PEODUCTION AND COMMERCE. 207 



produce of Sarishaban. The best goes to Constantinople 

 and Russia. Ghiumirgina (Ghumurdjina, or Komuldsina) 

 grows about 300,000 Ib. yearly of dark-coloured bassma, 

 of the Drama class, which is used locally ; and Sultan- 

 Yeri gives 400,000 Ib. of still darker basM-baghli. The 

 produce of these districts is shipped at Lagos (Karagatch) 

 or Cavalla. 



The most delicate and valued of all the tobaccos raised 

 in this portion of European Turkey is the celebrated 

 "golden leaf" from the caza of Yenidji, on the Vardar 

 (Nestus) river. After it, in declining order, come the 

 products of Drama, Persoccian, Sarishaban, Cavalla, and 

 Pravista. Of the whole Drama and Yenidji produce, it 

 is estimated that Austro-Hungary takes 40 per cent. 

 Italy buys annually about 150,000-200,000 Mo. France, 

 Germany, and Switzerland receive very little. Russia 

 is a large customer. Before the war, considerable quanti- 

 ties were sent to the countries on the Lower Danube. 

 England imports every year some 10,000 bales, or 400,000 

 okes (of 2*83 Ib.) of Pravista tobacco. The refusa, or 

 waste leaves, &c., is sent everywhere for making into 

 cigarettes, most largely perhaps to Egypt. A kind of 

 tobacco known as ayiasoulouk is grown in considerable 

 quantities in the opium districts, almost exclusively for 

 export to Europe, the natives having a strong prejudice 

 against it. 



The necessity for manuring is well understood by the 

 Turks. They dress the seed-beds with goat- and sheep- 

 dung, and manure the fields during winter with horse- 

 and cattle-dung. In the spring, sheep and goats are 

 folded on the land. The soil of tobacco lands will be 



