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 oppor tunity 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 average 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.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,

FRANK H. MASON,

Consul.

Marseilles, May 27, 1884.

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 40 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 sumac 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,

Consul.

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
Palermo, Italy, May 21, 1884.

TRADE BETWEEN NAGASAKI AND THE UNITED STATES.

Statement showing the imports and exports between Nagasaki, Japan, and the United States for the year 1883.

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

Nagasaki, Japan, April 29, 1884.

Consul.

The company of docks and warehouses at Marseilles has recently issued a prospectus which is of paramount interest and importance to all exporters of American products to French markets, as well as to American purchasers of the varied merchandise of Southern France, Africa, the Levant, and the East which is collected at and distributed from this busy and cosmopolitan port.

This comprehensive circular-a copy of which is inclosed with this report-announces that the company is about to establish the same system of regular periodic public sales of consigned merchandise which has been found so effective and satisfactory at Liverpool, London, Antwerp, and Amsterdam. By this system the foreign owner of such merchandise may secure several important advantages which he has not hitherto enjoyed at any port in France.

The scheme, which it is now proposed to put into practice at Marseilles, is so similar in its scope and details to those which are now in successful practice at Liverpool and London, that it will require no especial commendation to any one familiar with the present methods of business at those great marts of maritime commerce. It will be pertinent, however, to say that the company of docks and entrepots at Marseilles was established in 1859; that it has since then expended in improvements more than 52,000,000 francs; that it handles annually about 1,800,000 tons of various merchandise, and that it offers all desirable security and convenient facilities for the prompt, safe, and economical transaction of business. The operations in respect to which the company offers its services are

(1.) Landing and shipping goods to destination by rail. (2.) Landing and re exporting by sea.

(3.) Landing and storing in warehouse.

(4.) Receiving and selling at public auction on fixed and regular dates.

The most important new feature of the present announcement relates to the periodic auction sales of consigned merchandise to be hereafter made under the auspices of the company. Beginning with Monday the 7th of July next, these sales will commence on the first Monday of each month and be continued thenceforward daily until all the goods designated for sale are disposed of. The merchandise which is to be of fered at these auction sales will include sugars, coffee, drugs, indigo, spices, timber and sawed lumber, ivory, cotton, rubber, silks, silk and cotton waste, leathers, hides, salted meats, lard, oils, grains and seeds, rice, flour, oil-cake, metals, minerals, rags, chemical products, wines, liqueurs, raisins, &c.

The conditions of sale are stated in the prospectus of the company as follows:

I. The sales will be made at auction, under the direction of the brokers registered by the tribunal of commerce at Marseilles, who are exclusively authorized to make public sales.

II. The merchandise must be delivered to the company fifteen days at least before the day of the sale, this delay being necessary for classification, allotment and publicity. The delivery should be accompanied with the instructions of the owner of the