TOBACCO 237 



export for the corresponding period from 56,826 lb., 

 valued locally at 945, to the substantial figures of 

 3,763,014 lb., valued at 94,167 153. 6d., and equal in 

 weight to nearly 4 per cent, of the average annual con- 

 sumption of tobacco in Great Britain. 



Climate. 



In Nyasaland the cultivation of tobacco is confined to 

 the uplands, and the crop grows luxuriantly at elevations 

 varying between 1,000 ft. and 3,500 ft. above sea-level, 

 and can be grown at altitudes too high for cotton, but, 

 unlike the latter, it suffers more from drought than 

 from excessive rain in the growing priod. 



For a tropical or sub-tropical crop tobacco has justly 

 proved itself to be hardy, and, apart from hail or ex- 

 cessive rain towards harvest, is able to withstand wide 

 ranges of temperature. 



The two most important climatic factors for a success- 

 ful tobacco season in Nyasaland are : firstly, a period of 

 steady rain and cloud during planting; and, secondly, a 

 quick termination of the rains when the crop is ready to 

 harvest. In the absence of typical planting weather, it 

 is practically impossible to get a stand of young plants 

 in the fields when transplanting from the nurseries'; the 

 hot tropical sun quickly dries up the young plants before 

 they can fix their roots, even although the activity of 

 young tobacco roots is so remarkable as to make them 

 capable of withstanding a whole week's drought after 

 less than twenty-four hours of dull weather. 



The second climatic factor already referred to may 

 render a splendid crop valueless by encouraging mildew 

 and secondary growth, and a week of cold, wet, and 

 cloudy weather after the leaves have been partly ripened 

 by sunshine is always fatal to good results. 



The following table shows the Zomba rainfall in inches 

 during the tobacco-growing seasons of 1908-09 to 1911-12; 

 this rainfall may be taken as slightly in excess of the 

 average of most tobacco-growing districts of the Shire 

 Highlands, but is quite suitable for the production of 

 " bright " tobacco, which is actually grown with success 



