§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Vice-President of the Agricultural Department for Ireland, if he can state the results of experiments recently made in Ireland as to growing tobacco; and whether his Department intends to take steps to encourage this industry in Ireland for the future.
§ * THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT FOR IRELAND (Mr. PLUNKETT,) Dublin Co., S.The experiments in tobacco growing referred to in the question have been conducted during the past two seasons by the Donaghpatrick Co-operative Agricultural Society, County Meath, one of the societies established by the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. They go to show that tobacco will grow luxuriantly in Ireland. The variety grown was English Virginian. The tobacco was manufactured by Messrs. Goodbody, of Tullamore, 35lb. of leaf producing 33lb. of plug and flake tobacco. No flavour was added during the manufacturing process, and the result 1246 was a fairly good sample of strong, coarse tobacco, containing an abnormal percentage of moisture and also of nicotine. This Irish sample is nearly twice as strong as the strongest tobacco sold, and therefore presumably for some purposes twice as good. The cost of manufacture was 4d. per pound, and the Excise duty 2s. 8d. At the lowest estimate the tobacco sells wholesale at 4s. per pound, yielding a gross profit of £132 per acre, from which must be deducted rent, labour, and other expenses of production. The Donaghpatrick Society proposes to continue its tobacco growing experiments this year, only with a finer quality, and it is also intended to carry out similar experiments on the experimental farms of other societies in different parts of Ireland. It will be the duty of the Department of Agriculture to watch these proceedings closely, and give whatever expert advice and assistance that may be necessary.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if these experiments are satisfactory, he will take steps to remove the prohibition which now exists to the growing of tobacco in Ireland; whether he will direct the attention of his Department to comment on this matter in the present issue of the Irish Tobacco Trade Journal, and whether he will place some of this tobacco in the smoking room of the House.
§ [No answer was given.]