176 TOBACCO. 



in the shape of saltpetre, and at a moderate cost. But, 

 though saltpetre is largely exported from the tobacco- 

 growing districts, it is never employed as a manure for 

 tobacco. 



Italy. Tobacco is cultivated in Italy in the provinces 

 of Ancona, Benevento, Terra di Lavoro, Principato 

 Citeriore, Terra d'Otranto, Umbria, Yicenza, and Sardinia. 

 The area and produce in the following years were: in 

 1870, 9544 acres, 67,192 cwt. ; 1872, 12,256 acres, 82,349 

 cwt. ; 1874, 8202 acres, 90,300 cwt. The exports from 

 Naples in 1879 were 2006 Mo., value 401Z. 



The British Consul at Cagliari reports that the cultiva- 

 tion of tobacco is only carried on in the district of Sassari, 

 and in the plains of Sassari, Portotorres, Nurra, Sorso, and 

 Sennori. No positive data on this branch of industry can 

 be had, it having been exclusively carried on till 1883 by a 

 private company, called the Eegia Cointeressata. Without 

 fear of being wrong, it may be calculated that the tobacco 

 cultivators reach the number of 100, who employ during 

 the period of five months from 600 to 700 labourers ; the 

 plantation varies from 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 plants, pro- 

 ducing a harvest from 2000 to 2500 quintals of tobacco 

 leaves, at a value of about 125,000 lire. 



Japan. Japanese tobacco is well known in the London 

 market, but it* is often in a soft condition, and then 

 scarcely saleable. More care is needed in drying it before 

 packing. 



Java. Tobacco, termed by the natives tombaku, or sdta, 

 is an article of very general cultivation in Java, but is 

 only extensively raised for exportation in the central 

 districts of Kedu and Banyurnas. As it requires a soil of 



