464 INDIGENOUS SAGO AND TOBACCO FROM NEW GUINEA, 



Report states, " The specimens were of a very superior quality, 

 both in aroma and appearance. They are well-adapted for cigar- 

 making, and were considered amongst the best in the Exhibition." 

 I have alluded elsewhere to the desirability of testing New 

 Guinea for the growth of tobacco, and I cannot do better than 

 make the following extracts fi'om the Experts' Report to which I 

 have above alluded. 



" There is perhaps Jio more patent fact than that it is practically 

 immaterial what seed is used ; it is the chemistry of the soil that 

 can alone ensure good tobacco. Not only does the tobacco I'aised 

 in one country differ from that obtained in another, from the self- 

 same seed, but this variation may be as great between the pi'oduce 

 of one field and another within the same district. It is the merit 

 of one country to produce mild and aromatic tobacco, of another 

 strong tobacco, and even with the most careful manuring it may 



not be possible to overcome these distinctions 



When seed is imported, a mongrel crop is produced the first 

 season, partly flavoui*ed with the soil. In the second year the crop 

 is truer to the seed. The leaves keep in better preservation when 

 ripe. They should not be green nor dead, nor should they be left 

 open, but pressed to preserve the flavour." 



For other particulars as to planting, cultivation, and preparation 

 of the leaf, see the admirable Report referred to, also " New 

 Commercial Plants," Part i. (Christy), Mr. Christy's paper being 

 translated from a Constantinople original. As in this instance, so 

 in others, I have referred to Turkish tobacco (in the absence of 

 authentic information about Manila), because the species yielding 

 it is probably identical with that from New Guinea- 



Note. — All my results have been obtained with the tobacco 



dried at 100° C. 



Hygrometric Moisture. 



My experiments give the hygrometric moistui'e in this tobacco 

 during the first fortnight of August in Sydney, at between 8-11 

 (1) and 10-55 per cent. 



(1) This low result was obtained during a w eek of dry westerly winds. 



