1266 PLANT BREEDING 



{A) Choosing among the races hitherto grown in the country types 

 which answer the purpose in view to the" best possible degree ; "'^ 



{B) Introducing new races capable ofj^competing advantageously 

 with the old races of the countr}- ; 



(C) Production of constant h5d3rids combining the favourable cha- 

 racters of yield of different old types. 



p" The tobacco plantations in the East of Java differing greatl}^ as regards 

 altitude, exposure, temperature, rainfall, humidity of the air, wind, soil, 

 etc., it is obvious that the same race cannot everywhere answer the require- 

 ments of planters. For this reason, at least 3 races have been under culti- 

 vation for a long time in the province of Besoeki, apart from the first 

 crosses which well informed planters send in large quantities every year 

 to the European market where they meet with promising success, and the 

 races cultivated by the natives for their own account. The latter sometimes 

 supply a cheap tobacco very much in demand for the Rotterdam and Am- 

 sterdam markets, and above all they furnish the requirements of the country. 

 In view of the different races under cultivation, the manifold objects 

 to be attained and the unequal conditions of plantations, it was clearly essen- 

 tial to have experimental fields in different places. The tobacco planters in 

 the East of Java quite clearly realise this ; the new experimental Station 

 at Dj ember therefore now possesses 4 experimental fields occupying an 

 aggregate of about 30 acres, owing to which arrangement an examina- 

 tion may be made, at different altitudes, under different atmospheric condi- 

 tions, and on varying types of soil (although all of volcanic origin), either 

 of the fines selected from the races of the country, or of the first or sub- 

 sequent crosses obtained on a rational method, or again foreign varieties and 

 races. 



Though it is not practicable to obtain 2 good tobacco crops from the 

 same field in one year, it is nevertheless possible, when there is a suificienc}' 

 of land available, to carry out 2 plantings, one during the rainy season 

 (January-April), the other during the dry season (August-November). 

 In this way, the Dj ember Station every year carried out 2 plantings, even 

 3, the dryest months (June-August) being chosen for Turkish tobacco. 



Owing to its not being found advantageous to plant tobacco everj^ year 

 on the same soil, some planters rotate their cultivations as follows : after 

 a rice crop in May tobacco is put down (August-November), then again 

 rice (January to May), then maize, soya or some other leguminous crop is 

 planted, then once more rice, and it is then the turn of tobacco again af- 

 ter 2 years. It is a great advantage to be able to alternate cultivations, 

 and the "sawahs" (paddy fields) are admirably adapted for growing tobacco 

 in these tropical regions. The ri^^ers which serve to irrigate the fields not 

 onl}^ contribute a fair amount of fertilising silt, but besides this the water 

 which remains on the fields for some time kills the many insects to be found 

 in the soil, which insects might sometimes have disastrous effects in hot coun- 

 tries. 



(A) Choice of suitable Types. — The selection of local races was be- 

 gun with 120 parent plants, 55 being of the " Kedoe " race and the others 



