CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 193, 5 August 1874, Page 2

CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —I have received from Mr. Gotch the Auckland grower and manufacturer of tobacco a parcel of seed of the Connecticut variety which he states to be the best suited to his and our requirements. It produces with failtreatment an abundant crop ; forming leaves up to three feet long, well flavored ; carry out easily; and has other recommendations in growth and manufacture which make it superior in the aggregate to any other he has tried at yet. If those who intend to try the experiment this season, would leave their name and address, with particulars of area, at your office, I shall apportion what seed I have, and procure more if necessary. Perhaps some one interested, would obtain a proper trial by one or two of the influential natives. They succeed to a certain extent in their maltreatment of a degenerate sort; and they would quickly find the profit of an improvement in kind and culture. Their facilities for handling are inimeasureably greater than those of their pakehn neighbours. 1 give you herewith some directions for the early steps towards planting &c. ; and repeat that 1 should be glad to make them more lucid, personally, if necessary, to any who will t ake up the matter as it deserves.

I shall supplement as needed any thing that occurs to, or is learned by, me in progress.—l am, &c., . O’M. Gisborne, August 4, 1874.

“ Sow the seed this month, or as soon as the experience of former seasons warrants security from sharp frosts. Select seed-bed in N.E. aspect, sheltered from the South. A bed 20ft. x 4ft. would take one oz. of seed, and should give plants sullicient for an acre—proportion accordingly--manure with well-rotted sluff; or burn brush And rubbish thereon—pulverise and mix well, and raise three or four inches above the neighboring ground, enclosing within rough frame.—Mix the seed with some fine sand, distribute as evenly as possible on a fine surface, and rake in very lightly ; water at dusk in dry weather. The land for crop should now be got. into tilth, so as to bo ready for the plants when they reach about three inches high. Then mark out the ground with lines, three feetapart, ami on these lines, two feet asunder, raise small hillocks about a foot, in diameter and four inches high, trimmed and compressed with a hoe, the hills of one row should be opposite the centre of space between those of the other. Break away frame of seed-bed and carefully scoop out. the plants with the hand, or a garden trowel; handling them by pulling, or breaking the roots in doing so, creates risk and trouble —take them to the grouiul in some sort of tray. Open centre of hillock with a three-cornered hand-pole; place in the plant, seeing that t he rootlets are not crumpled ; form and dress neatly with fine soil. Few vacancies will thus occnr; the ground must, however, be frequently examined and any such supplied. Keep the soil loose, and weeds down until the plants have formed about a dozen leaves.”