Tobacco Expfriments at Edl. iy\<\ 



The texture of the leaf was much finer, the ribs much smaller, and 

 the leaf sounder owing to the protection from insects and weather. 

 The crop would be safer as there is less evaporation and a smaller 

 rainfall would suffice. The plants start better as they are not subject 

 to the direct rays of the sun when first transplanted. The work of 

 keeping down grubs is not so great, and the damage from wind 

 and frost is avoided. Therefore, when once the structure is erected, 

 much of the ordinary labor of attending the crop is lessened, the 

 leaf grows large, but of much more delicate texture than that in the 

 open field, and 1 am of opinion that a still better quality leaf could be 

 grown in this way upon a lighter description of soil. 



Soils. 



The soil on which all the experiments have been carried out, is a 

 rich black alluvial Hat with a large percentage of sand on the surface, 

 especially in patches, with a heavy dark subsuil containing rather too 

 much clay. There is a large area of similar soil in the North-Eastern 

 district, but there are lighter descriptions of soil on the flats and 

 uplands which I believe would produce a better quality of leaf. The 

 variety of soils in the district extending from the Broken River to 

 the Murray is very great, and by choosing the better varieties of 

 tobacco to suit the different soils a very superior leaf can be produced 

 to that hitherto grown. The tendency of most growers, in the 

 past, has been to grow the heaviest yield, without sufficient regard to 

 quality, the complaint of the buyers being that Victorian leaf is too 

 coarse, and this can be obviated by attention to soil and variety. It 

 has been proved that improved kinds will thrive equally as well as 

 the old types. The change of seed would in itself be an advan- 

 tage. During the season, 54 growers have been supplied with seed 

 of better types from the farm. 



Summary. 



Several important results have been obtained through the experi- 

 ments carried out at the Government farm during the past year. In 

 the first place it has been shown that the finer classes of tobacco can 

 be successfully cultivated, and the adoption of these varieties must in 

 itself greatly improve the quality of Victorian leaf, provided the 

 soils are chosen to suit the variety, or vice versa. 



Also, it has been proved that, by proper care and conditions, a 

 good cigar leaf can be produced at almost the first trial, which the 

 manufacturers are prepared to buy at payable prices. And though an 

 absolute cure has not been discovered for the blue mould it has been 

 checked to a great extent, and by using good judgment in choosing 

 sites for seed beds, and the treatment of the soil by burning before 

 seeding, and covering with cheese cloth, even in a bad year for 

 the disease, sufficient plants can be obtained to plant out the plot. 



