XI.] MANURES FOR TOBACCO AND TEA 337 



nitrogen, should be ploughed in before sowing, and this 

 may be followed up by a ^ cwt. per acre of a more 

 active nitrogenous fertiliser like sulphate of ammonia or 

 nitrate of soda when the crop has begun to grow. 

 Potash manures are only required on certain soils of a 

 light type. 



Tobacco. — Tobacco is a crop requiring comparatively 

 rich land, and the fertilisers should chiefly supply 

 nitrogen and potash, phosphates being less required. 

 Too great an amount of nitrogenous fertiliser should not 

 be used, or the quality of the leaf falls off, up to 50 lb. 

 per acre is safe ; and ammoniacal manures should be 

 avoided, as they result in a leaf burning badly. Before 

 planting out the tobacco 200 to 300 lb. of an organic 

 nitrogen compound — cotton seed meal or castor pomace 

 — 200 lb. of superphosphate and 100 lb. of sulphate of 

 potash should be applied, followed by 100 lb. of nitrate 

 of soda when the plant is growing. Potash appears to 

 be very essential, and may be given as nitrate, carbonate, 

 or sulphate. 



Tea. — Being perennial the tea plant requires neither 

 heavy nor active manuring ; it is also very important to 

 maintain both the proper habit of growth of the plant 

 and the quality of the leaf. If any large amount of 

 nitrogen is employed an excessive development of weak 

 vegetative shoots takes place on the bush, and the plant 

 suffers in ensuing seasons. The fertility of a tea garden 

 as regards nitrogen can be maintained by carefully 

 burying the lighter prunings and weeds, and by digging 

 in from time to time leguminous plants which have been 

 grown between the rows, cut down, and allowed to 

 wither and rot somewhat. By also supplying basic slag 

 at the rate of about 2 cwts. per acre the residues thus 

 utilised are balanced by the phosphates, and the lime of 

 the basic slag is beneficial in keeping the soil healthy 



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