TOBACCO CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.
A correspondent writing , to the Grey River Argus on tobacco culture in Now Zealand, says—ln looking over an old scrap of newspaper, I observed " new industries:" further on the words " Home real James, River tobacco seed, a portion of which wj.s sown by Mr Gower on liis station near Foxton." Mr (lower wants information about curing and manufacturing the leaf. James River leaf can be coverted into cake, shag tobacco, and snuff ; it will not do for cigars. The requisites for working James Eivcr aro hydraulic presses, skilled operatives;, a large supply of leaf, and a considerable outlay of capital—added to which is one shilling per pound inland duty, and manufacturer's license fee of £50. A one-horse tobacco factory would be a losing concern. Curing leaf is as simple as drying hay. There is tobacco planting from the seed-bod to the packed case for market. The seed-bed should bo a good sandy loam, well worked and levelly broken up ; two inches of the surface should be one third wood ashes and twothirds roast dust or riddeled loan; thoroughly amalgamated ; bed not wider than four feet, but as long as you like. When the spring frosts have disappeared, take a quart of road dust, dry and pass it through a line riddle, spread it on a tray ; p -t the seeds in cold water for live minutes, drain and scatter them over the dust; stir it up till the seeds are vvcll mixed. Sow this over the bed evenly ; add an overdressing of wood ashes very thin. If the ground is very dry, water it; put up a couple of posts and ridge pole . at night throw a ily over to guard against' a late frost. Cross plough and harrow a field, then with a small plough set shallow, so that it merely scratches. Mark ofl: the field into four foot right-angled spaces ; for liner leaf the spaces are less. When the plants are about five inches high, dibble one in at each angle. Do this in the evening or on a cloudy day. Go over the field, and where a plant has failed pr.ll it, and put in another. Worm the plants morning and evening, or turn in turkeys ; they will worm and do but little harm to the plants. Keep the field perfectly clear of weeds, and the soil looser. When the plants begin to bunch at top they are about to blossom; pinch off the tops and remove the bottom course of leaves, and dry them. The yellowish green looking cakes called •'Golden Bar," and the light mild cigarelto
tobacco, are manufactured from this wretched half-grown rubbish. The plant kcut for seed will indicate when the leal is ripe. Be sure to cut before the frost arrives. Tobacco will stand heat, wind, and rain, but frost kills. Wherever touched, that portion is valueless. For cutting implement tike two feet of an old scythe blade, straighten the shank, and put on a handle, curve the point like a shinty stick; cut with this or a billhook —cut on a hot day. Let the plants remain where they fall until the leaves are wilted, then carry them to the shed. Do not place them in heaps or they will heat and spoil. Split the stalks up the centre, leaving half the leaves on each portion of the stalk—tie the two butts of each whole stalk about 6 inches apart. The drying phed should l>e well roofed, walls about 10 feet. Lay 4 inch buttcns from wall plate to wall plate lengthwise the shed, leaving 15in spaces. Put posts under the battens to support them, if required. The ends of the shed should be movable, so as to allow a free current of air. Hang the plnnta over the battens, leaving a few inches between each stalk. There will be Home hot days when the plants cannot be touched without hurting them. When they can be handled turn them ones a daj. As soon as the stems or mild ribs have lost their moisture, and the leaf is brown without green, strip it, as it is then ready for packing. Some day, when in case—that is when it can be handled without breaking —pull the leaves from the stalks ; place 11 of them together ; tie a leaf round the butts—that is called a band ; pack in alternate right and left layers in a case sufficiently large to allow the leaves to lie at full length. The leaf is now ready for market.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AMBPA18820421.2.14
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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 602, 21 April 1882, Page 2
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756TOBACCO CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 602, 21 April 1882, Page 2
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