196 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 26, 1886. 
suppression of the horns, these being reduced to short bristles, which 
birds dislike, hence the name that has been applied, “ Birdproof.” 
20. Imperial White x Bearded Mammoth.— Progeny : Plant 
strong, with wonderfully fine ears ; woolly, and semi-horned ; grain dis¬ 
tinctly better than that of either parent. 
22. Squarehead x Bearded Mammoth.— Progeny: Wonderfully 
dwatf and sturdy, with heavy heads of uniform height. A wonderful 
cross, and advised to be retained for trial as a fen Wheat, the crops in fen 
and marsh lands being prone to fall. 
26. Clue-headed x Champion. — Progeny: Generally following 
the seed parent in habit of growth and length of ear, but fuller, some of 
the ears having six rows of grains ; a heavy cropper and good grain. 
32. Talavera x Birdproof. — Progeny: A full-headed Talavera ; 
just what was wanted, as combining earliness with productiveness, or the 
leading features of both parents. 
The crosses alluded to indicate the diversified character of the varie¬ 
ties raised, and every one of them possesses qualities that it 6eems 
desirable to perpetuate in seeking for further excellence in the all-impor¬ 
tant crop on which the inhabitants of this and most other countries 
mainly depend for sustenance. In the conduct of these experiments 
Mr. C. H. Sharman and his assistant merit high commendation for their 
painstaking care and unwearied diligence, and their courtesy will be 
readily acknowledged by all Visitors to the grounds. 
A TOBACCO-GROWING EXPERIMENT. 
In consequence mainly of a speech by Lord Harris in the House of 
L^rds in March of the present year, a relaxation in the law was permitted 
wheri-by, under certain stipulated and stringent conditions, the cultivation 
of Tobacco as a field crop might be tried experimentally in this country. 
Among others who have taken advantage of the opportunity thus afforded 
is the firm above named, and what may be termed the “ Carter Experi¬ 
ment ” is being carried out in a very systematic and thorough manner in 
a field in Kent. The crop is open to the inspection of all who are in¬ 
terested in the subject. The Tobacco, something under an acre, is grown 
on the farm of Mr. Phillips, and is, we believe, in the parish of Bromley, 
but the nearest station is Plaistow, on the South-Eastern railway, which, 
we understand, is not quite a mile distant, the station of Lower Sydenham 
being about a mile and a half from the fields. From this latter station 
conveyances can probably be obtained if required, and a “ guide ” at 
least is desirable, as a stranger might possibly experience some little 
difficulty in finding his way to “ the Tobacco.” Messrs. Carter, however, 
give instructions to intending visitors who apply to them by letter 
addressed to their head-quarters in High Holborn. 
The site chosen for the experiment is sheltered from the north by 
rising ground, and from the east and south-east by trees; it is open to 
the full sweep of the wind from the south-west and west only, but a row 
of mats is stretched across for affording a little protection to the plants 
from that side. The desirability of some natural shelter is suggested by 
the large and more or less soft leaves, for it is easy to imagine that plants 
grown on a plain, or on level tracts near the sea, would be very liable to 
be “ tattered and torn ” by boisterous winds, and the value of the leaves 
would then be materially impaired. The leaves should be free from 
split or perforation, or they would at the best be regarded as “ damaged 
goods.” 
The site of the experiment has been well chosen, but very little that 
is good can be said of the soil. The field slopes to the north, the higher 
part being light, poor, and thin, resting on gravel; the lower part ill- 
drained and cold, yet containing a good deal of humus, the decayed vegetable 
matter giving the land a dark or peaty appearance. It is on this moister, 
richer, even if colder side that the plants have made by far the greater 
progress ; indeed on the higher, drier, and poorer side the crop may be said 
to be a failure. This is solely the result of poverty, for on one plot 
where some rubbish had been burned and the ashe3 spread, the half a score 
of plants or so are amoog the finest in the field, and are more conspicu¬ 
ous by the stunted starvelings by which they are surrounded. The land 
was just taken as it was, and 30 tons of manure spread equally on the 
acre, as if manuring for any other farm crop, or, in other words, as it was 
desired to show the effects of the differing nature of the soil, no special 
endeavour was made to enrich the upper half of the plot with an extra 
quantity of manure. It would be very easy to make this portion as fertile 
as the other by a liberal dressing of suitable chemical manures, but had 
this been done the experiment would not be nearly so instructive. As it 
is, two things are made clear—namely, that Tobacco requires rich soil for 
inducing a quick strong growth, also that it likes potash. That the soil 
was inherently poor when “ taken to” is evident by the appearance of the 
Potatoes that are growing in the same field, which cannot give more than 
half a crop,” and of some rows of Maize that were sown across the plot, 
the plants in the upper portion only ranging from 6 inches to a foot high, 
while those on thelower part are 4 feet high or more. There is much the 
same disparity in the Tobacco plants, for those on the best side would be 
4 feet high if they had not been topped, while many of those on the other 
were not a foot high when examined on Monday in the present week. 
Here we have the effects of sterility and fertility side by side, and in that 
respect alone this Tobacco-growing experiment is suggestive, as both the 
road to ruin and the way to success are alike plain in the management of 
land. If under the conditions indicated the value of the Tobacco that is 
raised on this acre of ground equals, or nearly equals, the expenditure, a 
really well-grown crop must be profitable, and there can be little or no 
doubt that land that will grow a first-rate crop of Potatoes, or, say, 10 tons 
of marketable produce per acre, will produce a first-rate crop of Tobacco. 
As an accurate record is being kept of the outlay incurred in growing 
the crop under notice, the returns from the sale of the produce will be 
awaited with interest. 
Seventeen varieties of Tobacco such as are grown in the American 
plantations are represented in the trial, and at its close Messrs. Carter 
will be in a position to know which are the best adapted for cultivation in 
this country, and also able to form a very good estimate of the value of 
the crop from a given number of well grown plants, for it may be said 
there are 2000 that will represent a good average crop. The seed was 
sown in a frame in March, the seedlings transplanted about 2 inches apait 
in boxes 3 inches deep, and planted out on June 16th. They were earthed 
up on July 28th, topping commenced on August 9th, and they should be 
ready for harvesting by the middle of September. The ground was 
thrown into ridges 3 feet apart, and the plants inserted on these that dis¬ 
tance asunder. Eventually the plough was run between the lines cross- 
ways of the ridges, the result being that each plant stands on a little 
mound and occupies a square yard of land, or 4840 plantB to the acre. 
This distance is not too much where the land is good, as several of the 
plants just meet across the space, and care is necessary in passing amongst 
them not to break or bruise the leaves. These vary in s ze according to 
variety, but it may be said that they will average about 18 inches long by 
9 inches across on the best part of the ground. Several were measured 
20 by 10 inches, and one 22 by 11 inches, this variety being the “ Island 
Broad Leaf.’’ It does not follow, however, that the varieties with the 
largest leaves will be the best for our climate, as both the one named and 
the CaD, or “ Cann’s Seed Leaf,” also the “ Glasner ” are, though excep¬ 
tionally broad in the leaf, dwarfer and later than some others, and earliness 
is a property not to be overlooked. There are only two varieties that can 
be called failures—the Kentucky and the White Burley—these evidently 
requiring a warmer soil, as, though small, they are the best coloured on 
the higher slope of the land. The point of earliness is determined by the 
time flower buds form, and which are pinched off immediately. It is 
almost certain that it would be advantageous to top many of the plants 
before the buds are visible, or as soon as eight leaves are formed, not 
counting two or three on the lower part of the stems and that are close 
to the ground, the grit that is dashed on these by heavy rains 
rendering them useless. From six to eight large perfect clean leaves 
are sufficient for each plant, as these can be fully exposed to the sun 
and become richer in the essential oil than a greater number could 
possibly be that must of necessity be more or less shaded and immature. 
All axillary growths are pinched from the stems, so that there is nothing 
to divert the sap from the principal leaves. The plants, at the least the 
tall growers and earlier sorts, are about 3 feet high after being topped. 
A variety named the Big Frederick, which is a form of the Havannah, is 
one of the most promising in the field, the Yellow Prior being also a 
stout yet tall grower with fine leaves. The Virginia is a tall good grower, 
holding its foliage well from the ground, being stronger than the Havannah; 
and the Yellow Orinoca, a variety of the Virginia, is evidently very good. 
It is not necessary to describe all the varieties, as their real merits can 
be only determined after curing ; but those named are good growers, with 
the two exceptions alluded to, which are mentioned to be avoided. 
Let the results of the trial be what they may, the experiment so well 
conducted will go far towards determining the point as to whether 
Tobacco can be profitably grown in this country or not, and the crop 
referred to is well worthy of inspection by owners of land, farmers, and 
gardeners alike. _ 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Winter Oats ( Cambs ).—Sow four bushels of Beed Oats per acre of the 
Winter or Tawny Oat in September. This is the only sort that is suitable 
for autumn sowing, as it sustains no injury from severe cold, which often 
proves fatal to other Oats. You ought to be able to obtain good seed from 
any respectable corn factor in your neighbourhood, or you can apply either 
to Carters of London, Sutton3 of Reading, or Webbs of Wordsley, Stour¬ 
bridge, who advertise farm seeds. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATION?. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 61° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THK DAY. 
Rain 
1886. 
August. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 328 
and Sea 
Level 
Hydrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
dev. 
deg. 
det?. 
d*e 
ded- 
deg 
In. 
Sunday . 
30.139 
64.4 
59.8 
N.E. 
60.2 
73.4 
54 5 
115.6 
48.0 
0.125 
Monday. 
16 
29.862 
65.5 
58.2 
W. 
60.4 
71.2 
57.8 
121.3 
53.2 
0.010 
Tuesday. 
17 
29.952 
60.4 
56.1 
w. 
60.3 
66.7 
52.2 
1192 
47.1 
—■ 
Wednesday . 
18 
30.223 
59.1 
54.4 
N. 
59 8 
688 
54.2 
114.2 
48.6 
0.033 
Thursday ... 
19 
30.175 
59.2 
63.7 
W. 
59.8 
66 8 
55. L 
91.9 
49.4 
0.113 
Friday. 
80.281 
60.9 
57.9 
N.E. 
59.4 
72 4 
50.1 
114.2 
43.4 
— 
Saturday ... 
21 
30.122 
64.6 
60.8 
N.E. 
69.2 
76.5 
49.1 
118.7 
43.2 
— 
30.108 
62.0 
57.3 
59.9 
70.8 
53.3 
113.7 
47.C 
0-284 
REMARKS. 
16th.—Fine pleasant day. 
16th.—Rain in the early hours of the morning; fine, bright, and pleasant day. 
17th.—Dull and cloudy, with one or two slight showers. 
18 h.—Fine bright morning ; clondy afternoon. 
19th.—Wet morning; dull damp afternoon; fair evening, 
noth.—Fine, bright, and warm. 
2 lst.—Fine and summerlike. 
A week generally fine and pleasant, though not of typical August weather. Tempe¬ 
rature very similar to that of the preceding week, and just above the average. 
—G. J. SYMONS. 
