Abstract

Among the provinces of India, Madras tokes the first place, with regard to consumption of tobacco in the form of cigars and cheroots. The annual per capita consumption is 372, and in the districts of Godavary and Vizaga- patam the use of cheroot is almost universal. Tobacco cultivated in the Lankas (islands) of Godavary otherwise known as Lanka tobacco is famous and popular throughout the Northern Circars as the best among the varie- ties grown for cheroots. This is chiefly due to the mild agreeable flavour, even burning and white ash qualities of the variety. Lankas are islands formed in the river beds of the Godavary. Depend- ing upon the nature of permanency, fertility value estimated on the amount of the silt deposited and cultivable nature of the soil, the lankas are classified into three main classes. A. Class: These are high level lankas and are free from easy submersion by floods. The chief crops raised in these are paddy, sorghum and tobacco. Major portions are set apart for grazing so as to give a chance of fallowing. These lankas are given on lease to the ryots for fixed terms of 10 to 20 years in public auction. The auction value generally ranges from Rs. 15 to 20 per acre per year.

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