Growth, Reproduction, and Maturity of Tohacco. 731 



sponge ill holding moisture in the soil and also provides a hahitat 

 for the soil bacteria, which is so essential to plant life. 



Tobacco, which is sometimes spoken of as a potash plant, requires 

 a fair amount of plant food ; tlierefore, if a soil is not giving' good 

 yields, for lack of plant food, it is probably advisable to apply a com- 

 plete fertilizer carrying', say, 4 per cent, of potash, -^ per cent, of 

 uitrog'en, and 8 or 10 per cent, of phosphoric oxide. I would, how- 

 ever, advise caution in the use of nitrogen, especially in attempting 

 to produce yellow tobacco. IN^itrogen has a tendency to produce a 

 stronger, heavier, and darker tobacco. Potash should not be used for 

 tobacco in the form of a chloride, as chlorine is generally conceded 

 to be injurious to the burning quality of tobacco. Phosphoric oxide 

 seems to give an earlier maturity and a lighter coloured leaf. Pre- 

 viously we mentioned the Blue Grass Region of Kentucky as the 

 favourite home of the White Burley tobacco. Underlying this area 

 is a stratum of limestone, and the surface soil contains decomposed 

 limestone, and incidentally this soil shows a high percentage of avail- 

 able phosphoric oxide. It is probably the phosphorus or the com- 

 bination of phosphorus and lime together with a temperate heat that 

 makes this section ideal for the production of this particular type of 

 tobacco. 



{Acknon-ledgnieiit. — Article by Garner and Allard was consulted 

 for certain facts and expressions.) 



Gkoup of Herefords. 



Mohair Market. 



The Department has instituted inquiries into the position of the 

 mohair market overseas with a view to an expansion of trade in this 

 article. The weak state of the market at present is causing much 

 anxiety, and while the future is obscure it is trusted that some relief 

 may follow as a result of the inquiries. 



