TOBACCO-GROWING.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 285, 24 April 1929, Page 1

TOBACCO-GROWING.

IS MATAMATA SUITABLE ? Town Board Discussion. That some of the poorer-quality lands on the foothills near Matamata might be found suitable for growing tobacco was the suggestion made by the chairman of the Matamata Town Board on Monday night. Mr. Buchanan stated that in suitable localities from £BO to £IOO had been made per acre and that one person could mind two acres. The tobacco plant needed poor land and he thought the soil in the northern part of the district might be very suitable. He suggested that the Department of Agriculture might be asked to report on the soil. Mr. Stewart : It is a different class of soil from this. Mr. Buchanan : No, gum and pumice ; so long as there is no nitrogen it is right. We need a few industries in Matamata. Mr. Ruthe remarked that a tobacco company had paid 25 per cent, and had not called up half its capital. ! Mr. Stewart : Yes, and watered j their stock three to one. j A Member : That is the kind of j company to he *Sn. I Mr. Buchanan : Shall we ask for I an analysis of the poor land beyond j Okauia or leave it for the Chamber 1 of Commerce ? ! Mr. Black remarked that Turkish tobacco was grown between spices such as nutmeg, and that was how it got its peculiar flavour. “ I saw it in the Crimea —when I was in the j war,” he added amid laughter. Mr. Ruthe : Well, I see all these tobacco fellows die millionaires.

Mr. Buchanan : Oh, well, I'll speak to the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce about it and get them to take it up.