United States, and other countries. The proportion of the total import contributed by each of the above named countries has varied from year to year with the changing conditions of their respective harvests, modified still further by the wars which have disturbed commercial and agricultural interests in Africa and the countries bordering on the Black Sea. Marseilles, from its commanding position and its excellent maritime connections with the ports of all wheat-exporting countries, has borne a large part in the exportation of the foreign breadstuffs consumed in the whole of France, the receipts at this port in 1868 having included about two thirds of the entire import. This proportion has gradually declined for two principal reasons: First, the high freight charges of the railways compel the importation of all bulky merchandise at the ports nearest to the district of final consumption; and, secondly, the notable increase of steamship lines and the improvement of landing facilities at Bordeaux and Havre have drawn a constantly increasing percentage of the breadstuffs import to those busy entrepots for the north and the west of France. Marseilles, however, still maintains a large wheat trade, particularly in those grades which come from India and the Levant, the total receipts of last year at this port being nearly 13,000,000 hundred weight. The fluctuations of this supply from the different sources, including the United States, will be clearly and concisely illustrated by the following exhibit, which shows the number of hundred weight of wheat received at Marseilles during each year since 1874 from each of the ten principal exporting countries: Other countries. 695, 498 981, 827 773, 685 181, 264 3,989 7031 99 8,447 5, 264 Italy 120, 683 409, 006 Turkey 247, 140 2, 163, 181 Other countries. Total. 25, 709 998, 155 423, 390 41, 810 11, 582, 481 16, 837 708, 197 1,567, 170 1,333, 280 39, 236 27, 309 2,428, 191 1, 061, 380 636, 217 1,054, 762 8,484 75, 726 3, 232, 815 384 264 133, 693 2,584, 561 31,787 32 2,948, 398 787,583 266, 557 1, 182, 161 526, 984 It will be seen from this that Russia, which in 1874 contributed nearly half the entire amount imported here, rose to nearly five-sixths of the total import in 1878, and has declined to about one-third of the same last year. From the East Indies, which are becoming the great bugbear of American wheat-growers, the importation has steadily and strongly increased from 215,436 cwts. in 1874 to 2,948,398 cwts. in 1883. While it may seem strange that a country which, four or five years ago, was scourged by a widespread and disastrous famine, should claim consideration as a source of surplus breadstuffs, the fact remains that India has in that respect some important and peculiar advantages. Her swarming popu lation renders agricultural labor so cheap as to practically offset the American advantages of cheap inland transportation and improved agricultural methods and machinery. The people of India subsist almost wholly upon rice; a large proportion of their wheat is, therefore, available for export. They are frugal, industrious, and possess a fertile soil under a climate which involves no risk from winter-killing. The distance of India from European markets has been so far modified by the opening of the Suez Canal and by the regular lines of steamships which now throng that important avenue of commerce that Madras and Bombay are in as direct and easy connection with Marseilles and Trieste as are New York and New Orleans, so that in forecasting the future bread trade of the world the Hindoo wheat-grower must be taken into serious account. From the foregoing table it will be seen that the importation of American wheat at Marseilles began in 1875 with a trifle of 39,024 cwts.; that it entirely ceased the following year; was resumed in 1877, and has since increased to 1,567,170 cwts. in 1880 and 787,583 in 1883. The statistics for the present year are, of course, not yet available, but the indications are that the imports of American wheat during 1884 will be not less than those of the past year. The French people, although extraordinary consumers of bread, are, as a rule, content with the darker and less expensive grades of wheat and flour. Only the American red winter wheat is now imported here to any extent, and that is usually of grade No. 2. It is, however, held in high estimation by French consumers, and is gradually superseding the somewhat similar grades of Russian wheat which are known commercially as "Berdianska" and "Marianopoli." The native wheat of Southern France is mainly of the white "blue stem," or beardless winter variety, which is known commercially as "Tuzelle de Provence." In value it heads the list of all grades known in the market. The same grain is grown in the French provinces of Africa under the names of "Tuzelle d'Afrique" and "Tuzelle d'Oran," but it is slightly inferior in value to the white wheat of Provence. These and the white Australian wheat, which is now imported to some extent, supply the highest grades of flour for fine bread and pastry, and as such bar any demand which might otherwise exist for the high-grades of white wheat of the United States. We come now to the practical question: Can the importation of American wheat at Marseilles be increased? With the low prices which now prevail in the United States, the large surplus left over from last year, the now almost certain prospect of a another large harvest, and the present very cheap, abundant, and direct means of shipment from New York, Baltimore, and New Orleans to this port, it would seem that there must come this season an unusual opportunity in this direction. From all that is now apparent, it may be fairly assumed that the local wheat crop of France will show about an aver age yield, so that the usual quantity will be imported during the coming year. WHEAT VALUES AT MARSEILLES. As a basis for estimating the promise of this market to American exporters, the following schedule is given, showing the present wholesale values, in cwts. and dollars, of the twenty-nine different kinds of wheat which monopolize this market. The prices given are for the grain in bond, and there should be added a duty of 6 cents per cwt. on all the imported wheats, except those coming from the French provinces in Africa. It will also be understood that in the French market wheats are classified as tendre (soft) and dur (hard), the former being preferred for fine flouring, while the latter are used for cracking and for the coarse ordinary grades of flour: The estimate may therefore be completed by taking into account the market values of wheat at the principal ports of the United States, and the cost of freight thence to this port. FRANK H. MASON, Consul. Marseilles, May 27, 1884. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, ITALIAN SUMAC. REPORT BY CONSUL CARROLL, OF PALERMO, ON THE CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION OF SICILY. Referring to instruction numbered 82, dated May 10, 1883, addressed to my predecessor, requesting him to prepare a statement showing the sumac crop of Sicily for the year 1882 and the probable crop of 1883, together with such other information concerning Italian sumac, its cultivation, manufacture, exports, or as may be practicable, I have the honor 10 submit the following: Production. The crop of 1882 was considered medium as to quantity but good as to quality, the entire production of the island for that year aggregating about 300,000 cantara, or 23,437 tons. The inverse was the case as to the crop of 1883, it being deemed good as to quantity but inferior as to quality, aggregating about 280,000 cantara, or 21,875 tons. It is proper to state, however, that the above is merely an estimate, which is believed to be nearly correct, but in view of the numerous dealers in sumac as well as of those engaged in its cultivation it is impossible to be strictly accurate in a statement of this character unless a personal visit should be made to each producer. With reference to the crop of 1884 it is believed it will be good, as all things requisite thereto have thus far been in its favor, and should they continue it is understood it will excel in quantity and quality those of the two preceding years. Cultivation. In connection with the cultivation of sumac, I beg to say that the "shoots" are cut and placed in the ground in the months of November and December. In about two years these "shoots" become plants, yielding very little at first, but finally becoming quite prolific. Excessive rains and heavy dews are very injurious to the sumae crop at certain stages, and upon these to a large extent depend its quantity as well as its quality. Dry and warm weather in August is essential to the strength of the sumac leaves. The crop usually matures in August and September. The plant is generally cultivated on rocky mountains, where nothing else will grow, and in poor or sterile plains. Those around and in the vicinity of Palermo, it is said, produce the best sumac on the island of Sicily. That which is produced in other portions of the island is usually shipped to Palermo, thence exported to various countries, but principally to the United States, after being ground in steam mills or the leaves pressed into bales. When the crop becomes ripe it is cut, separated from the stalks, and exposed to the sun in order to dry for ten days. PHILIP CARROLL, CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Consul |