The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-19

raa!yel.
IN INVITING FIELD
: FOR S1 TOBACCO
Continued From First Page.)
pounds, valued at se,ss2,3ss, Of which
& S4.1s7,1o2 pounds were imported from
the United States; the other principal
countries from which imports were re-
ceivcd being as follows, In pounds:
4 Algeria, 7,97S.456; Germany, 7,42S,O32;
Austria Hungary. A,334,759; Russia,
3,2S0.241; Turkey, 2,550,922: Holland,
2.227,4s4; Dominican Republic, 1865
775; Philippines, 1.sS1,719; Belgium,
Il 762.245; Haiti, 576111; Argentina, $780,
Cigars. 1,241,os5 pounds, valued at
sl,134,911, OF which $4,000 pounds were
imported from the United States and
3 123,4S0 pounds from the Philippines.
The principal sources from which CT
gars were imported We're Switzerland
sf(454.311 pounds), Cuba. Holland, etc.
cigarettes. es5,os5 pounds, valued 1T
sBy3,60o, imported from Algeria
(42T,966 pounds), Turkey, Egypt, etc.
snuf, plug. and other manufactures,
q 2.09S,294 pounds, valued Mt $7sS,sS0,
imported chiefly from Algeria, Hol-
iand, Belgium. and Germany.
Tobacco Juice. 101.17S pounds (yal-
4 ue not given; imported from Switzer-
lana.
Total Imports 7s.7so.ess pounds,
valued ut sS,9S9,7s3.
Extent OF Exports.
The exports OF tobacco and manu-.
1actures from France In 1906 We're as
Follows:
Leaf tobacco and stems, 1s,s12s4.
pounds. valued at $1.3a7,191, exported
chiefly to Germany. Algeria, Portugal
United Kingdom Switzerland, British
colonies, Holland Tunis, and Belgium.
S Cigars, 6So,704 pounds, valued at
$sA0,422, exported to Australasia, Al
Eeria, United Kingdom, 1ndo- China,
Egypt, Turkey, etc.
Cigarettes, 64t,459 pounds. valued at \
S752,425. exported to Indo- China, Boil !
glum, Switzerland, United Kingdom,
China, Guadeloupe, etc.
Snuff, plug, and other manufactures,
S,75e,Ss5 pounds. valued at s1695,oS9.l
exported to free zones I.073191|
.pounds). Indo-China (sso,S62 pounds),
Morocco, Germany. Algeria, st. Pierre,
Trench marine 312,345 pounds, and to
foreign vessels 1891 pounds.
Tobacco juice. 1s6,s61 pounds, valued
at s7.219. exported to Algeria, United
Kingdom, Uruguay, etc.
Total exports. 19,o61,553 pounds
valued at S4,223,24s.
Hometown French Tobacco.
The cultivation of tobacco in France
Is carried on under very strict regu-
lations and supervision by the reggie.
Every citizen is allowed to grow in his
garden. for decorative purposes, two
plants. If he grows more than
that he must declare his intention, OBJ
tain a license, and register the num-
Der of plants that he wishes to culti-
cate. When grown, the only purchas-
pr to whom he may sell his stock is
the government, which fixes the price
to be paid.
The cultivation of tobacco In France
Is not increasing, but Is rather on the
aecline. It is grown to some extent
IL. nearly every department. out the
departments, Wis, Dordogne. 3,Io5 hec-I
fares (hectare is equal to 2.41 acrest;
Gidondc, 1,se7 hectares; 1sere. 1,6i2
hectares: Lot 1.35S hectares; and Lot
.et-Garonne, 1899 hectares.
The crop of 1906. grown on 1853
hectares. yielded S6.349,160 pounds, as
compared with an average annual yield
of 49,S55.74o pounds during the last ten
years.
The government gives to the grow
fers OF tobacco the same recognition
and encouragement accorded to FARM
sers who grow wheat, potatoes and
other products: but beyond purchasing
the lees at its own price, 1t offers no
bounty or other artificial stimulant
to st<sSlly encourage the culture III
tobacco in France. There is nothing
in the record Of recent years to lndi-
cate that the supply of home grown
French tobacco will. either in respcct
TO quantity or quality, become nlorc
formidable than it has peen hitherto
ms competitor with the better grades
of tobacco from the United States.
Raw tobacco lis purchased in the
United States For ths'sregie by govern
nent agents. who make frequent visits
to the leading markets, and who are |
usually III close touch with the French |
consulate for city or district in which
tho transaction takes place.
Resume and Conclusions.
An analysis Of the statistics given
I'm the foregoing tables shows the fol-
lowing facts:
First That the Importation OF raw
tobacco leaf and stems into France
increased from 55,73o,6l4 pounds in
1886 to 6s,712,S17 pounds in 1906.
Second That the United States sup
piled in 1896 2S,524.S39 pounds, or 5l.1
per cent. of the whole while in the
year 1906 1t supplied 34.167.102 pounds,
or 56.2 per cent. of the total quantity
imported.
Third. That three countries which
supplied part of the imports OF 1896,
VIZ. italy, British India and Brazil,
Tell wholly out OF the competition in |
NJ 9o6. and their places were taken by
three other countries. VIZ, Hayt the
Dominican Republic and Argentina.
This shows that the three last-named
countries are endeavoring to gain u
foothold for their leaf tobacco in the
= Trench market
Fourth. 1t is also shown that the
K competition of native french tobacco
Y not increasing, the crop OF 1905
4 the last year fully reportcd--belng the
81 smallest gathered In any season Ed,r