74^ Journal of Agriculture. [lo Dec, 1910. 



so small, that i lb. of the leaf will wrap 500 cigars. At the same time, 

 a cigar made wholly from this class of leaf would not be a good .smoke. 



Cold rainy weather, especially during the ripening period, is liable 

 to cause acidity in the leaf. This will have a detrimental effect during the 

 curing, and fermentation process, preventing the development of the neces- 

 sary oxidizing enzymes. Moderate rain with warm weather is the best 

 general condition. Dry weather during the ripening stages assists the for- 

 mation of bacterial life, and preserves the products required for aroma 

 in tobacco. Dews in autumn also have a good effect on the leaf. 



It has not been considered wise to grow tobacco within 30 miles of 

 the coast, yet good leaf is grown in Sumatra and Manila close to the sea- 

 board. In Victoria, too, some good leaf has been grown within a few 

 miles of the sea. Provided the land is not too exposed to wind and the 

 soil does not contain an undue proportion of salt, proximity to the coast 

 should not prevent success in most cases. 



So far as frost is concerned we have to remember that the crop is a 

 summer one. Where there is immunity from frost for four to five months 

 in rhe year tobacco can be grown. The plant is less susceptible to frost 

 than maize, potatoes, and pumpkins, and I have several times seen these 

 crops ruined by frost, while a tobacco crop adjoining has escaped injury. 



With regard to moisture, it will be seen from the foregoing remarks 

 that soils too retentive of moisture are not suitable, and that good drainage, 

 either natural or artificial, is essential. The crop does not require a heavy 

 rainfall. Once the young plants are established they are very hardy, 

 will stand a long drought, and respond very fast when the rain does fall. 

 Last season, in the King Valley, the rainfall from the end of October to 

 the end of February, which is the growing season, was only 3 inches, yet 

 the crop was a fair one, showing that a heavy rainfall is not necessary. 

 Where irrigation water can be commanded during a dry time, good results 

 will follow, and two applications with proper cultivation will be found 

 sufficient. The water should not be allowed to lie on the ground — it is 

 wiser to err on the side of too little than too much. Water should never 

 be applied after the topping stage, as it is liable to kill the life in the 

 leaf cells, thus destroying, to some extent, the cure and fermentation pro- 

 cess, that are necessary in preparing the leaf for market. 



Varieties. 



In selecting varieties for each particular soil and climate, several matters 

 should be taken into consideration. Lemon bright aromatic wrapper leaf 

 and cigarette leaf can often be produced on the same soil, yet in a coun- 

 try where wages are high, it will pay better to grow for the plug wrapper 

 leaf. The cigarette leaf will require double the labour, owing to the 

 extra number of plants per acre to be handled, the finer texture required 

 in this class of leaf necessitating closer planting in the field. 



The varieties suited to the light sandy or slaty soil used for this pur- 

 pose are Little Oronoco, Yellow Pryor, Bonanza, Hyco, and Granville 

 Yellow. These yield from 700 lbs. to 900 lbs. per acre. 



For rich river flats, on which the heavier pipe leaf is grown, it is wise 

 to avoid very heavy dark soils. As the leaf takes its colour largely from 

 the colours of .soil upon which it is grown, sandy loams should be used 

 for preference. The following varieties are suitable : — Medley Pryor, 

 Blue Pryor, Lax. These are all heavy yielders, giving from 900 lbs. to 

 1,500 lbs. per acre of cured leaf for plug tobacco. 



For red chocolate soils, Hester and Conqueror, for pipe, yield from 

 800 lbs. to 1,200 lbs. per acre, cured leaf. 



