Tobacco' 227 



one, and the soils are mostly volcanic in origin, the'finest tobaccos. being*raised on those resem- 

 bling clay or silt in texture. The land is not purchased freehold by the planters, as is so often 

 the case in tropical agriculture, but is leased from the Sultan for a period of seventy-five years 

 under the sanction of the Dutch Government. By far the greater part of the labour is per- 

 formed by Chinese coolies imported directly from China, and there can be little doubt 

 that but for the yellow labour the successful cultivation of tobacco in Sumatra would be 

 impossible. The Chinese are most industrious workers, and stand the exacting climate well ; 

 they very quickly learn their new duties, for it is stated that the imported coolie has to be 

 taught from the beginning, since he has no previous knowledge of tobacco" cultivation. 



TOBACCO IN THE PHILIPPINES 



The soil and climate of the Philippines are peculiarly well suited to the cultivation of 

 tobacco, and next to the finest qualities\of the Cuban and Turkish tobaccos, the product 

 of these islands is considered the finest in the world. The famous Manila cheroots enjoy a 

 universal reputation for good quality'. The product of the Cayagan province is perhaps the 

 finest, and the high quality of the tobacco is usually ascribed to the peculiarities of the soil, 

 which consists of alluvial deposits annually brought down by the rivers. Under the somewhat 

 severe terms of the late Spanish monopoly, the industry showed signs of deterioration, but it 

 is probable that with the removal of these restrictions a revival may take place-. 



TOBACCO IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE 

 India and Ceylon 



Tobacco is said to have first been introduced into India by the Portuguese in the early years 

 of the seventeenth century. Since that time several attempts have been made to extend 

 and improve the tobacco industry of British India, and at the present day certain Indian 

 tobaccos and cigars have an established reputation in England. In 1829 samples of Maryland 

 and Virginia seed were sent to India by the direction of the East India Company, and the 

 quality of the leaf produced was regarded as equal to some of the best West Indian varieties. 

 Much of the tobacco, however, was of comparatively inferior quality, and although acceptable 

 to the natives, was quite unsuited to Western tastes. Nevertheless, the experiments had 

 shown that an article of 

 good quality could be pro- 

 duced in India provided the 

 best sorts of seed were used 

 and proper methods of cul- 

 tivation and preparation 

 adopted. The Government 

 therefore, in 1876, established 

 an experimental farm of 

 eight hundred acres at Gha- 

 zipur, on the Ganges, and 

 employed a Virginia planter 

 to superintend the curing of 

 the leaf. Ghazipur tobacco 

 is now recognised as one of 

 the best raised in India. 



Tobacco for local con- 

 sumption is raised in small 

 patches in most parts of 

 India, but from a commer- 

 cial point of view the chief 



PACKING CIGARETTES INTO BOXES 



