178 TOBACCO. 



were 13,787 lb., value 4830 dollars, in 1883, but only 

 300 lb., value 240 dollars, in 1884. At present it is a 

 Government monopoly. 



Paraguay. — Consul Baker, of Buenos Ayres, states that 

 one of the most valuable crops of Paraguay is tobacco ; in 

 1829, its production amounted to only 2,675,000 lb., while 

 in 1860, the crop amounted to 15,000,000 lb. ; but the war 

 with the allies almost ruined this source of wealth. It 

 has, however, somewhat recovered its importance, the 

 exports alone last ye^^r amounting to 8,975,000 lb. A 

 large iDroportion of the crop is annually worked up into 

 cigars, a branch of industry which is almost entirely in 

 the hands of the women. The tobacco planted in Paraguay 

 originally came from Havana, with the exception of a 

 particular kind which is called in Paraguay, blue tobacco, 

 peti-hoby, the origin of which is unknown. The favourite 

 leaf is a yellow tobacco, peti-para, grown chiefly in Villa 

 Eica, which possesses about 6 per cent, of nicotine. 



Persia. — The whole of the eastern coast of the Black 

 Sea, i. e. Mingrelia, Lazistan, Abkhasia, and Circassia, is 

 admirably suited for tobacco cultivation. The country 

 between Poti and Siikhum Kale contains admirable sites 

 for tobacco plantations, labour for which can be got from 

 Trebizond. A great demand for tobacco of good quality 

 exists in the country, and a practical planter should do 

 well. A quantity of coarse, badly-cured tobacco, of no 

 commercial value, is produced in Imeritia and Georgia. 

 Great success has attended the culture in Ghilan. The 

 first seed introduced was from Samsoun ; since then Yenija 

 seed has been tried, and some parcels attained the standard 

 of the best Turkish tobacco. It can be produced at about 



