PRODUCTION AND COMMEECE. 169 



of Europe for Indian leaf, if it could be obtained of some- 

 what better quality. The French and Italian tobacco 

 departments are prepared to take Indian tobacco in large 

 quantities, if it can be supplied of a quality suited to 

 their jDurposes ; and there would also be an extensive 

 demand from Austria and Germany. Although the ship- 

 ments consist mainly of leaf tobacco, and that not of good 

 quality, tobacco manufacture is now making a promising 

 beginning. In the enterprise being carried on at Ghazi- 

 pore, in the North- West Provinces, and at Poosah, in 

 Bengal, both the cultivation and manufacture are under 

 the supervision of skilled American growers and curers. 

 Some of this tobacco sent to the Administration des Tabacs 

 in Paris has been very favourably reported on. The 

 factory at Ghazipore is now turning out about 500 lb. 

 a day of all classes, the greater part being black cavendish 

 and honeydew, for the army. The machinery is capable 

 of turning out 3500 lb. a day, as soon as sufficient hands 

 have been trained. 



Hitherto no Indian tobacco has realized any valuation 

 approaching that of American. The average price of the 

 American " shipping tobacco " is 5-6d. a lb., higher classes 

 of bright leaf from Virgiuia realize as much as 7-13d. a 

 lb., while the price of Indian tobacco has generally been 

 l-2d. a lb. But the 15,000 lb. of Poosah leaf from the 

 1877 crop reached England when American shipping 

 leaf was at 4:-5d. a lb., or 25 per cent, below the normal 

 rate. The consignment was, moreover, packed in rather 

 damp order, and contained a quantity of moisture which 

 caused it to be assessed under the highest rate of the new 

 tariff, which imposes 3s. lOd. duty when the moisture is 



