216 
Tobacco as a Farm Crop for England. 
customers of the farmer, for they buy his produce, and, in 
fact, contribute to the general prosperity. And since such is 
the case, it seems strange that these labour-demanding and 
profitable crops are not fostered in England ; yet there is 
no indication in the English Government Reports of any 
intention to foster them, though, if we turn to the agricultural 
reports of the United States Government, we shall see that a 
keen desire to do this is very distinctly entertained on the other 
side of the Atlantic. The American Commissioners consider 
that tobacco culture, perhaps more conspicuously than any other 
kind of farming, exhibits the condition of agricultural progress 
in the regions in which the staple is produced. They are of 
opinion that progressive enterprise in tobacco growing has had 
most beneficial effects upon other agricultural pursuits ; since, 
wherever tobacco culture has been made profitable, there has 
been an increase of all farm products suited to the locality. 
This statement has been corroborated by a gentleman who 
lived in North Carolina for many years, and who informed me 
that, previous to the introduction of the tobacco crop, many of 
the small farmers lived from hand to mouth, and some were in 
poverty. Tobacco has given them the means of buying better 
agricultural implements, hence a great improvement in their 
farm produce. 
Q. — I understand, then, that for these reasons you are prepared 
to press on the notice of the public the cultivation of tobacco, 
in opposition to popular opinion as expressed in the ' Times,' * 
in which the lack of technical skill in the agricultural labourer 
was urged as one of its most formidable impediments, on the 
ground that " it would take a generation to train English 
labourers to the habits of careful and exact culture required to 
cope with all these demands." 
A. — I am so far from considering that remark in the light of 
an argument against our culture of tobacco, that I welcome it 
as a strong one in its favour, and I cannot help thinking that 
Its culture is likely to improve the technical education and 
intelligence of the people. 
Q. — Are you of opinion that last year's restrictions on 
tobacco-growing ought to be continued ? 
A. — Certainly not. If tobacco is to have a fair trial, more 
liberal arrangements ought to be conceded by the Government, 
more especially as during the last two hundred years the pro- 
hibitive duty on English tobacco growers has amounted to 
32,s'. a pound ; so that, during the above period, while American 
growers have been paying a duty of about Zs. Qd. a pound, 
* April 29th, 1886. 
