168 



TOBACCO. 



Arracan ; Bungpore, in Bengal ; and Bhilsa, in the Cen- 

 tral Provinces. The results of many analyses of South 

 Indian tobaccos show that their ash seldom contains more 

 than 5-6 per cent, of carbonate of potash, while American 

 range from 20-40 per cent., indicating the poverty of 

 the Indian soils in this important ingredient. It might, 

 however, be supplied at moderate cost in the shape of 

 saltpetre, which is actually exported largely from the 

 tobacco-growing districts. 



The bulk of the Indian tobacco exported consists of 

 leaf, the kinds chiefly shipped being the " Bispah " and 

 " Poolah " varieties of the Kungpore kind ; the quantities 

 of cigars and other manufactured tobacco exported are 

 very small. The exports in Ib. for the four years 1875-79 

 were : 



On the other hand, a considerable quantity of manu- 

 factured tobacco, averaging over 1J million Ib. yearly, 

 is imported, showing that India is still merely a producer 

 of raw material, and is dependent upon other countries 

 for the manufactured article in a condition fit for con- 

 sumption. Even as regards the raw material, India 

 might do a great deal more than at present, for there 

 would be a large and constant demand on the continent 



