Edible Products. 



316 



[Oct, 1906. 



MANUFACTURE. 



Cigars.— The only manufacture is that of cigars. The process consists some- 

 times in rolling pieces of tobacco in a good leaf and tying the end with a thread. 

 It is usually done by first softening the leaves with fresh water and using 

 the first kind of leaves for the outer coating, and the second kind and pieces 

 inside. The cigars are tied together in small bundles of ten each, and a decoction, 

 termed (koda), prepared by boiling tobacco fibres in arrack toddy or young coconut 

 water, is sprinkled over them and then they are packed in boxes. Instead of fresh 

 water for softening the leaves first, this decoction— of a light kind— is also employed, 

 the strong kind of it being sprinkled on cigars to impart flavour or increase the 

 aroma which is peculiar to the Jaffna tobacco. It also serves the additional purpose 

 of preserving the cigars from decay and damage by insects and worms. 



Snuff.— A kind of snuff is also prepared by roasting tobacco leaf of the 

 first sort and reducing it to fine powder, adding to it chunam or other substances 

 and scents. This is used for local consumption only. 



The manufactured cigars are sent to Colombo and Galle principally and are 

 sold at varying rates, viz., Rs. 2'50, Rs. 5 and Rs. 7*50 per 1,000 according to the 

 quality of the cigars. The best kind now in the market is Mr. M. B. Swampillai's 

 ' Gold Medal ' Jaffna cigars, which are sold at three different prices according to 

 the size of each : Small size Rs. 10 per 1,000, medium size Rs. 15 per^l,000, large 

 size Rs. 30 per 1,000. 



The largest trade is in tobacco leaves which are exported to Travancore and 

 Cochin in South India. The price of leaves of the first sort is between Rs. 300 and Rs. 

 400 per candy weighing about 600 lb., and the second kind between Rs, 150 and Rs, 200 

 per candy. The quantity of tobacco leaves exported during last year was 41,230 cwt. 

 beyond sea, and 41,596 cwt. coastwise, i.e., to Colombo, Galle and other places. 



I give below a statement of the cost of cultivating one acre of land with 

 tobacco and the income derivable by sale of tobacco leaves. An acre could be 

 planted with 4,000 plants, and the cost of cultivation from start to finish, including 

 cost of smoking and rent of laud, would at a moderate rate be Rs. 381. If the 

 crop proves the best, the leaves of the 4,000 plants would sell about Rs. 510, but an 

 average crop may bring about Rs. 350 to Rs. 450 only. 



COST OF CULTIVATION. 



An acre of land can be planted with 4,000 plants :— R. c. 



40 coolies for hoeing at 15 cents each ... ... ... ... 6 00 



Penning cattle for 250 days at 16 cents per day ... ... ... 40 00 



(or at 1 cent for a plant for mannure.) 



2 pairs of bulls ploughing for 4 days at 30 cents each per day ... 2 40 



10 cartloads of leaves at Rs. 12"50 each ... ... ... ... 125 00 



40 coolies for burying the leaves and arranging and transplanting 



at 15 cents ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 00 



4,000 plants value at Rs. 2 50 per 1,000 ... ... ... ... 10 00 



Watering for 60 days— 2 men at 15 cents each per day ... ... 18 00 



Penning sheep among plants for manure at 1 cent a plant ... ... 40 00 



Hoeing— 40 coolies at 15 cents each ... ... ... ... 6 00 



Tilling, weeding and making reservoirs —60 coolies at 15 cents each ... 9 00 

 Lopping off top of plants for a month in alternate days, 1 person for 



16 days at 10 cents ... ... ... ... ... 1 60 



Watering 4,000 plants, i.e., irrigating from well— 4 men at Rs. 2'50 per. 



1,000 plants till the leaves are cut ... ... ... ... 40 00 



304 00 



Rent of land ... _ ... .... ... ... ... 40 00 



Coconut husks &c. for smoking three times ... ... ... 20 00 



Cooly lines and other contingent expenses ... ... ... 20 00 



Total Expenditure ... Rs. 384 00 



