_Japan._—Japanese tobacco is well known in the London market, but it is often in a soft condition, and then scarcely saleable. More care is needed in drying it before packing.

_Java._—Tobacco, termed by the natives _tombáku_, or _sáta_, is an article of very general cultivation in Java, but is only extensively raised for exportation in the central districts of Kedu and Banyumas. As it requires a soil of the richest mould, but at the same time not subject to inundations, these districts hold out peculiar advantages to the tobacco-planter, not to be found on the low lands. For internal consumption, small quantities are raised in convenient spots everywhere. In Kedu, tobacco forms, after rice, by far the most important article of cultivation, and, in consequence of the fitness of the soil, the plant grows to the height of 8–10 feet, on lands not previously dressed or manured, with a luxuriance seldom witnessed in India. Cultivated here alternately with rice, only one crop of either is obtained within the year; but after the harvest of the rice, or the gathering of the tobacco leaves, the land is allowed to remain fallow, till the season again arrives for preparing it to receive the other. The young plant is not raised within the district, but procured from the high lands in the vicinity, principally from the district of Kalibéber, on the slope of the mountain Diéng or Práhu, where it is raised and sold by the hundred to the cultivators of the adjoining districts. The transplantation takes place in June, and the plant is at its full growth in October. The exports in the year 1877–8 were 212,500 _piculs_ to Holland, and 213 to Singapore; in 1878–9, they were 248,566 _piculs_ to Holland, and 872 to Singapore. The value of the export to Holland in 1879 was stated at 1,250,000_l._ The exports in 1884 were 140,351 _piculs_ to Holland, and 2490 to Great Britain.

Tobacco: Growing, Curing, & Manufacturing — Part 94

_New Zealand._—This colony has not yet figured as a tobacco grower, but the duty on locally produced tobacco is only 1_s._ a lb., and this is expected to stimulate the home industry.

Tobacco: Growing, Curing, & Manufacturing — Part 94

_Nicaragua._—It appears that the total exports of tobacco were 13,787 lb., value 4830 dollars, in 1883, but only 300 lb., value 240 dollars, in 1884. At present it is a Government monopoly.

Tobacco: Growing, Curing, & Manufacturing — Part 94