TOBACCO CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1526, 15 April 1882, Page 4

TOBACCO CULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

c A correspondent, writing to the Grey , Jlivcr Argm on tobacco culture in New " Zealand, says :— " In .looking over an old scrap of newspaper, I observed 'new industries ;' further on the words ' '"sWo real James Eiver tobacco seed, a portion of which was sown by Mr " Gower, on his station near Foxton.', 'Mr Grower wants information about 'q'uring and manufacturing the leaf. James River leaf can be converted into cake, shag tobacco, and snufF; it will !not do for cigars. The requisites for working James River are hydraulic presses, skilled operatives, a large supply of leaf, and a considerable outlay of capital— added to which is one shilling per pound inland duty, and manufacturer's license fee Of £50. A one-horse tobacco factory would be a losing concern. Curing leaf is as Simple as drying hay. There is tobacco planting from the seed-bed to the packed case for market. The seed-bed should be good' sandy loam, well worked and levelly broken up ; two inches of the surface should be one-third wood ashes and two thirds roast dust or riddled loam, thoroughly amalgamated ; bed not wider than 4ft., but as long as you like. When the spring frosts have disappeared, take a quart of road dust, dry and pass it through a fine riddle, spread it on a line tray ; put the seeds in cold water for five minutes, drain and scatter them over the dust ; stir it up until the seeds are well mixed. Sow this over the bed evenly ; add an over dressing of wood ashes very thin. If the gronnd is very dry, water it ; put up a couple of posts and ridge pole ; at night throw a fly over to guard against a light frost. Cross plough and harrow a field, then with a small plough set shallow, so that it merely scratches. Mark off the field into four foot right- angled spaces ; for finer leaf the spaces are loss. When the plants are about five inches high, dibble one in at each angle. Do this in the evening or on a cloudy day. Go over the field, and \s here a plant has failed, pull it, and put in another. Worm the plants morning and evening, or turn in turkeys ; they will worm and do but little harm to the plant*. Keep the field perfectly clear of weeds, and the soil loose. When the plants begin to bunch at top they are about to blossom ; pinch off the tops and lemove the bottom course of leaves, and dry them. The yellowish green looking cakes called "Golden Bar," and the light mild cigaiette tobacco, are manufactured from this wretched halfgrown rubbish. The plant kept for seed will indicate when the leaf is ripe. Be sure to cut before the frost arrives. Tobacco will staud heat, wind, and rain, but frost kills. Wherever touched, that portion is valueless. For cutting implement take two feet of an old scythe blade, straighten the shank, and put on a handle, curve the point like a shinty stick; cut with this or a billhook— cut on a hot day. Let the plants remain where they fall until the leaves are wilted, then carry them to the shed. Do not place them in heaps or they will heat and spoil. Split the stalks up the centre, leaving half the leaves on each portion of the stalk— tie the two butts of eacli whole stalk about six inches apart. The drying shed should be well loofed, walls about 10 feet ; lay 4in. battens from wall plate to wall plate lengthwise the shed, leaving loin, spaces. Put posts under the battens to support them, if required. The ends of the shed should be movable, so as to allow a free current of air. Hang the plants over the battens, leaving a few inches between each stalk. There will be some hot days when the plants cannot be touched without touching them. When they can be handled turn them once a day. As soon as the stems or mild ribs ha\ c lost their moisture, and the leaf is bi own without green, strip it, as it is then icady for packing Someday, when in case— that is when it can be handled without In caking — pull the leaves from the stalk* ; place 11 of them together ; tie ti leaf lound the butts — thati&oilled a baud ; pack in alternate right and left layeis in uc.iso sufficiently large to allow the lo.u es to lie at full length. The leaf i*> now ready for market.