study to show them in detail and to point out the ways in which they affect the industry of the country.

I can only now refer to two other points in this connection. Prohibition of grain exports.-Nominally, on account of the war, the exportation of grain has now been forbidden from nearly every province of Turkey, both in Europe and Asia. With the exception of those regions which are actually occupied by the Russians and those which have been devastated by both armies, there is no reason to believe that the harvest this year is at all below the average standard. The inhabitants of Turkey are, as a general rule, able to feed themselves and still to have a considerable amount for export. Under these circumstances it would seem that the superfluous grain, which might be sold to advantage, is being kept in the country. This probibition of the export of grain, which is nearly always productive of harm to the inhabitants and to the government, is sometimes enforced from most improper motives, namely, to enrich the governors and administrators of the various provinces. The modus operandi is the following: The governor calls together the council and bids them to sign a mazbata, or statement, addressed to the central government, that the harvest has been bad and that there is danger of the region suffering from famine during the winter, and that it would be desirable to forbid the exportation of grain until the next harvest. This paper is received by the Porte as genuine and worthy of credence, and the government issues a prohibitory order in consequence. No sooner has the governor received this than he and his friends send agents throughout the country and buy up grain at, of course, very much reduced prices, which are frequently arbitrarily fixed, for the account of the government, under the pretext of guarding the public granaries against an apprehended famine, and has it brought to the government town. As soon as this is done another statement is prepared for the council to sign, to the effect that by the wise and prudent measures of the governor the public granaries are filled and the country saved from famine; and, therefore, in the interests of the province, it will be better that grain should again be allowed to be exported. As this is, of course, approved by the Porte, and export is again allowed, the governor and his friends, in league with some merchants, who were always in the plot, make haste to ship off the grain they have bought at such a cheap rate on vessels which are already prepared. Naturally such a trick as this cannot be played often on a large scale. After being cheated a few times in this way the cultivator would, of course, restrict himself to the smallest quantity of grain needed for the actual support of his family and the payment of the taxes; but it is owing to such measures as these that the agriculture of all the provinces has, within the last few years, greatly decreased; and it is also in consequence of this that that part of Armenia, which is the seat of war in Asia, is so destitute of provisions, although large amounts from the government depots are said to have been exported to Russia previously to the war to fill the pockets of the authorities.

The prohibition to export grain has since been removed in a few provinces, provided it be sent to Constantinople and not out of the country. A similarly erroneous and oppressive measure, which has from all ages been followed in the East, is that of nark, or fixing the maximum price of articles when they happen to become scarce. A governor who wishes to become popular will naturally fix the price very low, and instead of its being a blessing to the people, it becomes a burden.

FINANCES.

The foreign public debt of Turkey, for obvious reasons, has not changed since my last report. The floating debt it is impossible to ascertain. I have already reported with regard to the issue of paper money.

Voluntary contributions.-During the Servian war last year, and dur ing the whole of the present year, inhabitants of Turkey have been greatly burdened by so-called voluntary contributions for the support and clothing of the troops and for carrying on the war. Most of these contributions are not voluntary, but compulsory. The authori ties of the village or district state that a certain amount must be collected, and assess this amount pro rata upon each house.

Forced loan.-In addition to this, the Ottoman Parliament enacted a law last year for a forced loan of $19,228,570. This law was proposed by the minister of finance, and was voted almost unanimously by the chamber, in spite of the real opposition of nearly every member. It provided that this internal forced loan should be employed exclusively for the needs of the war, and should be imposed upon all the tax-payers according to their resources and their means. The principal was to bear an annual interest of 10 per cent., and 5 per cent. would be voted to a sinking-fund, so that the whole loan would be paid off in the course of twelve years. Persons who owned no real estate would pay the same as real-estate owners, on account of the profits they were supposed to receive from their commerce and industry; the possessors of timars and of other kinds of fiefs were taxed 10 per cent. of their revenue. The government functionaries were to participate in the loan for two months of their salaries. Persons in the military service up to the grade of adjutant-major were to be exempted, but officers above that grade were to be taxed in the same way as civil functionaries. There were to be four payments, the first in the month of July and the last in the month of October, on which the bonds, with interest coupons, were to be handed over to the subscribers. The interest was to be paid annually in the month of September. The loan was to be paid in paper money, except in those provinces where paper money did not circulate. The law has never been legally put in execution, although two months' salaries of a great majority of the officials have been retained without delivering to them any bonds or coupons of this loan. In the same way it has been the cause and excuse for very many unjust proceedings on the part of the local authorities in the provinces, by which money has been extracted from the peasantry.

Loans in England.-An attempt has also been made by the Turkish Government to float a small loan in England. It seems that the tribute coming from Egypt, amounting to £750,000 a year, has been regu larly paid into the Bank of England as guarantee for the interest of the loans of 1854 and 1871. This amount was somewhat larger than the interest to be paid, but owing to the cessation of the Turkish Government to pay interest on its loans, the Bank of England had been ordered to retain this money, and owing to the action of the bondholders, refused to pay over to the Turkish Government either the whole amount or the residue. After a long negotiation, an arrangement was arrived at between the Turkish Government and the bondholders of these two loans, by which the annual interest of 6 per cent. and the amortizement of 1 per cent. were reduced to 4 per cent. interest and

no amortizement. At these reduced rates the Turkish Government agreed to pay the interest on the loans guaranteed by the Egyptian tribute. The annual residue would thus amount to £280,000, by which it was proposed to float a loan of £5,000,000 sterling. So far, owing to difficulties with the bondholders and with the London Stock Exchange, it has been impossible to place this loan upon the market, but a syndi cate, known as Dent, Palmer & Co., although in reality the Imperial Ottoman Bank, agreed to and did make the government an advance of £1,000,000, for, it is said, 9 per cent. interest and 6 per cent. commission, with the privilege of taking the loan. In case the loan cannot be emitted, the bank can, while gaining money on the advance at the high rate of interest, easily be repaid in six years on the reliquat of £280,000 yearly.

EUGENE SCHUYLER.

TURKISH DEPENDENCIES.

ASIA MINOR.

SMYRNA, September 7, 1877. (Received December 31.)

Report upon the Cultivation of the Fig.

Climate. The Aidin district is the only one which produces figs for exportation. The fruit will grow anywhere in the neighborhood of Smyrna, of a good quality for consumption in a green state; but the Aidin plain is unique in its climate and soil, as being favorable to the proper curing of the fig. The thermometer seldom falls below 3 or 4° under freezing-point, and in the summer seldom rises above 130° Fahr. in the sun.

In Aidin the winters are generally wet, the dry weather commencing in May and continuing to the end of October. Any rain the end of July or during the months of August and September, when the fruit is under the process of drying, injures its quality, by causing it to burst, hardens the skin, gives the fig a dark color, and spoils its keeping qual ity. Heavy dews will cause the same evils. What is required during the time the fruit is coming to maturity is fine weather and dry winds. Soil. The fig tree will grow in almost any soil. It grows very lux. uriantly, however, in a rich soil; but to produce figs that will dry well and please the merchant, the soil ought to be of a good depth and of a rich, light, sandy nature; this latter, if the weather is favorable, will produce large figs of a white, thin skin and of the finest quality.

Preparation of the soil.-Before planting, the ground ought to be well plowed two or three times to a good depth, well pulverized, and freed from all weeds and extraneous roots.

Cultivation. The fig is propagated from slips selected with as many fruit-buds as possible. To form a tree, two slips are planted one foot apart and then joined at the top. Trees, if planted in rich soil, should be placed about 30 feet apart, and for poor soil about 25 feet.

Planting.-The cuttings are to be planted in the month of March, two in each hole, at about 9 to 12 inches apart at the root end, and gradually bring the top buds to meet and just cross them, thus, ×; then tread in the earth well. The cuttings must be full of buds or eyes, and when about to plant cut the root end off at the first knot, care being taken not to leave any of the pulp showing, as it will then be liable to be attacked by worms, which will make the tree hollow and sickly. The whole of the cuttings are put into the ground to within one or two inches of the top; the process of crossing must then take place, afterwards the ground must be well trodden in to one or two inches of the top, then cover the remainder (say the one or two inches) over with loose earth, which will protect the ends from the heat of the sun. When the trees arrive to about the height of a man, nip or cut off the tops to one uniform height, and this will cause the tree to branch out. Growth.-During the growth of the trees the ground ought to be plowed up two or three times during the winter or spring, and the

space between them may be used to cultivate cotton, sesame, or Indian corn. When the trees are large the same system of plowing and loosening the earth all around the trees ought to be continued. To make a figtree grow well the plowing of the garden is very essential; if this is not attended to, the fruit will be small and in every respect inferior. The first year of planting, the cuttings ought to be watered during the summer months.

Application of the male fig.-The male fruit, about the middle of June, contains a large number of small flies, and is thrown on the female trees. These flies then get distributed over the fruit and convey the necessary amount of pollen. The system is as follows: When the female fig (first crop) is about the size of a hazel-nut, five or six of the male figs are strung on to a piece of string, and one or two of these bunches are thrown on the female tree, according to its size and amount of fruit. Repeat this operation when the second crop is about the same size. As the tree grows larger, year by year, increase the number of strings; but never put more than six strings (say about thirty male figs) over the largest tree at one time. These strings are put on the tree about one hour before suurise, and care must be taken that the weather is fine and no wind blowing. I may mention that if the male fig is not applied the crop will not set, but the fruit will fall off, and if too many are applied the fruit will likewise fall or become very small or inferior.

Curing. About the end of July the first figs come to maturity. The fig harvest lasts about six weeks. When the fig is ripe it will of its own accord fall from the tree only partly cured. Women and children are employed to pick up the fruit into small baskets, to be conveyed to a place in the garden well exposed to the sun, where they are spread on a bed of dry grass or matting, in single layers, not one on top of the other, and are turned every day so as to get every side of the fig exposed to the sun. After a few days of exposure to the sun, those figs which are considered sufficiently dry are selected from the mass and divided into first, second, and third quality. Care must be taken not to dry them too much; the skin ought to feel dry, but the inside soft. Practice aloue can teach to what extent the drying ought to take place. The grower then sends the figs to Smyrna, where they are resorted and packed for shipment.

E. J. SMITHERS.

SMYRNA.

SEPTEMBER 7, 1877. (Received December 31.)

Report upon the trade and commerce of Smyrna for the years 1876 and

1877.

INCREASE OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

The returns of imports and exports for the year 1876, which accompany this report, show a marked improvement in the movements of the port of Smyrna over the previous year. The increase in imports amounts in value to $730,310, and in exports to $4,322,492.