10 June, 1919.] Flue Curing Tobacco Leaf. 377 



The grass paddocks are now being spelled, and w 11 he top-dressed 

 with 1 cwt. super, per acre. This has been proved a profitable practice 

 on the 4-acre experimental p'oti during the past four years. A paddock 

 or subterranean clover, and another of rye grass and clover, sown at the 

 foot of the College hill continues to give a satisfactory return. The results 

 show what can be done with artificial grasses to improve the carrying 

 capacity of small paddocks in favoured situations — even on the rainfall 

 received at Eutherglen. A loamy paddock of 13 acres is being subsoiled 

 for lucerne. Crops of this plant have, without irrigation, given fair 

 yields in picked situations in other parts of the district, and provide a 

 useful green pick for stock during the summer. 



FLUE CURING LEMON BRIGHT TOBACCO LEAF. 



In May, 1916, the Department of Agriculture made an agreement 

 with Messrs. Rae Bros., of Gapsted, to carry out a series of experiments 

 in tobacco culture, Avilh a view to testing varieties of tobacco suitable 

 for the production of lemon bright leaf, arid the heavier types of plug 

 tobacco leaf, and cigar leaf, for filler and wrapper purposes ; also experi- 

 ments in the treatment of the soil for the prevention of blue mould, the 

 most serious disease affecting tobacco in Victoria. 



Up to the time of these experiments no attempt had been made in 

 this district to cure lemon bright leaf by the use of stoves and flues in a 

 properly constructed barn, with the scientific regulation of temperatures 

 and ventilation. -The season, owing to exceptional wet weather, proved 

 very unsuitable for the crop, but sufficient tobacco was produced to test 

 the various experiments. 



In March, 1917, a portion of an old tobacco shed was fitted up by 

 the Agricultural Department, as designed by the then Tobacco Expert 

 (Mr. Temple A. J. Smith), tlae sides being walled with iron outside and 

 lined inside with ij^aroid, with vents through which currents of air could 

 be regulated left in each wall at both top and bottom. The roof was 

 also ceiled, and a ventilator provided in the top. 



Two stoves, 4 ft. 6 in. long by 2 feet by 18 inches, were made to order 

 by Messrs. Cochrane and Scott, and iron flues, 10 inches in diameter, 

 connected with the stoves, and run through the building, 4 feet apart, 

 the smoke being taken out through smoke stacks of iron. Steam pans 

 were used to regulate humidity. The fuel used was wood. 



On the suggestion of Mr. J. Gilmour, tobacco buyer, Mr. Tregenna, 

 the tobacco expert of New South Wales, was invited to attend the first 

 cure, and was present for two days. 



The first barn was started on the 17th April, 1917, at 9 p.m., and 

 finished at 1 p.m. on the 22nd April, a period of four and a half days in 

 all. Two barns of leaf were cured, and the result was very satisfactory, 

 the leaf being pronounced the best of its type produced in Victoria. 



Messrs. Sniders and Abrahams were the purchasers at 2s. per lb., the 

 British-Australasian Tobacco Company's offer being Is. 9d. per lb. 



The whole operation was carried out by the Departmental Tobacco 

 Expert (Mr. Temple A. J. Smith), with the assistance of Messrs. 

 Rae Bros. 



The varieties giving best results were spotted gum and yellow pryor, 

 but all the varieties treated were very superior to the same tobaccoes 

 cured under the ordinary systems. 



