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1 Aprrs, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 273 
Tropical Industries. 
HOW TO SECURE AND RETAIN A GOOD MARKET FOR 
QUEENSLAND TOBACCO. 
By R. 8S. NEVILL, Instructor in Tobacco Culture. 
Now that federation is accomplished, and the demand for tobacco from 
‘Queensland by the other States is assured, it is well for us to take into 
consideration how we are to increase the demand and supply it. If we fail to 
sustain the reputation that our product has acquired, this demand will cease 
as quickly as itcame ; but if we use our best efforts to improve the quality, and 
to meet the requirements of the manufacturers, the results will be satistactory 
to both growers and buyers ; and if we do not make this effort, and give them 
the very best the country will produce, they will be unable to produce an article 
satisfactory to the public, and will be forced to seek elsewhere for. something 
that will give this satisfaction. It will not do forus to be satisfied because 
the present margin of profit is good : we must seek to make it better, by making 
-our product indispensable to the buyer ; and only in this way can we be assured 
of a permanent and profitable market. Rubbish can be grown anywhere, but 
good tobacco cannot. The question then is, how to accomplish this— 
Ist. By building better sheds and taking more care in curing the crop. 
2nd. By properly handling it after it is cured. 
After four years’ experience in this State, I recognise there are difficulties 
here to contend with in tobacco-curing not met with in America, chief of which 
is the getting rid of the green colouring matter (chlorophyl) in the leaf. The 
causes of this I believe to be the exceeding dryness of the climate, high winds, 
-open sheds, an almost entire absence of dews that prevents softering of the 
leaf after the curing has commenced, and thus prevents bleaching or rectifica- 
tion of any errors if artificial processes are used. As shown heretofore in 
articles on tobacco-curing, the process should be uniform, and the sheds so 
constructed as not only to have uniform conditions prevailing, but ina measure 
be able to create artificially conditions that are required ; this cannot be done 
in open sheds. Whether tobacco is cured by air or artificial means, the best 
results are to be obtained, ordinarily, in a closed-in shed with wooden roof. 
I have found, with the greatest care and with well-constructed sheds, there 
will be a goodly amount of green tobacco in ordinary seasons, and this must be 
cleaned up, for in this green state it is almost valueless: how to do this is very 
simple. 
PThis green tobacco should be tied in very small bundles or hands, not more 
than six to ten leaves; a low scaffold should be built near the shed, and the 
green hung out in the open air and remain there until the green disappears, 
taking itinif itrains. The scaffold should be low, so that the tails of the tobacco 
will be 18 inches or 2 feet off the ground. If the bundles are made large the 
centre cannot get the benefit of the bleaching process. In fact, all the bundles 
should be tied of moderate size, say ten to fourteen leaves, that they may get 
thefull benefitofthelightandair. It is a mistake to suppose that tobacco is cured 
as soon as it is dry enough to strip or hand up; after handing it up it should 
be rehung and allowed to hang five or six weeks at least, that the objectionable 
matter may be thrown off, which cannot be done if put in the bulk 
atonce. In prizing (7.¢., pressing), hogsheads are much more desirable than 
Hessian, us they protect the tobacco from breakage, preserve its condition, and 
allow it to sweat uniformly. The timber from which the hogsheads are made 
should be perfectly dry; they cost no more than the Hessian, and, if farmers 
will make them themselves, cost a great deal less. Many farmers say they 
cannot afford to put up good sheds. They do not take into consideration. that 
