TOBACCO. 



603 



gressive rate of consumption ; and of a truth the quantity of hogsheads re- 

 ceived in the principal markets of Belgium, Holland, Germany, and the North, 

 and as speedily relieved from the control of the importers, was enough to 

 control even those who were alive to the existing necessities of Europe, and 

 to give a color to the rumour of almost inexhaustible consumption. 



This extraordinary demand for tobacco on the continent has been occasioned 

 by three distinct causes; the first of which was the pressing wants which, for 

 the last two years, were well known to have existed, and the constant willing- 

 ness of consumers to act at the very moderate rates which prevailed some time 

 last spring. The second was the compulsory purchases by the Austrian Go- 

 vemment, amounting, it is estimated, to 20,000 hhds., by reason that the dis- 

 contented Hungarians, for political considerations, abandoned altogether the 

 cultivation of tobacco, and which deficiency was obliged to be replaced by 

 American growths. The third cause also had a political origin : the antici- 

 pation of tbe extension of the Zollverein or German Customs League to the 

 Kingdoms of Hanover and Oldenburg, whereby the duties on tobacco in those 

 countries would be greatly increased, was a natural incentive to the dealers 

 and manufacturers there to lay in heavy stock:, to reap the benefit thereon ; 

 and these last two causes, therefore, may be viewed in the light of fortuitous 

 circumstances, which have fostered a speculation originally founded on the 

 cheapness of money alone. 



It has been shown, and the statistics of the past year fully confirm the state- 

 ment, that a plethora of money and prosperity among the middle classes of 

 society, while it induces to the consumption of tobacco in general, rather cur- 

 tails than otherwise the demand for American growths. A j^oor man addicted 

 to smoking takes his pipe not from choice, but necessity ; as he grows inde- 

 pendent, the humble pipe is abandoned and the more costly cigar assumed. 

 We have frequently heard this matter noticed, more especially after the dis- 

 asters which followed the railway speculations of 1846, when the demand for 

 English cigars sensibly declined ; and we have now a fui'ther verification of 

 the assertion in the opposite sense, the sales of cigar materials in Bremen 

 having been extended more than 40 per cent, in three years, viz., from 94,750 

 bales and cases in 1850 to 135,650 during last season. 



From New Orleans we learn that the arrivals from the interior since the 1st 

 September had amounted to 18,043 hhds. against 5,165 hhds. last season, and 

 the stock on hand was 24,128 hhds. against 7,927 hhds. only. 



The shipments from Virginia during the past year exceeded 13,700 hhds. 

 In 1851 they were under 4,000 casks. 



From Baltimore 54,272 hhds. have been exported. The official figures for 

 the previous year gave 35,967 as the total. 



The aggregate stock of tobacco on the 1st of January last, in the principal 

 ports of America, was taken at 52,982 hhds. against 45,292 the year befoi^e 

 and the gi-owth of the Western States, Virginia, and Maryland during 1852, 

 to come forward for our supply the present season, is estimated at 185,000 

 hhds., notwithstanding all the unfavorable influences and curtailing causes 

 which were said to have prevailed. 



The method adopted of cultivating tobacco in Virginia is thus 

 described : 



Several rich, moist, but not too wet spots of ground are chosen out in the 

 fall, each containing about a quarter of an acre or more, according to the 

 magnitude of the crop, and the number of plants it may require. 



These spots, which are generally in the woods, are cleared, and covered with 

 brush or timber, for five or six feet thick and upwards ; this is sufiered to re- 

 main upon it until the time when the tobacco seed must be sowed, which is 

 within twelve days after Christmas. The evening is commonly chosen to set 

 these places on fire, and when everything thereon is consumed to ashes, the 

 ground is dug up, mixed with the ashes, and broken very fine. The tobacco seed, 

 which is exceedingly small, being mixed with ashes also, is then sown and just 

 raked in lightly ; the whole is immediately covered with brushwood for shelter 



