A50 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAN. [1 Jenn, 1898. 
Beds should be burnt as early as possible, and seel shoul be sown at the 
same time. This gives the plants time to form branch roots; and will greatly 
benefit the plant in starting from the hill, Late plants are tender and less 
able to start off; while the top is sufficiently large you find them with very 
little roots. With good plants and well set, you have much in your favour for 
an early cutting. 
QUEENSLAND TOBACCO. 
InrENnDtNG tobacco-growers this season are fortunate in having the assistance 
and advice of so experienced an expert as Mr. Nevill. Jf his directions are 
properly carried out, we shall not have to fear sucha result as attended a 
recent shipment of Queensiand tobacco to London by thes.s. “Duke of Argyll,” 
which left Brisbane on the 26th February last. The tobacco has been landed, 
and the leaf was examined by experts, who spoke very unfavourably of it. 
They declared the leaf to be coarse and deficient in flavour, and valued it at 
from 3d. to 33d. per Ib. 
This result is possibly owing to sowing unsuitable varieties, and to want 
of selection and grading. If tobacco is ever to become a staple export from 
this colony, these details should be carefully attended to. Mr. Nevill says 
there is no reason whatever why Queensland should not produce as good 
tobacco as is produced in the United States and in Cuba. It depends cutirely 
on the care and judgment of the grower. Therefore obtain first-class seed, 
suitable Jand, good advice from those who thoroughly understand the business, 
attend to proper curing and grading, and good results are bound to follow. 
Some tobacco-leaf of special quality tor cigar-wrapper was lately sold in the 
United States at one dollar (4s. 1d.) per lb. But this was sweated and made 
ready for the manufacturer. 
REVIVAL Of THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. 
Tue Border Post says:—“ It is quite evident that there will be a shortness of 
supply of tobacco leaf this year. A Brisbane manufacturer, when at ‘Texas 
lately, arranged for some leaf at Sd. per 1b., but the majority of growers are 
inclined to wait, as they know there will be no danger of the market being 
glutted. There are oniy about 100 tons grown in the valley of the Dumaresq 
this year, and a ready sale can easily be found for that amount. Messrs. Way 
Hop and Co. disposed of about 5 tons last week at a satisfactory figure.” 
~ Perhaps it will be news to tobacco farmers at Texas and elsewhere to learn 
how the war between America and Spain is likely to affect the industry. From 
the U.S. Journal we take a few remarks on the subject of Cuban tobacco 
export :— 
WILL EXPORTS BE STOPPED? 
The report to the effect that the Spanish authorities in Cuba have reinsti- 
tuted the “bando” imposed by Gen. Weyler against the exportation of 
tobacco has brought a large number of inquiries to the State Department, to 
which the stereotyped reply has been made that no information has been 
received here which would indicate that there is any basis for the report. 
This is only half the truth, for while the Department has learned that no 
formal edict has been put in force, the confidential advices received from 
Consu!-General Lee indicate clearly that Gen. Blanco has taken no steps to 
expedite exports, but, on the contrary, has encouraged the local Customs 
officials to provide additional “ regulations,’ the purpose of which is to 
embarrass exporters and decrease the quantity actually shipped out of the 
island. The special purpose of these restrictions seems to be to enable the 
Governor-General at any moment to stop exportations without the formality 
