288 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Aprin, 1902. 
Topacco.—American. Messrs. Thomas H. Edwards and Co., Liverpool, 
report as follows on the Tobacco Trade :— 
STRIPS. 1902. LEAF. 1902. 
WESTERN— WESTERN— 
Fillers an x vee | 4D — | Common export wl/— @ = 
Rather short om voll gy @ African export 20) --»|—@5 @ 64 
Very middling to middling] 64 ,, 6%) Short trade ... 3 4 
Good to fine 74 Pe | is7; » 8 | Medium to good trade 4h, 
BuriEY is Sh ... | 6 @ 9 @ — | Buriry ts By 7@i%k @ 8 
Virernia DarK— VireintA Dark— 
Fillers ee ces «| 5° @ —| Common export - @ — 
Rather short Fe ar hy 45 Short trade ... r4 wel 7 — 
Very middling to middling| 64 ,, 7% | Medium trade ne Ber, 
Good to fine = ES » — | Good to fine trade ... Pty | ry 
VIRGININA AFD CAXOLINA VIRGINIA AND CAROLINA 
Brigut— Brigur— 
Semi-dark ... eet «| —. @_ 7} | Common or semi-bright 6 @ 7 
Semi-bright ... aoe --|8@9 @—| Medium or mixed ... 8: @ 10 @ — 
Medium or mixed ... «. {10 @ 11) Good to fine 11@12@15 
Goo" ‘o fine oe ... [114 @124@14 
The strong buying of brights and semi-brights continued on our market 
during December, being especially noticeable towards the end of the month, 
and a further rise in prices has been established. Some business also was done 
in darks, both of Western and Virginia growth, the Admiralty making their 
usual purchases of the latter. 
The year which has just closed has been quite a noteworthy one. During 
the early part of it the market dragged, excepting for the cheaper classes, the 
trade fearing a further alteration in the duty, but in April the announcement 
was made that the present rate of 3s. per lb. and 30 per cent. limit of moisture 
was to continue, and manufacturers, who had been hoping for rélief in some 
way, more or less avoided the market until about August, being depressed by 
the unsatisfactory condition of their trade in the ordinary run of the manufac- 
tured article. In the month referred to, however, Western filler strips, of 
which only a small import was expected, began to rise, and the following month 
semi-bright Virginias followed suit. This period of the year also witnessed 
the advent of the American tobacco trust as manufacturers on this side, and 
the formation of a strong British combination to fight them. Thence onwards 
a period of unexampled activity set in on this market, chiefly in Virginia and 
North Carolina brights and semi-brights, and, as showing the trend of the trade, 
it will be interesting to note the following changes in prices as compared with 
31st December, 1900, viz.:—A rise of 2d. to 24d. per Ib. in semi-bright and 
medium brights, 1d. to 13d. in colory brights and Western filler strips, 3d. to 
1d. in dark Virginia filler strips and cheap Western mediums, and on the other 
hand a fall of about 3d. per Ib. in good dark Western and Virginia strips and 
the better grades of Owensboros. 
As regards the future, the position looks very strong, as few more brights 
can be expected here from the 1900 crop, and dark Westerns and Virginias are 
selling high in the States—in fact, the next movement over here looks likely to 
occur in the latter sorts. 
Wrye.—Australian Burgundy: Wotonga 18s., Waratah 18s., per dozen. 
Greeny Frourr.— Oranges, Valencia, from 6s. 3d. to 8s. for common sorts 
to 21s. to 30s. for finest selected per 420; lemons, finest selected, 15s. to 228, 
per case of 420; bananas, 8s. to 14s. per bunch. . 
Corron.—Clean upland, 53d. per lb. In America, seed cotton, 23d. ; lint, 
9d. per lb. . 
