174 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



May 30, 1908. 



TOBACCO CULTIVATION IN HAWAII. 



During the past three or four years extetisive experi- 

 mental work in connexion with the cultivation and 

 preparation of tobacco has been carried on in Hawaii. 

 and judging from the results of this work as embodied 

 m Bulletin /■'> of the Hawaiian Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, tobacco cultivation promises to become 

 one of the staple industries of the territory. 



For tilt cultivation of tobacco a light, porous, well- 

 drained soil containing a large percentage of humu." is 

 necessary. The great pro]iortion of tlie soiLs of Hawaii meet 

 these reipiii'cnients. As regards climatic requirements, it is 

 stated that ideal conditions, from the tobacco grower's ]ioiut 

 of view, exist on the slopes of the higher nionntains, where 

 cloud belts gather daily. The natural shade thus provided 

 ■would do away with the necessity for supplying artificial 

 shade. Under these conditions it would be possible to 

 produce tobacco yielding a good proportion of loaves suitable 

 for wrapper purposes. The burn of the Hawaiian tobacco 

 was reported upon as exceptionally good. Burning qualities 

 of the tobacco leaf appear to depend upon tlie texture of the 

 soil, its percentage of clay, and its water-holding capacity. 



In prejiaring seed-beds for tobacco plants, the workers 

 at the Kxiieriment Station recommend that the soil should 

 be sterilized previous to use. In cases where live steam is 

 not available, a simple device, which may be made use of by 

 any grower, is described in the pamphlet. It is inqiortant 

 that the soil of the seed-bed should he exceptionally rich, 

 more particularly in organic matter. It i.i necessary that the 

 soil should also be thoroughly cultivated to a fine tilth. The 

 best results are only obtained when the growth of the plant 

 is forced throughout the entire period. 



By the erection of a suitable framewo'-k over the seed- 

 beds provision was made by n^eans of which a coveiing of 

 nuislin may, when necessary, be utili/.eil tn >hade the young 

 tobacco plants. The seed is thinly scattered over the surface 

 of the seed beds, and lightly raked in. The necessity for 

 keeping the soil suitably moist is eniphasi/i-d. 



It is rcconnnended that plants in the seed-hed slnmld 

 be fully cxpo.sed to the air for a week before transplanting so 

 as to harden them otf. The\- are best transplanted when 

 from .seven to ten weeks old. The siiil of the field shoukl 

 have undergone good prelinunary tilling before the plants 

 are set out, and the crop is one which needs plenty of manure. 



It is pointed out that soil on which tobacco is to be 

 cultivated should contain abundanre of lime, and the most 

 suitable maniu'cs are probably alMiul 2 cwt. of basic slag 

 together with the same (piantity of sul])hate of iK)tasli, pei- 

 acre, sown broadcast and harrowed in, some months before 

 the plants are set out. I'otash should not be applied to 

 tobacco in the form of potassium chloride, since the chlorine 

 is detrimental to the liurning cpudities of the leaf. An 

 application of nitrogenous fertilizer, one-half of which should 

 lie at once available, e.g., as nitrate of soda, and one-half in 

 organic form, as dried blood or cotton seed ni-MJ. dmidd I'e 

 given at the time of transplanting. 



ToI)acco plants should preferably In- tiansi)lanted on 

 cloudy days. In the case of Cuban and Suniatra varieties 

 they should be set out 25 inches apart in the row. Other 

 varieties, "21 inches apart in the row. 'i'lie rows should be 

 from 42 to 48 inches apart, .\fter-ulli\alion consists in 

 weeding and loosening the soil. After the plant is well estah 

 lished, howcvei', only light hand-hoeing can he carried on 

 <iwing to the danger of damaging the roots of the plant. 



The jiamphlet contains ilescription and plans of barns 

 :iuitable for curing opeiatinn^. It is estimated that for over 



I 00 acres of tobacco, 10,000 cubic yards of harn space will be 

 necessary for curing operations, assuming that the structures 

 aie provided with artificial heat, Mhich, it is recommended, 

 .should be the case. If no artificial heat is provided, it is 

 estimated that from 18,000 to 20,000 cubic yards of bam 

 .space will be reijuired for every 100 acres of crop. The 

 fermenting room should be well constructed with alr-i)roof 

 and moisturerjiroof fioor and walls absolutely under control 

 as to heat, moisture, 'and ventilation. It should also contain 

 a suitalde [iress for baling the leaves 



The plans further provide for a sorting room close 

 to the fermenting rodm. The above buildings are mentioned 

 as being absolutely liecessary for jdanters who jiropose to 

 take up tobacco cultivation on a commercial scale. 



The pamphlet also contains directions as to curing, 

 sorting, bundling, and fermenting the ditlerent kinds of wrap- 

 |ier, hindei-, and filler toliaccos, and gives instructions 

 for baling, grading, and marketing. 



WATER SUPPLY FOR BEES. 

 The necessity of providing a sujjply of clean water 



h'. 



cani.ng.f 



for bees is commented upon by a writer in Gl 

 m Bee Culture, and it is jiointed'out that much 

 valuable time is frecpiently lost by the bees in having 

 to fly long distances in search of water, of which the>^ 

 require a considerable quantity. Under these condi- 

 tions it is obvious that the best returns cannot be 

 obtainfd from liee-keeping. Bees, too, are drowned in 

 large nuinliers in drinking from pools, or from water 

 contained ii: ordinary vessels, but this continuous loss 

 may be oii\i.itcd by placing chips of wood in the water, 

 on which the bees can alight. The following paragr.iphs 

 are t.akeii from the article in question : — 



In many [ilaces bees can obtain water for themselves with- 

 out making any long journey, by visiting drinking iilaces of 

 horses and cattle and also pum]).s, etc. But in sucli places 

 the insects are frc(|uently a groat annoyance. Oenerally, too, 

 many bees are di'owned under such conditions. To avoid 

 this annoyaiu'c and loss, it is well worth while to have 

 a place where the bee.<i may find water at all times. 



Such a place should be provided before the bees have 

 formed the habit of visiting a pum)( or hor.se-trough, for that 

 habit having been rtnce formed, the bees will not, under 

 ordinary circumstances, jiay the slightest attention to any 

 other drinking place. They may, however, by suitable mean.s, 

 lie enticed away to a new place, if it be only a few feet, 

 or even a few yards distant. For this purpose, the pinnp 

 or hor.se-trough should be covered u|) so that the bees cannot 

 drink from it. and a vessel of water .set near by. Next dav, 

 and each day thereafter, the ve.ssel .should be moved a little 

 nearer the hive. .After getting a short distance away, it can bo 

 moved ") or 10 feet each day. Keep the old drinking place 

 ciixercd lip tnr a few days, and afterward keep water 

 ciiiistantly at the new place, and there should be no more 

 troubli'. 



Whatever \es.scl is u.sed should Imld a good supply of 

 water : and then if care is taken to refill it before it has been 

 completely emptied, there is not much danger that it will 

 iiften be entirely dry. 



'I'lie best thing I have ever tried is a tub, or half-barrel, 

 with ciirk chips or cork dust thrown on the water. Put in 

 all the chi|is possible, provided that the bees will have no 

 ditticulty in reaching the water. The bees are just as safe 

 walking over them as on the ground. 



