1 Ocr., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 269 
into the soil, The advantage in such propagation is that the layer plant will 
resist the ravages of insects far better than young plants. Layers will also yield 
early and yet vigorous plants. It is desirable that growers should make experi- 
ments of both these discoveries. I myself tried them, and was satisfied with 
the result. On my plantation, on the King River, I have left four acres with 
the plants, and next year they yielded leaves, and specially on two acres I have 
beautiful crops, although I have not covered the cut stock with soil. That the 
stock has not been destroyed during the cold season I attribute to the fact that 
the winter is not so severe here as in some parts of Hurope and America. 
Anyhow, the idea deserves to be experimented upon a large scale, and so 
assist the solution, for certain, of the question. The discovery is really epoch- 
marking in its character, because it touches the most important and delicate 
and expensive operation—namely, transplanting—on which so much depends as 
regards quality and early maturity. What advantage this presents to the 
grower! No sowing, no hot-beds, no transplanting, and yet early plants and 
strong stems in the second year. 
I have discussed the matter with Mr. A. J. Bondurant, the Government 
Expert, who has already heard of this from America, and that in America the 
new methods have been taken up with enthusiasm. He thinks they will show 
good practical results if carried out scientifically. He advised growers to 
experiment, as the conditions here are favourable for it, and he himself intends 
to do so next season, and for that purpose he has kept some plants for next 
year. The experiment is worth while trying, as it does not require any large 
outlay, only a little labour and close attention, even if it does not bring 
additional knowledge, so teaching the grower the possibility of finding out 
something new. I shall be pleased to hear the results of experiments in the 
interests of tobacco culture. I myself intend to bring all possible data before 
the growers, as I am in personal communication with Mr. Daroezi. 
Another experiment is being made in Florida (U.S.A.), where 200 acres 
of tobaceo have been shaded with slats, after the fashion of a huge bush- 
house, On another estate the entire field is closed in above and on the sides 
with cheese cloth. Mr. Nevill, Government Tobacco Expert, states this as a 
fact. It used to be a standing joke in this colony that farmers should shingle 
their farms to protect the crops from hailstones, _In America this roofing-in is 
actually done. 
TOBACCO, 
Topacco-GROWERS this season will have an excellent opportunity of observing 
how tobacco should be sown, grown, harvested, cured, and marketed for profit. 
Mr. Nevill, Tobacco Expert to the Department of Agriculture, has prepared 
and sown seed beds at the Agricultural College, and will plant out five acres 
of tobacco on two different soils—one a heavy, rich, deep black loam ; and the 
other a poor, sandy, shallow soil, overlying a rocky bottom. He will devote 
special attention to the work in all its stages, and the results will be published 
inthis Journal. Given reasonably fair weather, this practical experiment, on 
a tolerably large scale, by a practical man like Mr. Nevill, should go far to 
decide the question as to profitable tobacco-growing by the Queensland farmer. 
No doubt the weed has paid growers well in the past ; but the question now is 
of putting the industry on a firm basis, and of establishing a European 
reputation for Queensland tobacco. Mr. Nevill is confident that this can be 
done, and he proposes to prove it, not by theories and lectures, but by practical 
demonstration. We would advise farmers to pay a visit now and then to the 
College and get a lesson in tobacco cultivation. The seed was sown on 20th 
August, and will be planted out towards the end of September, 
