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' which it is grown, while the grade is depen 
118 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Fes., 1902. 
In response to our invitation to growers of date palms to supply informa- 
tion to the Journal as to their success with this fruit, Mr. J. D. Wilson, of 
Howdonville, near Beerburrum, writes:—I have at present six date palms 
grown from seeds picked up in Edward street in April, 1892. They were 
planted in a flower bed, and all (about three dozen) germinated. When ready 
for lifting, I put some into small boxes, and left nine. or ten growing in the 
original ground. For want of proper attention, those in the boxes died off in a 
year or so. Two I put out on the poorest land I have—a mere sandbed with a 
stiff subsoil. These are now from 5 to 6 feet high to the tops of the leaves. 
Tn the case of four other plants, I dug holes about 6 feet in diameter and 
planted them after they had been four years in the seed bed. As I was told it 
would be fifteen years before they would bear, I took no particular trouble 
about them, and for the first year one could not tell whether they were dead or 
alive. But they are now beginning to grow. There are two trees also at Mr. 
Peters’s slip, at Kangaroo Point. These have fruited, and I tasted the fruit 
two years ago, but to my taste it was rather insipid. 
ANALYSES OF TOBACCO SOILS. 
AMERICAN AND QUEENSLAND SOILS COMPARED. 
By R. S. NEVILL, Tobacco Expert. 
In order to give those who may contemplate tobacco-growing an idea of 
the character of the soil likely to produce the best quality of tobacco, I herewith 
submit an analysis made by Mr. Brinnich, together with his foot-note, of some of 
the best American tobacco soils and of the soil of Texas (Queefisland). It 
will be borne in mind that these soils grow only the heavy or export types of 
tobacco. This analysis shows a great similarity in all of these soils, and, I may 
state, corresponds very closely to the analysis made by the United States 
Department of Agriculture as to their physical properties. 
These soils are all in limestone country, which is nearly always the case 
where our best heavy tobaccos grow. It may be well to state that very heavy 
soils, producing rank growth, never produce good tobacco. All tobacco land 
should be well drained. It may be well for the further information of intending 
growers to quote from the United States Bulletin No. 11, Division of Soils, 
that they may understand that all does not depend upon soil :— 
EXPERIENCE THE ONLY Sare Test or Crimare ror Tosacco. 
One must still judge, so far as the climate is concerned, mainly from the 
experience of others as to the class of tobacco to be raised, as the ordinary 
meteorological record will be of very little value in determining this point. The 
lant is far more sensitive to these meteorological conditions than are our 
instruments. Even in such a famous tobacco region as Cuba, tobacco of good 
quality cannot be grown in the immediate vicinity of the ocean or in certain 
arts of the island, even on what would otherwise be considered good tobacco 
ands. This has been the experience also in Sumatra and in our own country, 
but the influences are too subtle to be detected by our meteorological instru- 
‘ments. 
Little, therefore, can be said at the present time in regard to the suitable 
climatic condition for tobacco of any particular type or quality. 
Sorzs oF THE Tozpacco Districts. 
Under given climatic conditions the class and type of tobacco depend upon 
the character of the soil, especially on the physical character of the soil upoD 
deze largely upon the cultivation and 
curing of the crop. : 
