AMERICAN TOBACCO TYPES, USES, AND MARKETS a 
more and more land has been given over to this crop. For example, in 
1909, approximately 341,900 acres of flue-cured tobacco were grown 
in the United States; the acreage in 1928, 1929, and 1930, and again 
in 1938 exceeded 1,000,000 acres. Other types have increased or de- 
creased in greater or less degree according to whether there has been 
an increase or decrease in consumption of the products manufactured 
therefrom. This is shown in table 37. 
Cigarette types increased 128 percent in total acreage, and from 
54 percent of the total during 1909-13 to 84 percent of the total 
during 1935-39. Fire-cured and dark air-cured types decreased 50 
percent in acreage, and from 30 to 10 percent of total acreage. Cigar 
types lost 48 percent in acreage, and dropped from 16 to only 6 percent 
in relation to the total acreage. 
The significance of a study of the consuming habits of a nation lies 
chiefly in its import as to future requirements for the commodities 
studied, and the effect of changing requirements upon farm practices 
over wide areas. The figures that have been presented indicate that 
changes in tobacco-consuming habits are still in progress. 
TABLE 37.—Comparison of acreage of types of tobacco grouped according to primary 
manufacturing uses, 1909-13 and 1935—40 
Increase 
a s (+) or de- 
Group 1909-13 1935-40 crease (—) 
in acreage 
1,000 acres| Percent |1,000 acres| Percent Percent 
@igarettentyiPeS lee sae see ee ee eee 605. 0 54 1, 381.6 84 +128 
Fire-cured and dark air-cured types ?__________--_- 335. 5. 30 166.9 10 — 50 
Czar tyes tS eee ee ees Se es ae a ees ee 176.5 16 91.3 6 —48 
COO EY CEs pe ge a a ke ee 1,117.0 100 1, 639.8 100 +47 
1 Includes flue-cured, Burley, and Maryland types, all of which contribute to the supply of cigarette 
tobacco as well as to the supplies used in the manufacture of chewing and smoking tobacco. 
2 Includes types which are used in the production of chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff. Types 
in the first and second groups also comprise practically all the domestic exports, their uses abroad being 
generally the same as their domestic uses. 
3 Includes types used only in the manufacture of cigars and scrap chewing. 
No one can foretell how long the present trends of consuming habits 
will endure, nor when or how these trends will be given new direction. 
Yet, records of the past are convincing evidence that however long 
the duration of a Nation-wide tobacco habit, however long the period 
during which popular fancy turns more and more to that habit, 
eventually the time comes when interest in it begins to wane and 
another mode of consumption rises to dominance. It is difficult at 
this time to conceive of an entirely new method of using tobacco, but 
it cannot be assumed there will not be an eventual revival in some one 
of the modes that at present seem to have been eclipsed by the 
cigarette habit. Such a development does not seem likely to occur 
for a long time to come, however, for a review of the history of tobacco- 
consuming habits indicates that there has been a consistent trend 
away from products “‘strong’”’ in character, some of which have come 
to be regarded as socially unacceptable, and towards products of a 
milder nature. This view suggests relative permanence of the ciga- 
rette habit in particular. 
Even should the number of cigarettes consumed per person reach 
its peak and become stationary, or possibly decline, the normal 
