TRADE TOPICS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 5

TRADE TOPICS.

(FHOM OCR OVTS CORRESPONDENT-) LONDON, October 10. BAl> NEWS FOE SMOKERS. The current tobacco crop of tho United States is to command still higher prices tlian those for several years past, and altogether tho outlook is anything but reassuring for British, tobacco manufacturers, who may endeavour to obtain higher prices from tho consumer. Tho experts of the Washington Agricultural Department are estimating that tho 1,144,500 acres planted will yield only 7-s'Jlb per acre, against 7851b per acre in l^l-- ( Jrv, l £ would give an output ot 801,000,00010 agaiust tho actual production of last year, and ii05,000,0001b in 1911. Meanwhile, tho demand is most marked in Carolina*, tho new crop of which has advanced about -o per cent, orer last year. This i≤ attributed partly to tho shorter crop, and also to tne fact that tobacco chew ins is on the wane, while smoking is steadily increasing. Tho increase in tlu« latter is almost entirely in cigarottes, for which Carolina bright leal is largely utilised. MADE IX GERMANY, Speaking at tho installation of the Master Cutler of Sheffield, the Past"Master referred to tho fact that Germany has been tho first country to legislate for collective niaxks, and. said that tho Cutlers' Company were only too delighted to welcome this great step towards honest trading. Every ono in the past had been too apt to attack Germany on tho slightest suspicion of anything in tho nature ol fraudulent trading, and he confidently looked forward to tho timo when tho words '"Made in Germany" would bo practically a guarantee, of ex'ccllence. of manufacture From his own personal and frequent visits to that country ho had noticed the rapid strides made in all branches of manufacture, especially in those connected with the interests of Sheffield, and he expressed his admiration for the thoroughness and enthusiasm with which tho Germans were ■working to supply the markets of the world as well as those of their own country. England must look to its laurels" if it is to keep naeo with them. A TRADER'S WILL., Tho will has lately boon proved of a tradesman in a fairly prosperous way ot business in tho Midlands. Ho left his property to his children, remarking: —' •'I havo littlo to dispose of, and 1 hope those 1 lenro behind will not bo disappointed and revile mo for having been ioolish —lending money 1 should havo saved. Had I known that competition in trade would have become so keen, and profits decrease to the extent they havo, it would have beon different, but there—-it is no use lamenting too late." His will otherwise is quite . ordinary, and ho left what would appear to have been a fair competence. FINEST BOOT IN TELE WORLD. The flower of British boot-making is shown at tho Shoe and Leather Fair iv a Bj>ecimen of tho new Array boot. This has been designed by the Army Clothing Department, and anproved by the Chief Inspoctor of Boots. Mindful of tho fact that, in spite of opigrams to the contrary, an army marches upon its feet, the authorities havo created a boot which represents the acme of comfort and durability. Tho old style of Army boot is of the Blucher type, while the new boob is a. "Derby shooter," and is claimed to be the finest boot of its land in the world. Tho boot trade is looking forward to a hugely increased business in the United States ns the result of the lower tariff, and there is already a. boom in the shlos of hoot-making machinery. DEARER LEATHER. The continued advancoin the cost of leather of all descriptions, and tho tendency to a further rise, pla-ees all boot and shoe manufacturers unci reHajrem in the very'Unfortunate'position of being unable to-'uso tho saiue■qiisjlity leather as hitherto, at an advance upon their present prices (writes a boot and shoe dealer). It is possible to maintain the present charges lor now goods and for repairs by using ;i lower standard quality of leather, but this alternative cannot be recommended, as it is impossible to give the same satisfaction in woar. Tho public will therefore be well advised to pay the extra prico which the present cost of durable leather demands. BORIC ACID IN SAUSAGES. A Devonshire fanner has been lined, for selling sausages containing boric acid, thus rendering them injurious to health. It was stated that an analysis showed that the quantity of boric acid was 0.4 per cent., or 2$ grains to the pound. Professor H. R. Kenwood, medical officer of health for the County of Bedford, gave evidence of experiments which he conducted on himself in 1903 to determine whether boric acid was harmful. He took ten grains of boric acid at two meals,, morning nnd evening, for three days, and on the third day he suffered from the train of symptoms known to be associated with this drug and called borism —headache, loss of appetite, depression, anil diarrhosa. He discontinued taking this drug and was well again in forty-eight hours. In 1900 he renewed the test, aud it produced exactly tho same symptoms on himself in three days, and on the morning of the third day, when he left off taking the drag, the symptoms disappeared and he was well in fortyeight hours. Individuals with weak stomachs and weak kidneys were seriously affected by boric acid. In crossexamination he admitted ■that it was a gnneral custom to add chemical preservatives to sausages, and that boric acid was one of the least haTmful of the preservatives. Dr. O. Hall, medical officer of health for Devonport, also spoke of personal experiments which produced gastric disturbances, while for tho defence Dr. T. G. Simnson said he had known 60 grains to be taken for a' long period without harmful result. DEAR FRUIT. The American fruit season has opened at Covent Gar don, and good prices are hoinc; realised. Apples from Nova Scotia are fetching tip to 20s a barrel, which contains about three bushels. There is a considerable shortage both in home arid foreicn supplies, with the inevitable result that fruit will remain dear throughout tho season. Pears from the United States nrejnaking exceptional prices, from 22s to '36s per barrel being realised. CnHfornian pears are fetching from 7s to 10s a box containing 201b of fruit, and plums from 6s to 10s a package, of al>out the same weight. Nuts are 23 per cent, dearer than they were last year. BOOM IX PEARLS. There i"r no doubt that penrls are. in for a revival, nnd they arp dearer than ever before. They are becoming more and more rarp owinc to the fact that most of the important fisheries are being depleted, and because of the extra cost and the difficulties of working t*ie de*?r> sea fisheries. No new pearl fi«hI cries of any importance hnve been discovered within the Isist few years, with the result that anvthinj: like gems "of purest ray eerono" am becoming more and reor« scarce, and are eonsMiuently sought after Ky dealers and collectors. The contrast between prices now and a few yonrs back is remarkable. A pearl necklace which wns sold for a Kura exceeding four figures rwently was originally bought at a retail shop about twenty wars ago for under £350. Other Tcccnt sale figures for pearl one at £16,000 and another at £22.000.