170 



over 10 per cent,, against 3s. 6d. under 10 per cent. This 

 made a difference in the value, estimated at Id. a Ih. 

 The price obtained was S^d., which woukl have been 

 4|(^. had the tobacco been drier, and the sale has been 

 followed by orders of large shipments. 



The high prices, too, realized for the best samples of 

 the 1876 and 1877 crops, indicate that Indian leaf can 

 be turned out equal to the best shipping tobacco from 

 America. A tierce of strips from the 1876-77 crop from 

 Ghazipore sold for Id. a lb., and the greater jjart of the 

 rest for M. or more, while a portion of the Poosah leaf 

 of 1877-78 was valued at 5d. when the market was 25 

 per cent, below normal rates. These facts seem to 

 guarantee future success, since the quantity of the higher 

 classes can be largely increased, and a greater portion of 

 the crop be brought to the same higher level. The chief 

 point to be ascertained was whether a sufficiently high 

 level could be attained at all. It has been attained. 

 The cured leaf of 1878 is very much superior to any 

 hitherto turned out, especially that from Ghazipore. A 

 new market is not unlikely to open in France. The 

 French Government have already asked for a consignment 

 for trial of 1000-1500 lb. 



The reason why the manufacture of smoking-tobacco 

 for Indian consumption has occupied so large a share in 

 the operations is, that the Indian market, though small, 

 pays far more handsome profits than the English 

 market. 



The price paid for reasonably good American manu- 

 factured tobacco in India ranges from one to three rupees 

 a lb. Ghazipore and Poosah tobacco is sold at half that 



