The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 882, 24 September 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDA Y, SEPTEMBER 21, 1881.

Mr August Vollbiucht, of Wellington, reported to the Colonial Industries Committee the following words:—" I believe that Havanna tobacco could ho i well grown in the Wairarapa district," We do not know Mr August VollBRACHT, but we ore quite prepared, after this expression of his confidence in the capacity of the soil and climate of tins district, to accept him as our guide, philosopher, and friend in the matter of tobacco culture. We are pleased also to observe that the Colonial Industries Committee and the Legislature have endorsed the recommendation of the august Vollbracht I to rednce the duty on New Zealand leaf tobacco to Is per lb. Our guide, philosopher, and friend estimates that with this small duty large quantities of the fragrant leaf can be grown not only for our own consumption, but for export to other colonies. Will the time ever come when genuine Wairarapa cigars will fetch the highest market prices in Sydney and Melbourne ? It may do, but ihen there must be local enterprise in this district to secure such a triumph! Mr Vollbracht informs ns that the good cultivation of ten acres of land will produce from six to seven tons of tobacco, Such a stupendous crop is calculated to fill with awe the mind of the modest smoker who is wont to purchase bis supplies by the ounce. Six or seven tons of tobacco, when prepared for the market, would mean at least ,£2ooo—a positively startling sum to obtain from ten acres of well cultivated land. In view of such a splendid industry, we should combine -to purchase a proper patch of gIWI-

and turn it into a gold mine. What is auriferous nuurtsi as contrasted with golden leaf! (Minply a delusion and a suave I Ouv guide, philosopher, ami friend does not speak without some experience of the adaptability of Wairarapa soil to grow the fragrant weed. He has received irom Mr A.- Ustekbye samples of AVairarapa leaf and a calculation of the cost of growing it, Mr Yollbhaoht assigns a rather higher estimate for growing the leaf than Mr Osterbye, and puts it down at from 7s to 8s per lb. He then, adds a sentence which ought to make every Wairarapa man feel an inch taller. 11 Tobacco," he says, "grown in the Waimrapa aiill be considered loorth from Ud to M per lb more than any i other Few Zealand grown tobacco, as ' its quality will, be superior." He also states that good and careful cultivation will give three crops in two years, As for sowing the land, a paltry halfounce of seed is sufficient for one acre of land. Mr Ostebbye's sample was grown on the banks of the Ruamahunga river, in river made soil, well sheltered from prevailing winds, and the grower is open to an engagement to produce tobacco for anyone who will employ him for that purpose. The following figures are supplied by him ;-

Estimated coat for cultivating five acres of land with tobacco:—Hont or interest of hind at £1 10s, £7los; ploughing and barrowing, three times, £l6; seed, .Ellis; boanl and calico tor seed-bed, £3; manure for the seed-bed, lus; one man to take charge o[ the work, making the seed-bed, attending it, assist by transplanting and keeping the jilantnge clean ami watered, and harvesting, or sweating or curing, and drying in shed. 32 weeks at £3, £9G; two men for keeping plantage, transplanting, harvesting, etc., li wsclis, average five working days per week, at 7s per day, £Bt; rent or interest of drying shed, £S: total, £215105, Estimated crop—lfiOi) Hi, per acre, equal each to iiijd per 11). dry leaves, Supposing a light crop of only IUOO lb. per acre, equal each to IOM per lb.

We have ourselves a very limited knowledge of the art of producing and manufacturing tobacco, our energies having been devoted to the more interesting question of its consumption, There is, however, in the report to which we h.ive referred ample evidence to indicate that a very profitable industry is open to us in this district, and we trust some of our leading settlers will take the muttei np with a view to testing the value of such a product, If no settler is prepared to embark in the industry single handed, let us float a tobacco plantation company at once. It is too late to get a crop this season, but it is none too early for making preparations for sowing ten acres or so of land next year.