52 Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [lo Jan., 191 i- 



grow, and a cold change follows, they are liable to a check which is not 

 good for a tobacco plant at any time. 



Meantime, weeds will grow and a fair amount of labour will be re- 

 quired to keep the beds clean. Further, beds sown in the first week in 

 August will provide plants generally as early as those seeded a month 

 earlier. As before stated, the seed will take from ten days to six weeks 

 to germinate, according to the weather and heat conditions, which fact 

 alone explains the fallacy of too early sowing. 



There is, however, one very hnportant system in connexion with sow- 

 ing seed beds which is not given the attention it deserves by Victorian 

 growers ; and that is, the necessity for sowing late beds in Order to make 

 sure of a crop in the event of any disaster overtaking the earlier sown beds. 

 An unexpected late frost, or heavy hailstorm, or worse than either, the 

 one serious disease known to tobacco growers in this State — Blue Mould — 

 may make a clean sweep of the plants, and leave the grower without the 

 means of producing a crop. This disease, of which more will be said 

 later on, makes its appearance in cold wet changeable weather followed 

 by humid muggy conditions, generally attacking the plants just previous 

 to, or when they are ready to transplant. Many treatments have been 

 tried, both in respect to the soil in which the plants are grown and al.'-.o- 

 to the plants themselves, with the object of finding a cure, or prevention, 

 without success. The only reliable system is to seed fresh beds directlv 

 the disea.se appears so as to have later plants to take the place of those 

 destroyed. 



Beds can be sown up to the first week in No\ember with a good chance 

 of the plants being of use ; but one relay of beds should always be sown 

 about the end of October, whether the mould has appeared or not, in order 

 to be on the safe side. In warm weather, plants can be raised in six 

 weeks, ready to transplant, e.specially if quick-growing varieties are used, 

 such as, Hester, Conqueror, and Comstock. 



The Mould, which nearly always makes its appearance in seasons that 

 are conducive to developing rust in wheat, seldom attacks the very late 

 plants. As it is possible to transplant up to the end of the year, and into 

 the middle of January in some districts, it will be seen that the precaution 

 of sowing late beds should not be neglected. In some seasons. Blue 

 Mould but slightly attacks the plants the leaf only being affected. When 

 this occurs the beds should not be watered, but the sun should be allowed 

 free access to the plants and they will, provided weather conditions are 

 suitable, often recover. The heart of the plant will be found to make 

 fresh growth and fresh roots appear. Some of the plants should be 

 examined carefully, to ascertain whether the disease has gone too far 

 for successful transplanting, by pulling some and cutting across with a 

 sharp knife at the junction of the stem with the root. If a brown or 

 black ring be found inside the plant, it is useless to transplant, but. if 

 the majority are clean and healthy the balance of the plants can be put 

 out in the field. 



Late transplanting has its advantages as well as disadvantages. Amongst 

 the former we find that, where plants are put out in the field towards the 

 end of December, they are less subject to cutworm and caterpillar pests. 

 Also, there is less work with weeding and the quality of the leaf grown 

 is generally better owing to the fact that the crop is less liable to a check 

 from cold weather than when transplanted early. 



The disadvantages are that, unless the ground has been carefully pre- 

 pared and cultivated, there will be insufficient moisture and watering will 



