200 



weeks before planting time, and the soil should be harrowed fre- 

 quently or otherwise compacted. A few good rains will wash out 

 most of the acids and aid in compacting the soil. The acids may 

 also be counteracted by adding lime. 



COW-PEAS. 



The cow-pea has been a boon to the farmers of the Southern 

 States, and its value is coming to be generally recognized. During 

 the past few years the demand for cow-pea seed has exceeded the 

 supply, and high prices have resulted. 



It seldom pays to turn under a crop of cow-peas in the green 

 state. It is better practice to make hay of them, feed the hay, 

 and put the manure back on the land. As is the case with all 

 legumes, the roots of the cow-pea crop add a great deal of nitro- 

 gen to the soil, and have a marked effect on fertility. If a heavy 

 green crop of cow-peas is ploughed under in the autumn it is best 

 not to plant the land until the following spring. 



SUMMARY. 



We may sum up the matter briefly thus : To build up and main- 

 tain fertility in the soil, feed a large part of the crops and return 

 the manure to the land. If manure is not available, plough under 

 crops grown for the purpose. Plough deep (but do not subsoil). 

 Grow leguminous crops for the nitrogen they add to the soil. 



TOBACCO FROM JAMAICA. VII. '•' 



This sample of tobacco was sent to the Imperial Institute by the 

 Director of the Department of Public Gardens and Plantations of 

 Jamaica. It was grown experimentally under shade cloth during 

 the season 1904-1905 from Sumatra seed. 



DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLE. 



The sample consisted of six leaves of the " wrapper" type of 

 cigar tobacco, showing a dull, olive-brown tint. The leaves were 

 of fair length, uniform in colour, thin and free from "stains" and 

 " burns." They were somewhat brittle when handled, but this was 

 probably due to their having been packed between sheets of card- 

 board, which had absorbed the moisture, rendering the leaves 

 abnormally dry. 



When ignited the tobacco burned evenly and steadily, evolving 

 a fairly fragrant aroma and leaving a greyish-white ash. 



As the sample was very small, it was impossible to submit it to 

 chemical examination. It was therefore sent to a firm of tobacco 

 experts to be tried for wrapping cigars and for the determination 

 of its commercial value. The experts' report on the tobacco was 

 as follows : — 



"The tobacco is of very handsome appearance, thin in texture 

 and therefore highly productive as a ' wrapper' for tobacco ; in 

 use it is somewhat ' tender' and does not appear to have quite as 



* From BuUetiii of The Imj/erial Institute, Vol. IV. No. 2. 



