Tobacco Leaves Part 15

LEZARS, I. _The use and abuse of Tobacco._ Philadelphia, 1883.

CHAPTER XIX

MISCELLANEOUS

REVENUE, TAXATION, ETC., IN CONNECTION WITH TOBACCO. FREE IMPORTS.

DISEASES OF TOBACCO. TOBACCO FLAVORS. FORMULAE.

NOTES

The "per capita" consumption of tobacco in the U. S. has increased from 1.6 lbs. in 1863 to between 5 and 6 lbs. at the present time.

At the present time the United States collects about 70 million dollars annually from domestic taxation on manufactured tobacco; and, in addition, about 25 million in import duties. The actual total income from tobacco in 1912 was 96 million dollars. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913, tax was paid on the following "withdrawn for consumption":

Cigars weighing more than 3 lbs. per thousand, 7,699,037,543.

Cigars weighing less than 3 lbs. per thousand, 1,033,778,160.

Cigarettes weighing more than 3 lbs. per thousand, 18,194,311.

Cigarettes weighing less than 3 lbs. per thousand, 14,276,771,160.

Snuff, lbs., 33,209,488.

Tobacco, chewing and smoking, lbs., 401,362,620.

In France, Spain, Austria, Italy and other countries the government has a monopoly over the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Purchase of leaf in the U. S. is made through government agents.

The quant.i.ties of tobacco which may be imported "free of duty" into European countries is as follows:

Austro-Hungary--12 cigars, 35 grams tobacco.

Belgium-None.

Bulgaria--50 cigars, 50 cigarettes, 50 grams tobacco.

Denmark--None.

Egypt--25 cigars, 100 cigarettes, 200 grams tobacco.

France--80 cigars, 300 cigarettes.

Germany--Enough for immediate use.

Great Britain--12 cigars, 20 cigarettes.

Holland--None.

Italy--6 cigars, 15 cigarettes.

Norway--100 cigars.

Portugal--None.

Russia--100 cigars, 100 cigarettes, 100 grams tobacco.

Spain--None.

Sweden--None.

Turkey--None.

In U. S. 50 cigars and 300 cigarettes may be imported free.

Small variations in the cost of manufacture (including the cost of leaf), which do not exceed 10%, are usually borne by the manufacturer, and do not affect the price to the consumer. But increase in taxation, either internal revenue or tariff, usually occasions a diminution in consumption as it invariably increases the cost.

THE DISEASES OF TOBACCO DUE TO INSECT PESTS, ETC.

Tobacco, from the seed bed to the storage of the manufactured products, is subject to attack by insects, etc., and vigilance must at all times be exercised to keep it free from such harmful influences.

Only a few of the princ.i.p.al agencies attacking tobacco will be mentioned here as the subject is of more interest to the specialist than to the smoker. The growing plant is particularly subject to Cut-worm disease and Horn-worm disease. _Cut-worms_ are the larvae of several species of moths.

They injure the young, tender plant and feed on the leaves. _Horn-worms_ are the larvae of the Sphinx Moth. 2 or 3 will ruin a plant in one day.

Stored tobacco is subject to many diseases. _Bud caterpillars_, the _leaf-miner_ or _split-worm_ and the _Tobacco flea beetle_ are minute beetles which attack it. _Mosaic disease_, _Frog-eye_ or _Leaf-spot_ are probably bacterial diseases.

In addition, tobacco, particularly during the curing process, is subject to pole-burn, pole-sweat, or house-burn, stem-rot, white-vein, and various forms of mould, all these being probably due to bacteria.

For additional information see:

U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. _Farmers' Bulletin_, 120.

HOWARD, L. O. _The princ.i.p.al insects affecting the tobacco plant._ Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C., 1900.

U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. _Bureau of Entomology._ Bulletin 65.