TO July. 191 i.] Tobacco Culture. 469 



Tobacco, if not carefully watched, has a tendency to lose its type 

 under certain circumscances. Where different varieties are grown within a 

 few miles of one another, cross-fertilization is common, owing to the 

 pollen being carried by bees and other insects, or the wind. The result 

 is that, where no care is taken to prevent inoculation, a type is soon lost, 

 and it is found impossible to maintain the qualities required in the different 

 tobaccoes. 



Even without cross- fertilization, a variety planted in a soil and climate 

 not suitable will, in three years, lose its useful characteristics altogether 

 and a fresh importation of seed be found advisable. 



During the last ten years it has been clearly proved that cross-breeding, 

 with knowledge, has been the means of producing tobacco with better 

 colour, texture, and burn, in addition to heavier yields. Judicious seed 

 selection will also control the same results. 



The tobacco plant is self -fertile; consequently, no cross- fertilization is 

 necessary, provided the plant is holding the type required. The vitality 

 of the seed is wonderful, considering its diminutive size- from 300,000 to 

 400,000 seeds to an ounce. A single plant will, in some varieties, produce 

 this quantity, about 70 per cent, being fertile. The life of tobacco seed 

 is from 10 to 20 years, when properly cared for; though, after 10 years, 

 a .smaller proportion will germinate, and the older the seed the slower the 

 germination. 



An experienced grower will, in a good season, save enough seed to last 

 him for ten years. There is less risk in this way of deterioration than 

 if the seed be saved in every succeeding year. Care must always be taken 

 that the plants selected are acclimatized at least one year, if grown from 

 imported seed. 



In selecting plains for seed bearing, the grower should have in his 

 mind the following ideals : — 



I. A vigorous healthy plant with a tendency to early maturity. This 

 means less risk from frost, and a shorter growing period which will entail 

 less working expense. Ihe quicker tobacco is grown, especially for 

 wrapper leaf, the better the quality. Some of the t)est leaf, from the 

 time it is transplanted to the harvesting stage, is only 12 weeks in the 

 ground; heavier plug tobaccoes will be from 16 to 20 weeks. The seed 

 from a vigorous plant, grown in a season clean in respect to fungus and 

 other diseases, w'ill naturally produce plants less liable to disease. 



2. Size, number, and shape of leaves must also be considered. These 

 objects will depend on the purpose for which they are grown, and the 

 quality of the soil in which they are produced. The size for heavy plug 

 types can hardly be too large, leaves of this kind being sometimes as much 

 as 39 ins. in length and 24 ins. wide. But where such large leaf is grown, 

 it is well to endeavour to keep the size of the midrib as small as possible. 

 'I'he lateral vein.« should not be too large or prominent and should be even 

 distances a])art. If they appear clo.se together, it is indicative of the 

 .seed running out. and such plants should be avoided. For cigar and plug 

 filler size is of no great con.se<iuence, except in so far as heavy yiehls are 

 c<jnrerned. 



The number of leaves will d«|)end chiefly on the quality of the soil 

 u.sed ; a rich soil will develop a larger number than a poor soil, so that 

 no hard and fast rule can be laid down here, but each grower niu.st u.se 

 his own judgment, accnrtling to the conditions he is working under. In 

 a rich .sandy loam, on which heavy plug leaf is bi-ing produced, a strong 



