thus protecting against the wind and preventing the tobacco becom- 

 ing sunburnt. The produce of any of those plants forms besides an 

 important item in the farm receipts. It is, however, recommended 

 that only annual plants be grown for this purpose, peas, beans, 

 sorghum, or maize being all suitable, and thus permit of a proper 

 rotation of crops. 



Having now determined upon the site of the tobacco field the 

 farmer has to consider what kind he will grow, and the means at 

 his disposal to satisfy the wants of the different varieties. Though 

 tobacco is a hardy plant, and will grow under varied conditions, 

 yet, to become a profitable crop, it must not be grown in a situation 

 very different from that to which it is suited by nature. It must be 

 remembered that the plant is a native of a warm climate and 

 thrives best in a moist atmosphere, therefore, in such a climate, by 

 employing ordinary means, tobacco may be made to yield a profit 

 not attainable in less favored situations. A warm, moister climate 

 will permit of the selection of the sorts that fetch the highest price 

 in the market, and in a suitable soil the profit will be such as is not 

 easily realised from any other crop. 



As the Havana tobaccos command the highest price, growers 

 everywhere attempt to introduce and cultivate them. There is, 

 indeed, no difficulty in growing these varieties, but they speedily 

 degenerate if the conditions are not favorable. Virginian tobacco 

 is the most favored in temperate climates, as it does not require 

 such a high temperature, but on account of its botanical charac- 

 teristics it is not much liked by cigar or cut tobacco manufacturers. 

 For these reasons the Persian tobacco, as recommended by this 

 department, will generally prove most satisfactory in this colony, 

 the climate of Persia nearly approaching that of New South Wales, 

 and the formation of the leaf permitting its use in manufacturing 

 the higher qualities of tobacco, or even cigars. It fully meets the 

 requirements of the trade, as stated in the following extract from 

 one of the trade journals, reviewing the results of the 1889 crop : 

 " A high price is generally commanded by the tobacco, no matter of 

 what variety, that has a smooth, thin, and elastic leaf, and which 

 possesses an even golden color and fine aroma, with thin ribs, 

 far apart and even. The wider the leaf, and the less they are torn, 

 the greater the number of wrappers which can becutfivm one pound 

 of tobacco, and consequently manufacturers will pay more for 

 brands possessing these qualities than for others that are un- 

 reliable." 



There are among growers as many varieties of tobacco as there 

 are varieties of cabbage, each district favouring a particular kind. 

 It may, however, be said of the varieties most generally known in 

 this colony, that the Connecticut seed leaf, and Havana, are most 

 in use for wrappers, while the Kentucky, Virginia, and Mai viand 

 are employed for smoking and chewing tobacco. 





