1 Dec., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 441. 
Tropical Industries. 
MANURING OF TROPICAL PLANTS. 
TOBACCO. 
Wrrn regard to the kind of soil upon which tobacco thrives best, Dr. A. 
Stutzer® remarks: “The tobaceo-plant requires a light, loose, permeable soil, 
rich in humus, and not sour. Heavy, cold, clay soils, deficient in humus, must 
be avoided. The tobacco-plant must develop rapidly during the short growing 
season, and its roots must penetrate deeply into the soil, in order that they 
_ may absorb sufficient quantities of moisture and plant-food ingredients. ; 
The best tobacco-soils contain a natural supply of more than 1 per cent. of 
potash. If this store be reduced to less than 0°5 per cent., an application of 
the proper potash salts will increase the quantity and quality of the yield. 
Notwithstanding the fact that tobacco contains a considerable quantity of lime, 
the tobacco grown on caleareous soils is often inferior in quality. Whether 
this is due to the tobacco or to the absence of other constituents (humus, &c.) 
has not yet been clearly established. As a general rule, good tobacco soils 
should, in the dry state, contain not less than’0'5 per cent. and not more than 
2 per cent. of lime. The application of lime or marl to soils deficient in lime 
produces good results.” 
According to Dr. Barth, Rufach, a crop of 1,784 Ib. air-dried tobacco- 
leaves and 1,784 lb. air-dried stems removes from one acre— 
107 lb. Nitrogen 
125 ,, Potash, and 
14 ,, Phosphoric acid. 
The same author gives the following figures: 1,000 Ib. of tobacco-leaves 
(Alsace tobacco) contain— 
31:46 1b. Nitrogen 
34:26 ,, Potash 
3:95 ,, Phosphoric acid ; 
whereas Wolff, in his ash-analyses, gives the following average — 
245 lb. Nitrogen 
40:9 ,, Potash 
4:5 ,, Soda 
50:7 ,, Lime 
10:4 ,, Magnesia 
6:6 ,, Phosphoric acid 
8:5 ,, Sulphurie acid 
9-4 ,, Chlorine. 
Mr. A. Brunner, of Helyana Landen, near Palembang, found in 1,000 lb. 
of three varieties of Sumatra tobacco from Deli— 
Pongey Estate. Kwaloe. Lau Bentoe. 
Total nitrogen... ... 28°6 lb. 36°7 lb. 27-7 Ib. 
Nitrogen in form of nitrate 12:1 ,, 18:2 ,, 14:5 ,, 
Potash (? + soda) PO ULOSss 66:9 ,, TAY 
Lime... DISD oS 5 DO 
Mapnesiaies me i eee neyLOL/an, 147 ,, 14:2 ,, 
Phosphoric acid ... POLO ites 5:0 ,, 46 ,, 
Chlorine ... th ay) ES 4:8 ,, 2:0 Ie 
* Dr, A. Stutzer: Die Diingung der wichtigsten tropischen Kulturpflanzen, 1891. 
