82 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Feb., 1911. 



more thorough decomposition of crude \egetable matter, and the improved 

 mechanical condition of the soil. 



Seeing that the tobacco crop is a quick feeder, taking all its nutriment 

 from the land in from 12 to 20 weeks, it is of the greatest importance that 

 the fertilizers applied to the soil should be in the most available form pro- 

 curable. The fact that tobacco is grown in Victoria during the driest 

 months makes this the more necessary, all these foods being taken by the 

 plant in a soluble form. From the foregoing facts, lime is apparently one 

 of the best kinds of fertilizers and mechanical agents to apply, where that 

 particular element is known to be limited. 



Potash is another highly important plant food, and, when applied,, 

 great care is necessary to insure the use of only that form of potash which 

 will give good results. There are some that will do more harm than good 

 for this particular product. Too much chlorine in the soil is detrimental 

 to the growth of good tobacco leaf, in that an undue proportion of chlorine 

 or salt in the cured leaf will destroy its satisfactory combustion or burn- 

 ing qualities. For this reason, we must be careful not to use potassic 

 fertilizers containing an undue amount of chlorine, such as chloride or 

 muriate of potash or kainit. The best forms to use are sulphate of potash 

 or carbonate of potash from which only good effects can obtain. Potash, 

 in large quantities, will to some extent counteract the effect of chlorine \n 

 the leaf; the larger the proportionate amount, as compared with the 

 chlorine content, the better the burn. 



\\\ the iise of phosphatic manures, bone meal appears to give the best 

 results ; this is probably due to this fertilizer being an organic manure in 

 which free sulphuric acid is scarce, as compared with the mineral super- 

 phosphates. The effect of a superabundance of phosphoric acid in the soil 

 is said to hasten maturity and in some cases cause rust or blight. 



Nitrogenous manures, if in excess, increase the nicotine content in the 

 leaf ; and if used must be applied with caution. Tobacco leaf grown on 

 Victorian soils unfertilized even now contains up to 6 per cent, of nicotine,, 

 which is too large a percentage. The best American tobaccoes contain from 

 I to 4 per cent, of nicotine, the average being just under 2 per cent. Ex- 

 cept in rare instances, it appears as though our soils would be better left 

 unsupplied with nitrogen as a fertilizer at present, unless much poorer 

 >and is used than has been the case in the past. 



Nitrate of soda, though a quickly available fertilizer, does not appear 

 to be popular in America, probably owing to the danger of loss. It 

 .should, if used, be applied after the plants are out in the field, and 

 never when the seed is sown as it is liable to loss by evaporation. The 

 soda contained, if largely used, is detrimental. Nitrate of potash is good, 

 if procurable, but it is seldom to be had at a price suited for this use. 



Sulphate of ammonia should be applied when the land has received its 

 last preparation before planting out. It contains a fairly large amount 

 of sulphuric acid which, especially on soils deficient in lime, has a bad 

 effect. 



Red blood is a highly useful nitrogenous manure for tobacco and should 

 be applied just before transplanting. It has a beneficial effect on the 

 colour of the bright plug tobacco leaf. Black blood is not so good as red, 

 being of slower availability. 



Ordinary farm manures, if applied in too great a quantity, cause a 

 growth of heavy coarse leaf with too great a nicotine content. Where a 

 soil has to be rnanured, a judicious blend of farm manure and commercial 

 fertilizers is best. The following formula is popular in the American 



