gain a very moderate profit from his produce. After provi- 

 ding for the internal consumption, he must compound for the 

 surplus with the Austrian officers, who go about the country 

 and often buy up the tobacco before it is ripe. 



In Transylvania are large plantations of tobacco, which is 

 in great repute, but whether it be preferable the consumer 

 must decide. Of the different kinds of snuff, those of Transyl- 

 vania and of Fuzes Gyarmath appear to be the best. Tobacco 

 for smoking is not subject to any very particular process, but 

 the leaves are merely dried and chopped, or reduced to pow- 

 der. Hereby it escapes that strong scent which the same sort 

 prepared in Austria emits, and it takes an agreeable odour 

 somewhat like the perfume of incense. The snuffs are never 

 black like those in Austria, but take a yellow or chesnut brown 

 colour ; they are extremely fine, very piquant, and perfectly 

 free from that ammoniacal smell, incident to snuffs prepared 

 in the other parts of Europe. They are much valued. 



The interior consumption of tobacco is immense, for the 

 men almost universally, and youths of fifteen or sixteen, use it 

 to excess. If, at a moderate estimate, we suppose one-third 

 of the population in the use of smoking it, or of taking snuff, 

 and each individual to consume a pound a month, the total 

 would amount to 207,000 metrical quintals, or about 415,000 

 quintals, fixing the quintals at the ancient pounds of Paris. 

 The exportation is also very considerable, and according to 

 M. Schwartner, amounted, in 1802, to 187,200 quintals (ancient 

 pounds of Paris.) 



The immense forests that cover the mountains in the west, 

 north, and east of Hungary, would acquire additional import- 

 ance and value, were forges erected among them, and roads 

 and canals made for the carriage of their materials. The 

 woods rot in the mountainous parts, Avhile the price is high, 

 and getting dearer every day, in the plains. Besides timber 

 for building and fuel, there would be supplies for the marine, 

 as in those eternal forests of pines, are many straight and very 

 beautiful trees that would serve for masts. But from the irn- 



