TOBACCO. 



189 



Turkish tobacco have the redeeming quality, however, of being 

 a, light smoke, and can be consumed in large numbers without 

 decided injurious effects to the nervous system of the average 

 smoker. Properly handled and matured, Turkish tobacco from 

 South Africa would find a ready sale overseas for blending 

 purposes. 



Practically the whole of the cigar tobacco grown in South 

 Africa is produced in Natal. The leaf is similar to Connecticut 

 seed leaf, but is narrower and has less body, flavour and aroma. 

 The tobacco is used principally for the manufacture of cheap 

 cigars and cheroots, which have a fairly good local sale, but 

 which would probably not find a large ready market elsewhere 

 in competition with Dutch cigars and Indian cheroots. 



The production of tobacco in Natal has been decreasing for 

 some years, which indicates that the demand for this type of 

 leaf is not increasing. 



The following table shows the largest tobacco-producing 

 districts in the Union, the methods used for curing, the types 

 of tobacco, and the percentage of cigarette leaf produced : — * 



