November i, 1S90.] 
TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
375 
soil embraced in those localities — so many of them in 
sub-tropical situations favourable to growth of the 
finer descriptions of tobacco — there is an element of 
successful cultivation which has not been utilized, as 
yet, to any extent. 
It might certainly have been expected that the offer 
of a prize for a competition of this kind could not 
fail to draw more attention to the possible capabilities 
of our dependencies in this direction. Every effort 
has been made since the conditions were decided 
upon to bring them under the notice of Colonial and 
Indinn growers, and we are informed that numeroua 
communications on the subject have passed between 
the London Obaraber, Colonial Government represen- 
tatives and individuals. Yet the result, as we havo 
already pointed out, has been confined to three 
entries. 
It can hardly be thought likely that in both hemis- 
pheres with few exceptions, the only places where fine 
tobacco can be grown are those inhabited by the 
Spanish race. We think it more reasonable to conclude 
that intelligently conducted trials would have led to 
the discovery in the Briiish colonies and possessions 
equally well adapted for the purpose as any in the 
Spanish or Dutch possessions. 
(Signed) Wili.iam Henry Wili.s, 
(Chairman of Committee of .Judges). 
Apimidix A. 
Analysis op Samples op Unmanuf-actured Touacco 
DRAWN FROM SPECIMENS SUBMITTED FOE COMPETITION 
Mois'ure. 
Ash in dried. 
Birneo 
A. 
18 94 
27-13 
B. 
19-65 
22-45 
U. 
19-50 
22-37 
East Indian 
D. 
12-79 
24-38 
West Indian 
F. 
24-87 
21-60 
F. 
23-61 
30-09 
>1 
G. 
20-67 
2i-C7 
Analysis op Tob.accos already in the Market. 
Ash in Dry Tobacco. 
20’27 
25-74 
28-OG 
25-97 
22-12 
20- 44 
21- 95 
25-07 
29 88 
Kentucky (common) ... 
Connecticut (sied leaf) 
Java (cutting) 
Oeiman 
Dutch (fillers) 
Sumatra 
Java (good) ... 
„ (common) 
Seed leaf (fillers) 
Appendix B. 
Bast Indian Tobacco.— Grown by Mr. H. Gain, 
Superintendent of the Government Tobacco Farm, 
Port Blair, Amlaman Islands. The sample weighed 
about 614 lb. nett, the tobacco being raised from 
Virginia seed on the Government farm, and the total 
crop being 3,000 lb. 
Itepovt on 0 le Hogshead of Tobacco. 
Bxamined for the London Ciiambeu op Co.MMERCi-. 
manipest mk. landing mk. 
LB No. 
X TF 782 
Uemarhs . — Small part leafy, but rather narrow for 
tho length, largo part short and more or lesa blistered 
I hroughuut, ver y imperil ct, and with large bare st dks 
and butt-i att iched. This to' acco in its present state 
has the general appearance of being only partially fer- 
mented, and will not hold tiro, and has little, or no 
flavour of tobacco. As a whole, it is not of surh a 
character (iu its present condition) to bo an article 
that would meet a ready sale, except at an extremely 
low price. 
Grant, Ciiambers & Co., 
37, Fouchucoh Street. 
London, November 15, 1889. 
— Tobacco, 
CUE EEVIEWEE. 
ENGLISH VEGETABLE-S AND FLOWEES 
IN INDIA AND CEYLON* 
Is the title of a very complete and valuableManiial, 
c->mpiled from autlientic sources by Donald McDonald. 
It is a square volume of 60 pages, good toned papei- 
and clear type, and gives directions easy for an 
amateur to understand and to follow. In the 
introduction the writer shows how great the in- 
fluence of Eutopjans in India has been in developing 
among the educated natives a taste for flowers and for 
gardening, and speaks of the help afforded through 
various Government Botanic Gardens, to those who 
are esiab'ishing a garden. The 1st chapter treats of 
“ The Climates and Physical Features of India,” and 
regards tliat land ns having three distinct climates, 
those of Northern, Central and Southern India. 
The 2nd chapter is on “ The Soils of India,” the 3rd 
on “ The Formation of the Garden,” giving directions 
as to the slope, shape, preparation and drainage 
of beds, with quotations from various authorities. 
Then follows a very complete table showing “ The 
proper months to sow and plant English vegetables 
in the Plains”; fifty-seven different vegetables are 
tabulated, and opposite to them we find the months 
marked when they should be sown on high and on 
lowdying lands. Next we have “ Monthly reminders 
for cnllivatiiig English vegetables and flowers iu the 
Plains.” Thus we find “ March in the Vegetable 
Garden,” “ March in the Flower Garden,” and u'lder 
each heading you have directious for Northern, 
Central and Southern India respectively. We will 
quote by way of illustration the directions for Maich 
in Sr uthern India : — 
The great heat generally prevailing at this season 
prevents much sowing or planting being done, there- 
fore pay attention to trenching, digging, and ridging 
up ground. In ccramenoii g to subsoil or trench a 
piece of ground, let an opening be formed, of two 
teet or twenty inches iu breadth, to the full depth 
of the surface or active soil, and the entire length 
of the bed, and let the stuff be removed and left 
at the opposite side, iu order to have it to fill up 
the last opening, when tlie ground or bed will have 
been entirely turned over. Let the subsoil, to the 
depth of a foot or fifteen inches, be loosened and 
well broken, with a pick or spade; but let none of 
it now be brought to the surface. A second trench 
must now be marked out, the same breadth as tlie 
first, and the surface sod of it turned over on the 
broken subsoil (upside down), and finished off in the 
form of a small ridge or drill. The subsoil in the 
second opening is now loosened and broken as the 
first, and a third line or opening marked out, the 
surface sod of which is turned over on the broken 
subsoil of the second, and finished oft’ in the form of 
a dr. 11, like the first, and so on to the end. The 
ground cm be mamired as the work is being carried 
on ; but the manure should not be laid on the bottom 
nor on the surfice, but in the middle of the dri 1, 
between the first and second spits, or between the 
digging and shovelling-. Ridged up or drilled in this 
form, let it reimii: to pulverize, and there will be 
very little trouble in levelling it down for cropping 
in the prop-r season, At (ach succeeding digging 
a portion of the bi-okeu subsoil should be turned 
up and well iucorpotated witli the surface soil; and 
by repeated digging, and takirg up the subsoil in 
regulated proportions (not more than an inch or two 
of it at a time), the texturo of tlie entire mass will 
be changed from n poor s'erile, to a rich, fertile soil. 
This is the true method of deepening and enriching 
the soil, which, with effectual drainage, is certainly 
the best preparation to ensure good crops in tho 
garden ; and should he attentively studied and iu- 
liu-.triou.sly persevered iu.” 
*- To be oblainel at the Observer Office. Brice’ 
cloth covers, cash E4-50, credit R.5 ; in pajier covers 
cash E-2'50, credit 113 ; I’ostago 10c. 
