150 TOBACCO. 



1877, none in 1878, and 10 in 1879. In 1883, the exports 

 from Guayaquil were 1374 quintals, value 5496Z. ; in 1884, 

 only 96 quintals, 192Z. 



Fiji. — The Fiji Islands are well adapted to tobacco 

 culture. The natives produce a good deal, which nearly 

 approaches the American leaf. With careful curing, it 

 would find a market in England. The native product is 

 rolled, which prevents its being made into cigars. 

 Samples of leaf-tobacco in hands, raised from foreign 

 seeds, exhibited very unequal qualities, and a tendency to 

 revert to American forms, the Havana returning to the 

 Virginian type. Cut up for smoking, they were deficient 

 in flavour, but were considered satisfactory as a first 

 experiment. 



France. — The area occupied by tobacco in France in 

 1873 was 14,858 hectares (of 2^ acres), yielding at the 

 rate of 12 quintals (of 220^ lb.). The amount of land 

 authorized to grow tobacco in Pas de Calais in 1879 was 

 2100 acres, and the quantity furnished to the Government 

 was 3,659,636 lb., the prices (per hilo.) paid by the 

 Government being 1 fr. 45c. for Ists, Ifr. 12c. for 2nds, 

 88c. for 3rds, and 10-66c. for other inferior qualities. 

 The number of plants grown per acre is about 17,000. 

 The department Nord afibrds rather more than Pas de 

 Calais. 



By the Imperial decrees of December 29th, 1810, and 

 January 12th, 1811, it was ordained that the purchase of 

 tobacco in leaf and the fabrication and sale, whether 

 wholesale or retail, of manufactures of tobacco, should be 

 exclusively confined to the Administration of Indirect 

 Taxes (Kegie des Droits Unis) in all the departments of 



