TO Jan., 191 1 •] Tobacco Culture. 53 



be necessary, and, in districts where early frosts, say in April, are preva- 

 lent, there is danger of loss from that cause. The yield per acre also 

 is somewhat lighter, owing to the necessity for cutting some of the tobacco 

 before it is thoroughly ripe. The difference in the yield may amount to 

 2 cwt. per acre, but the saving in labour in weeding, cultivation, and at- 

 tention to insect pests, can be set off as against the loss of weight. 



The time to water seed beds is much discussed by growers. The 

 Chinese believe in watering both in the morning and evening, but many 

 European growers prefer the evenings only. The latter, I think, is the 

 safer plan. Watering in the morning under a hot sun causes a steamy 

 condition liable to cause mould ; and al.so scald the plants to some extent. 

 There is also a quick and heavy loss of moisture by evaporation. If the 

 beds are covered with straw, or hessian, watering in the evening is best, 

 and no fear of a chill need be anticipated if care is taken not to water in 

 \ery cold weather. If possible it is better to use water from a running 

 .stream in preference to stagnant or well water. The use of liquid manures 

 is not advisable, unless it is necessary to facilitate the growth of backward 

 plants. A safe system is to water only when the plants show signs of 

 drooping. This wull insure hardier plants. This applies to plants half 

 grown ; only very young plants require the soil kept continuously moist. 



Preparation of the Soil Before Transplanting. 

 This is a matter that is of great importance for tobacco growing in our 

 climate. When it is remembered that tobacco is a summer crop, growing 

 only through the four hottest months of the year and that these four 

 months are, generally speaking, the period of least rainfall, too much at- 

 tention cannot be gi\en to the conser\ation of moisture in the soil, especi- 

 ally where late planting is followed. We do not enjoy the same regular 

 rainfall that is prevalent in Sumatra and other leading tobacco countries, 

 during the summer months. At the same time, tobacco is successfully 

 produced in .some places where the rainfall is very light. In the season 

 / 908-09. a fair crop was grown in the King and Ovens valleys, the rain- 

 fall from the 17th of October to the end of March being under 3 inches. 

 Further crops have been produced with practically no rainfall during the 

 growing period, without assistance from irrigation. Such a result can only 

 ^)e brought al>out by a thorough system of cultivation before and during 

 the growth of the crop. 



The field in which it is intended to grow tobacco should be cleared of 

 all trees that are liable to shade the crop too much. All dead trees recently 

 ring-barked should be removed as the falling dry limbs are liable to break 

 down the growing plants ; to say nothing of the danger to the men work- 

 ing under them. Stumps left in the field will not interfere with the crop, 

 but are a considerable nuisance when ploughing, transplanting, and hoe- 

 ing between the rows. 



Fallowing, either in the autumn i)r early s[)ring. should be practised 

 for various rea.sons. Tobacco likes a sweet condition of soil, and will 

 not grow .so readily, nor produce as good quality, in an acid soil. A 

 fallow, when possible, should tht-refore alwavs be given to the land. 

 .\gain, seeing that it is a summer crop, all the moisture that can be stored 

 up in the .soil should be conserved and the fallow will more readily admit 

 the rains of winter and spring. Directly the warm weather sets in, a cul- 

 tivator, harrow, or plough should be u.sed to keep the surface loose and 

 prevent evaporation, which, as Campbell, in his work on Dry Farming, 

 states, will take place at the rate of a r]uart to a quart and a half per 



