TOBACCO GROWING IN FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4489, 9 August 1930, Page 3

TOBACCO GROWING IN FOXTON.

NOT RECOMMENDED BY AGE [CULTURAL DEPARTMENT

'Some time ago the Foxton Chamber of iCommerce took up the ujatler of tobacco cultivation in Foxton as a possible'moans of helping to solve the unemployment problem 1 and also with a view lo creating a new and profitable industry locally. The Director of the Fields Division, Massey College, Palmerston North, was approached and asked for a leporl on the suitability of Foxton soil and climate blit the Chamber's letter was referred to the Director of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture and Mr. ,1. A. Campbell (,Diierror) now reports as follows on the proposal:— “Since the year 1919, when the British Government made a preferential tariff for tobacco leaf produced within the Empire, production has increased in those territories In smdi an extent, that there is now an over-supply in (lie British markets, and anything that is not of the highest quality is very difficult to sell. However sympathetic they may be to this new policy the blenders of brands of lobacco that have been established at great expense cannot change their formula by introducing new tobaccos to any great, extent, however good they may' he, without affecting Ihe standard for which a brand is known. For this reason the consumption of Empire tobaccos, while increasing steadily, cannot he immediately increased to any great extent, and it is necessary for Empire growers to keep step with the consumption and assist by taking every care that their produce is beyond reproach.

“Tobacco in New Zealand is chiefly produced under contract and supervision of Ihe manufacturers here. The quality of the •produce is very creditable, and much of it is of a quality to encourage one to expect that an export trade may eventually be established. It is, however, a product that requires a great deal of attention and experience on the part of the producer, and any hasty expansion in production is bound to be disappointing to the inexperienced grower. The local demand for domestic leaf is increasing at a very satisfactory rate, hut not so fast, by a long way, as our growers would like to produce it.

“The leaf most in demad now is o|£ a bright lemon-yellow colour and fine texture suitable for cigarettes. Some of the land in your locality may produce leaf of the heavier type, but it is very doubtful if the finer types could be grown that would compare favourably with that now produced in oilier districts.

“Under the cirenmsianees T think it would be wise if Foxton residents waited until the prospects were brighter and then commenced. If they still desire however, to attempt In cultivate the plant it would be better to advise suitable growers to test it in a small way first.”