218 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



Manure tests, including all tlie types of soil in a district, in con- 

 junction with a survey defining- tlie boundaries of eacli type, would 

 permit of the mapping of the soils of each district, and, provided 

 laboi'atory investigations were also carried out in connection with 

 each type, would furnish information applicable to similar areas else- 

 where. It is on such lines as these that I would wish the field trials 

 of the future to be conducted. 



EXPEEIMKNTS AT THE ToBACCO FaRM. 



Mr. Temple Smith furnishes an interesting report on the experi- 

 ments carried out on the farm under his direct supervision, the 

 most important of which were different methods for raising plants in 

 the seed beds and the prevention of blue mould. Manure experiments 

 of a comprehensive kind were also carried out, the results of which 

 are not yet available. A number of new varieties were also tested, 

 some of which gave promise of proving valuable introductions. 

 Mr. Smith reports : " Sixteen varieties were tried in all, thirteen of 

 which were pipe tobaccoes. The following facts were noted in con- 

 nection with the varieties grown on the experimental plots : — 



PLUG TOBACCOES. 



The Hester. — Nice heart-shaped leaf ; leaves well apart. Can be planted 



3 feet apart. 

 Lacks. — Verj- large long leaf; slow growth; requires to be 3ft. 6in. apart. 



Should give heavy yield. 

 Blue I'rvor. — Large leaf; matured late ; nice texture. 

 Colonial Broai5 Leaf. — Strong growth ; large leaf; heavy yielder ; coarse 



in appearance. 

 Conqueror. — Pointed leaf; grows long distances apart on stalk ; matures 



early. Should be 3ft. apart. 

 Granville Yellow. — Rather delicate ; matured late ; suffered during dry 



weather. Should be 3ft. apart. 

 Hvco. — Suffered from drought ; nice broad leaf ; light yielder. 



CIGAR VARIETIES. 



Sumatra. — Tall growth ; delicate light yielder ; small leaf. Can be planted 



3ft. apart. 

 CoMSTocK Spanish. — Large narrow leaf ; matures early ; light yield ; liable to 



soon spot ; coarse texture. 

 Connecticut Seed Leaf. — Strong grower; large leaf; nice texture; heavy 



yield. Should be 3ft. 6in. apart. 



Mr. Smith continues : " The experiments of the year go to show 

 that some of the best varieties can be successfully grown, and the 

 distribution of seed of such varieties must have a beneficial effect*on 

 the futvire production of tobacco in the district. The area of the 

 past year's crop was double that of the previous year, and growers 

 are arranging for a still larger next season." 



An experiment of growing cigar leaf varieties under a tent made 

 of cheesecloth gave satisfactory results, the texture being much finer 

 than the same varieties grown in the field. 



Correspondence, Reports, Etc. 



The correspondence during the year was very heavy, the result 

 principally of the great develoj)ments in the field work, and the 



