146 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST- 
[August  i,  1892. 
TOBACCO  CULTIVATION  IN  FIJI  AND 
SUMATRA. 
(By  E.  J.  Lanyon.) 
Knowing  the  extent  to  which  Fiji  is  suffering 
from  the  want  of  payable  industries,  and  the  sparse 
information  which  prevails  on  the  subject  of  to- 
bacco culture  and  preparation — a subject  which 
promises  to  be  of  great  importance  to  the  welfare 
of  the  Colony — I beg  to  solicit  for  these  notes  the 
earnest  attention  of  those  who  are  sincerely  interested 
in  the  progress  and  welfare  of  the  country.  It  must 
be  obvious  to  all  such,  that  the  introduction  of 
any  industry,  requiring  no  great  outlay,  giving 
quick  returns,  free  from  the  risk  of  hurricanes, 
and  promising  a fair  remuneration  for  the  invest- 
ment of  either  large  or  small  amounts  of  capital, 
would  prove  an  incalculable  advantage  to  all  classes 
of  the  community. 
For  many  years  past,  several  of  the  settlers 
in  Fiji  have  grown  tobacco  on  a small  scale  to 
supply  the  local  market.  It  will,  I think,  be  univer- 
sally acknowledged  by  them  that,  where  any 
ordinary  care  has  been  bestowed,  the  results  have 
been  sufficiently  satisfactory  to  convince  them,  that, 
with  a certain  and  illimitable  market  for  the 
disposal  of  the  article,  and  the  production  of  a 
leaf  in  any  way  approaching  the  value  of  the 
Sumatra,  Havannah,  Brazil  or  other  costly  kinds, 
a golden  harvest — or  at  least  a most  encouraging 
issue — might  most  justifiably  be  reckoned  on.  Even  the 
production  of  a good  smoking  tobacco  for  the  pipe, 
would  afford  a most  inviting  field  for  enterprise; 
and  I,  still  again,  further  believe  that  if  Fiji  to- 
bacco only  brought  6d.  per  lb.  in  the  European 
market,  its  cultivation  would  pay  equally  as  well — 
if  not  better  than  any  other  product  grown  in  the 
Colony  at  the  present  time.  Although  the  value 
of  tobacco  for  the  pipe  is  lower  than  the  cigar- 
kinds,  yet  its  yield  is  correspondingly  higher,  and 
its  cost  of  production  and  preparation  much  less. 
It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  our  English  manu- 
facturers, who  are  chiefiy  dependent  on  foreign 
sources  of  supply,  are  only  too  solicitous  to  en- 
courage and  foster  the  production  of  an  article 
- — answering  their  requirements — in  their  ow-n 
British  Colonies. 
There  are  good  grounds  for  believing  that  Fiji 
ossesses  the  capabilities— even  in  an  eminent 
egree,  desired  for  the  cultivation  of  marketable 
tobaccos — especially  the  higher  and  more  costly 
classes,  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  cigars.  The 
tobacco  leaf,  when  grown  in  countries  far  apart 
from  each  other,  varies  greatly  in  character 
and  appearance,  and  at  least  in  as  great  a degree 
as  any  other  vegetable  production.  This  variety 
and  divergence  may  be  partly  owing  to  the  selective 
agency  of  cultivators ; but  the  sole  effect  of  soil 
and  climate  seems,  more  than  any  other  cause, 
to  impress  a certain  definite  character  on  the 
respective  growth  of  each  country.  For  example ; 
certain  parts  (southern)  of  the  United  States,  in 
which  tobacco  is  so  largely  and  successfully  grown, 
can  only  produce  the  sorts  suitable  for  smoking 
in  the  pipe ; and  the  States,  notwithstanding 
the  variety  of  soil  and  climate  and  extent  of 
territory  at  their  command,  have  to  draw  their 
supply  of  the  finer  sorts  from  Cuba,  Sumatra  and 
other  distant  and  foreign  sources.  I venture  to 
point  to  the  obvious  conclusion  that,  the  acquisi- 
tion of  a true  knowledge  of  the  special  class  of 
tobacco,  naturally  produced  in  their  various  loca- 
lities, and  the  conditions  of  soil,  (climate,  mode 
of  cultivation,  preparation,  &c,  are  the  first  of 
all  necessities  when  considering  the  establishment 
of  the  industry  in  Fiji.  It  would  be  a waste  of  effort 
to  attempt  the  growth  of  any  other  variety,  or  to 
prepare  it  for  a purpose  for  which  it  is  not  (adap- 
ted, whether  for  cigars,  the  pipe  or  cigarettes.  It 
must  also  be  remembered,  that,  though  tob  acco, 
of  a sort,  will  grow  almost  anywhere,  it  is,  often 
only  in  special  limited  localities — as  is  the  case  in 
paying  classes  of  each  sort  can  be  produced.  For 
instance,  in  the  district  of  Serdang  (Sumatra)  the 
tobacco  is  of  an  inferior  quality,  burning  with  a 
black  ash — instead  of  a white — arising  from  the 
want  of  potash  in  the  soil ; whereas  the  tobacco 
produced  in  the  adjoining  district  of  Deli,  only  a 
few  miles  distant,  is  of  the  very  finest  quality. 
This  points  to  the  necessity  of  a careful  selection 
of  site,  a knowledge  of  the  article  itself,  the  con- 
sitituents  of  soils  and  the  requirements  of  the  world's 
markets.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  it  remains  for 
the  Fiji  tobacco  grower  to  discover  which  of  the 
payable  classes  is  most  suited  for  the  conditions 
of  his  soil,  climate  and  other  surroundings.  Al- 
though there  is  a large  proportion  of  land  possessing 
a soil  most  eminently  adapted  for  the  Sumatra, 
Cuba  and  other  fine  varieties,  there  are  localities 
where  the  soil  will  be  found  better  suited  for  the 
better  classes  of  the  heavier  and  coarser  kinds. 
The  next  matter  of  importance  is  the  procuring 
of  seed  from  reliable  sources,  and  the  selection  of 
a kind  which  possesses  those  points  that  are  of 
chief  consideration  to  the  grower.  Various  kinds 
occur  in  connection  with  the  various  classes.  Some 
of  these  possess  distinctive  qualities  and  advantages 
over  others ; not  only  in  regard  to  yield,  compara- 
tive heaviness  of  leaf,  curing  qualities,  color,  Ac., 
but  also  maturing  and  other  advantageous  peculi- 
arities. As  an  illustration,  I may  state  that  light 
colored  seed  produces  light  coloured  tobacco,  and 
as  light  coloured  tobacco  finds  the  readiest  sale 
at  the  present  time,  the  observance  of  this  point 
in  selection  is  one  of  great  importance  to  the 
grower.  Through,  it  is  said,  neglect  in  this  direc- 
tion, a large  estate  in  Sumatra  realised  for  its 
last  season’s  crop  prices  that  were  far  below  those 
of  other  estates  that  had  bestowed  the  necessary 
amount  of  attention  to  the  matter.  Then  again, 
there  are  plants  possessing  various  objectionable  pecu- 
liarities that  render  them  strictly  ineligible  for  seed 
raising  purposes.  It  is  also  imperative  that  the 
planter  shall  change  his  seed  for  that  of  another 
estate  every  year,  and  never  grow  a crop  from  his 
own.  The  larger  the  area  under  cultivation  of 
one  class,  the  better  and  truer  to  its  type  the 
tobacco  will  be. 
The  selection  of  season  for  planting  demands 
the  most  careful  consideration,  in  order  not  only 
to  ensure  a favourable  development  of  the  plant 
and  timely  maturing  of  the  leaf,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  the  essential  oils  that  help  to  impart  the 
desired  aroma,  &c.,  but  also  to  evade  the  difficulties 
and  drawbacks  attendant  upon  the  ripening,  har- 
vesting, and  curing  of  the  crop  during  a protracted 
spell  of  wet  weather.  Irrespective  of  these  con- 
siderations very  much  wet  weather  causes  the  leaf 
to  become  rusty  and  spotted.  I am  of  opinion 
that  March  or  April,  or  perhaps  May,  would  be  the 
best  months  on  Taviuni,  and  other  parts  of  Fiji, 
having  a similar  climate,  for  the  setting  out  of  the 
plants ; but,  of  course,  much  depends  on  locality.  If 
tobacco  has  once  got  a fair  start,  it  is  astonishing 
how  much  dry  weather  it  will  endure,  which  proves 
that  it  is,  essentially,  a sun  plant. 
That  there  is  little  known,  and,  much  to  be 
learnt  in  Fiji  about  the  cultivation  and  preparation 
of  the  crop,  is  an  irrefragable  fact.  In  connection 
with  the  former,  one  conspicuous  feature  of  the 
system  generally  employed  in  Fiji,  as  compared 
with  that  of  other  successful  growing  countries,  is 
the  omission  of  a thorough  working  of  the  soil — con- 
sisting not  only  of  effective  digging,  but  also  a 
constant  loosening  and  heaping  up  of  the  loose 
soil  around  the  plants — thereby  not  only  nourishing 
and  strengthening  those,  by  placing  new  soil  within 
reach  of  their  roots  or  mouths,  but  also  most 
materially  improving  the  quality  of  the  leaf,  through 
the  soil  being  always  mellow,  loose  and  able  to 
absorb  excessive  moisture.  There  may  be  some 
planters  in  Fiji  who  may  think  that,  owing  to  the 
good  soil  they  possess  this  source  of  labour  can  be 
dispensed  with;  but  I can  assure  them  this  idea 
is  a downright  fallacy ; and,  if  they  persist  in  holding 
this  opinion,  they  had  better  leave  tobacco  growing 
alone.  There  are  several  matters  in  connection  with 
