Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-07-20
U. S. TOBACCO
CRDP LARGER
Industry Has Grown Steadily
in This Country
MANY CIGARETTES MADE
Suitable Land Not OF Great Area, But
Has Big Value Per Acre
United States Leads
World.
MANY CIGARETTES MADE

Washington.-Lady Nicotine is
adding to her devotees with every
passing year, and today the aver
age rate of consumption of tobac-
co is s12 pounds per annum. This
fact was disclosed by the Depart
ment of Agriculture, which has
been making an extensive survey
of the growth and use of tobacco.
While the consumption Of tobacco
has increased steadily since colonial
times. its use since the Civil War has
been rapid. Before then tobacco con
sumption amounted to less than four
pounds per capita. Having more than
doubled since that time, the conclusion
of the department is that "a steadily
increasing proportion Of the popula-
tion is using tobacco"
The outstanding feature of the ex.
pansion Of the use Of tobacco in the
last quarter century has been the great
increase in the use Of machIne-made
cigarettes From 1895 to the present
time the manufacture Of cigarettes has
risen from 4.000,000.000 year to co.
000,000.000. The use Of chewing to.
bacco is gradually giving way to smok.
ing the report discl0ses.
Although the tobacco crop uses enly
about five-tenths of 1 per cent Of the
acreage devoted to all crops, Il has a
high value per acre and requires
great deal Of labor both in growing
and manufacturing. Most Of the crop
is grown in a few States-Kentucky
North Carolina and Virginia being the
leaders, but some tobacco is grown in
AZ States.
In 1919 tobacco was grown on nearly
450.e00 farms In that year North
Carolina stood first in value Of the
crop, and Lancaster county, PenDsyl
vania, was the leading county in acre
age and production. Hartford county,
Connecticut, where a large acreage Of
shade-grown tobacco is produced, led
in value of the crop, which was S13.-
100000, more than two-thirds Of the
value Of all crops produced in that
county.
The United States leads the world
as tobacco producer and in the num-
Der and diversity of types produced to
supply varying demands. Census re-
turns show that in 1919 there were
10.2S1 tobacco manufacturing estab-
lishments, employing $4,000 persons.
The products manufactured were
valued at more than s1,001,000 900.
The internal revenue from tobacco
now amounts to nearly $500, 600, 900
yearly.
SO far as statistics are available
they show that the II principal tobac-
reproducing countries each produced
upward Of 50.000.0O0 pounds annually
before the World War. In order Of
quantity produced. these countries are {:
The United States, British India, Rus
sia, Hungary, Dutch East Indies, Ja-
pan, Germany, Philippine Islands,
Brazil, Cuba and Northern Caucasia.
China undoubtedly produces much to-
bacso. but statistics are not available.
The growing OF cigar-wrapper to.
bacco under shade. extensive in Con.
necticut and Florida, is one Of the
important developments from expe-
rimental work of the Department Of
Agriculture. This makes possible pro
duction Of a high-grade leaf. formerly
obtained only from foreign countries.
Another contribution by the Depart.
ment is the steam sterilization of to
bacco seed beds. whereby destructive
fungus diseases and weed seeds are
destroyed. This simple method elm.
mated one of the very serious troubles
Of tobacco growers.