742 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Dec. 1910. 



returned ^226. Another plot of 30 acres at Moyhu returned an average 

 of ^780 per annum for four years without any manuring. In Gippsland 

 a plot returned cigar leaf worth over ^60 per acre. 



When it is considered that there is no really heavy work connected with 

 the growth of tobacco, that boys can do the greater part of the work 

 equally as well as men,, and that the growing season during which the 

 out-door work is necessary takes only four to five months, it will readily 

 be acknowledged that Victoria should at least produce the greater part of 

 the 4,000,000 lbs. of tobacco consumed by her people, to say nothing of 

 supplying at least a proportion of the world's markets. 



Again, when we find that the demand is exceeding the world's supply, 

 the prospect of good prices for growers looks bright. Our local market 

 ia asking for more tobacco than can be supplied, and it is rumoured that 

 one Australian company intends growing some 500 acres of tobacco to 

 assist in supplying its own requirements — sufficient evidence in itself that 

 Australian leaf is considered good enough, and that more is wanted. In 

 America, 200 years ago, the tobacco produced was of very inferior 

 quality to that now grown and cured, and there is every reason to e.xpecl 

 that, with the experience of other countries, combined with more scientific 

 m.ethods of culture and treatment, qualities will also improve in Victoria 

 to a marked degree. We have an immense variety of soils and climates 

 not yet exploited so far as tobacco production is concerned. Analysis 

 shows that the mechanical condition of Victorian soils is comparable with 

 that of American tobacco soils, and also that they contain the chemical 

 elements of plant food necessary to the growth of good tobacco. Our 

 growers have therefore reason to expect the production of good leaf, 

 provided the right treatments are employed. The climate, too, in many 

 parts of the State is suitable. The following table .showing the compara- 

 tive analysis of some tvpical American and Victorian tobacco soils will be 

 of interest. These analyses were published by Dr. F. J. Howell, then 

 Chemist for Agriculture, in the Journal for November, 1904: — 



Comparative Analyses of American and Victorian Soils. 



Kextpcky Soil. 



Organic and volatile matter 



Alumina . . 



Oxide of iron 



Lime 



Magnosia . . 



Manganese 



Phosphoric acid 



Sulphuric acid 



Potash 



Soda 



Silica 



White Burley 

 Tobacco. 



78 



0/ 



/o 



•462 

 •745 

 •240 

 •830 

 •798 

 •146 

 •231 

 •084 

 •558 

 •160 

 •100 



North Carolina Soil. 



High Grade Yellow- 

 Tobacco. 



/o 

 1^2050 

 2^4R65 

 • 6275 

 0-2.330 

 0-0847 

 0-0417 

 0^ 0,379 

 0-0140 

 5045 

 0^2892 

 93^5035 



