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had supplied itself abundantly the year before, in anticipation of tlie 

 new tariff, and bought only 11,000 bales, where it had purchased 48,182 

 bales the year before, and where it purchased 32,926 bales the next year. 



Several of the new companies had to go into liquidation iramediately 

 and many estates were closed. The average price of the next crop, 

 although hampered by the inferior tobacco remaining in the hands of 

 the Amsterdam importers, showed some improvement and went up 

 to 31 cents per pound, American money. The average price for the 1892 

 crop rose to 45 cents, and for the next crop to 52 cents, after which it 

 came down again to 33 cents for the 1895 crop. 



It is clear from this that the market must not be overstocked, and in 

 tlie second place that no inferior tobacco can be put npon the market 

 without injuring the price of all grades. The returns show that the 

 Sumatra tobacco imported into the United States Inust be of the very 

 best quality, judging by the prices paid for it. 



GROWING SUMATRA TOBACCO IN FLORIDA. 



My experience in this country has convinced me that a very good 

 type of Sumatra tobacco is being successfully raised in some of the 

 counties of Florida. If this continues of the same good quality and is 

 well and conscientiously prepared for the market, there is certainly a 

 large market here in the United States for a great deal more than is at 

 present produced. If it will take the place of the imi^orted Sumatra 

 the manufacturer will save an enormous amount in duty alone, and will 

 probably be very willing to take the tobacco at a good price. It must 

 not be forgotten, however, that one of the great values of the Sumatra 

 tobacco, and the thing which contributes more than anything else to 

 give it the great value placed upon it by the manufacturers, is the tine 

 texture of the leaf, which can only be attained upon certain soils; 

 other things worth mention are the uniform color, which is brought out 

 in the fermentation; and the very great pains taken to assort it into 

 grades of uniform color and length, so that a manufacturer may be 

 assured in buying a bale that he secures just what is marked on it. 



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