962 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



determines tlie type^ while the grade expresses the measure of 

 excellence of the leaves from any one type. The production of the 

 different classes and types is the outcome principally of climatic 

 conditions, and the texture and physical properties of the soil. It 

 will be recognised then that the production of the different classes 

 and types cannot be successfully attempted on the same class of soil, 

 that a soil adapted by its physical properties for the production of a 

 large, heavy leaf of a high oil or gum content will not produce a 

 light tobacco. The adaptability of various soils to different classes 

 and types of tobacco has received great attention at the hand of 

 Whitney in America, with the object of determining the conditions 

 favourable to the best development of each type. The ultimate 

 object, as stated, has been " to give a basis for the classification of 

 tobacco soils, and for the improvement and modification of the 

 conditions in many soils, which are not, under present methods of 

 manuring and cultivation, Avell adapted to any particular type of 

 tobacco." 



Prior to similar investigations being taken up in Victoria, the 

 introduction of new and untried varieties is necessary. 



The establishment of experimental fields covering a wide range of 

 soils in which various varieties might be tested, would indicate the 

 suitability of particular areas and particular soils for the production 

 of different types. The examination of the soils, on which certain of 

 these types might have succeeded, would then afford data for 

 expressing opinions on the results of analysis as to the adaptability 

 of untried areas for the same type. Until this data resulting from 

 field experiments is available, the chemical and physical analysis of 

 a soil will have a limited value only. Up to very recently, one type 

 only has been almost exclusively grown in the North-Eastern district 

 as the general crop, and the large body of facts resulting from the 

 experience of growers themselves, apart from the investigations 

 of the expert, which affords so much valuable data to the investigator 

 in America, is not available in the case of Victoria. From the ex- 

 perience of growers themselves in America, it has been found that 

 certain varieties, through the yields and excellence of the product, 

 have given a distinct character to certain districts. The work of the 

 expert is to investigate the conditions producing these distinctive 

 characteristics, and, by a comparative study of untried areas, to dis- 

 cover and suggest the possibilities of expansion beyond these 

 restricted localities known by experience to be adapted for the pro- 

 duction of these characteristics. In Victoria, in the absence of the 

 growers' initiative, a wide distribution of variety tests must precede 

 any large system of soil investigation. From the variety tests of last 

 year, reported on by Mr. Smith, there is every evidence of the growers 

 of the North-Easteru district being able to produce a tobacco very 

 much superior to the one formerly placed on the market. To obtain 

 some general idea of the character of the soil in the district, a 

 chemical and mechanical analysis of a number of samples taken from 

 different localities was carried out in the laboratory. This examin- 

 ation reveals the presence of the most important plant foods in 

 exceptionally large quantities. The soils may be regarded as of high 



