Tobacco 



213 



Although individual taste with regard to tobaccos varies considerably with different 

 persons, it is nevertheless a fact that; definite types of tobacco are demanded by different 

 countries and that a variety suitable for one country would be quite rejected by another. 



• Great Britain demands, on the whole, the best qualities and most highly priced leaf, and 

 is one of the most valuable markets for the products of the United States, the average annual 

 import from America being nearly 93,000,000 lb. of leaf. She is buying more and more, of the 

 better . grades of tobacco, and is rapidly increasing the consumption of the lighter shades of 

 tobacco known in the trade as Bright Leaf. The strongest tobacco imported, is that in- 

 tended for the manufacture of Navy plug, but the most important is a " smoked," some- 

 what olive-coloured- leaf. In former days it was necessary to have a "smoked" tobacco 

 in order to withstand . the long sea transit, and the taste for such tobacco then acquired" has 

 maintained its hold upon the British consumer. 



The total imports into the United Kingdom now average considerably over 100,000,0001b. 

 per annum, and the amount has more than doubled during the last fifteen years. The-principal 

 sources of our tobacco are the United States (including trans-shipments from Cuba and Porto 

 Rico) with nearly 86 per cent, of the total supply, followed at a very long distance 

 by Holland (chiefly from her colony of Sumatra) with only 5" 1 per cent. Then comes Turkey 

 with 1 per cent., and from British possessions, chiefly North Borneo, we receive 0'8 per cent. 

 All other countries send approximately 3,000,0001b., or roughly 3 per cent. 



The German demands tobaccos which in many instances closely resemble those imported 

 into England. The leaf must be stout, with plenty of body, and must be rich in oil ; the 

 colour most in favour is a dark red. Large quantities of tobacco are imported into Germany 

 for trans-shipment to many parts of the Continent, notably to Russia, Norway, and Sweden. 



CARRYING TOBACCO ALONG THE LANGKON ROAD IN BRITISH NORTH BORNEO 



