280 IRISH TOBACCO 



procurable in Dublin, and the public has so far 

 willingly absorbed as much as was offered to them. 

 As yet it is by no means of the finest quality ; there 

 are barely 120 acres grown, and even that area has to 

 be maintained by a substantial subsidy, but considering 

 the entire lack of knowledge with which the experi- 

 ments started as to varieties, methods of management, 

 and curing appropriate to the country, the progress 

 has been surprising and a commercial success is within 

 sight. 



Three difficulties attack the would-be tobacco 

 grower at the outset, even if he has the necessary 

 permission to attempt the crop (and a few years ago 

 the Inland Revenue authorities would sanction no 

 trials) ; he has to select out of many hundreds the 

 varieties suitable to his soil and climate, he has to dry 

 and cure the crop after growing, and he has to find a 

 market. Tobaccos for cigars, cigarettes, or pipes 

 demand different varieties, different soils, and manage- 

 ment, and the leaf when grown is valueless until it has 

 been manipulated into the form in which the manufacturer 

 is accustomed to receive it. Moreover, the manufacturer 

 has his traditional sources of supply and the usual trade 

 belief that these are the only possible sources ; he also 

 possesses that mixture of mental inertia and legitimate 

 business caution which disinclines him to disturb his 

 accustomed routine. Lastly, the manufacturing of 

 tobacco is in very few hands, and is very largely 

 controlled by one combination. 



Experiments in tobacco-growing began in Ireland 

 under the Department of Agriculture in 1900. Since 

 1904 about TOO acres have been grown under subsidy 

 in Louth, Meath, King's County, Wexford, Tipperary, 

 and Limerick, and since 1908 three growers have 

 added about 20 acres as commercial ventures. The 



