TOBACCO GROWING IN HAWKE'S BAY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2401, 5 March 1915, Page 8

TOBACCO GROWING IN HAWKE'S BAY.

Interesting particulars , tobacco plantation, owned .by a Hankos Bay syndicate near Olive. Grange, are given In . a 'northern exchange. The plants are grown fronTseed, and there are 300 seed-beds, each of .which pro; duces 4000 plants. In about six weeks time the plants are ready ' planting. - This is done by.means oi an .automatic transplanter, which can 'transplant, about four acres a day, and which, at the same toe, waters the plant. The tobacco plants grow very quicklv, arid in about three months time the. leaves are ready for drying. There is no blight or pest on the plants. At present there are 100 acres under cultivation, with just on half a million plants. There is stored m th© sheds from last year's crop 40,0001b. of dry tobacco. Some of the leaves otown last season measured 18 inches bv 26 inches. The plant grows to about six feet in height, and when it is ready for cutting the 'leaf turns slightly veilow, and a gluey substance forms on it. The stem of the plant resembles wood, and when being cut it is first'slit down near the ground and a piece of woad put in the■ slife to hang the plant up by. It is then cut down and taken to the drying shed. Ihere are three large open drying shcosin which the plants are hung up. They are then taken into a, heated room, which has accommodation for 3--,000 plants, and hung there for four days. When' they are thoroughly dry the leaves are then stripped oft and tied together.in bunches ready for manufacture. On the farm are grown eight varieties or tobacco, which will be blended together in the manufacture. The manager states that-no plant that he knows of grows so quickly, and the climate is very suitable.. One aero would produce an averago of 8001b. of leaf. Five plants produce one pound of leaf, it is the Intention of the- company to commence manufacturing shortly,..but tho 100 acres that they Tiave under cultivation are not expected to yield sufficient for the demand.