UNKNOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1577, 12 August 1882, Page 6

UNKNOWN.

' anioi^^s9|^n^Ppp'^ < '^ une are con ' this\quarnlig^^Kpßimilable plont-fooi ' Jiaust^d ; Vl^PmCOurae, fertility fall below fch&;d^W^ftt ; which the fur the cultivation p2|^|pind",(woukl pay. T< show the jrmQ^EM Mineral snbstancespotasli, 'lim4, i j^™!nnorio/ acid particularly i characteristic elemen in ttae*-^ v flj6BiMpmuig<£ compound in ou ' food, :and nljjp|j|^iimmpn{a and ammonia 1 producing ,^j^^removed from thi soil in animal'iffi& jjregetuble produce, thi ASH'OR MINPHp^S.^JftgTANCES AXD Nl TBCOOEN^-|UWQ. JE6UI7DS OF VARIOUS AOTMAt^s^^rriEia 5 Prod ucts,; lime, 1&.20 ; aoid, 16.52. Fai usheep : v!ffi^g<p» ;;15.60, jt potash, 1.59 lime, 12;W!;*oOTphqrib acid, 11.29. Fal pig: tfi'trog^ Ifi&h potash, 1.48 ; lime 6.67} pltosptfp* <fsesd, 6.92. Wool, un'washed 1 ; ifitroMeu, 7,3.00 ; potash.^O.OO lime, "1.00 "pholiphofro acid, 1.00. •-Milk Nifctogen, 6^j|pb'fcasb, 1.70 j lime, 1.60; phosphoric^aqidl^.OO^ 'J AnaljM^p^pij|lia(; tyero is^ about one pound of<f>n|Qph^te£ of lime in every twenty-five|K|>:g^tf[lrty gallons of milk, and it mayJ^jK ||sHBtimated that the annual dqtnlha^m'jjjtte' upon the resources of the soil or ea&fppw is equal to neatly 9011)8. of3obM|B^.-.-. MIXERA^JgKjJI \oiiH ANU NITROHEN RKMoyijsApfluy.y^Ay acre of L.\m> j»y VABTOOpSiR^iCIIO PS - Wheat ;|gViigi ; $0 bushels, weight of crop.^afc -harvest '"-1,800 lbs., when diy, 1,530' lbJ9^}iSte4\rT at harvest, 3,1-58 lb., dryj 2,6s^ib'.|ai^l ash, 189 lb. Mineral Bubstances/f&nKMBd : Nitrogen, 45 lb. ; potash ,,2fJbl|JW»7B.'; soda, 3 lb. 4 ozs.; lime, 10 lb, SijoatT^ag^sia, 7 lb. 7 o/ss. ; phosphoric oM 922 1b. 7 ozs.: silica, 111 lb. 1 tifz.: chtdSttQ 1 ,! lb. 9 ozs. ; sulphur, 7 lb. B*o%V>3|£-^ '"" ' > Oats grainf '4 jJbushels, weight of crops at harVjjsfsk I*J WL> lbs,, when dry, 1,G2<3 lb'.. ; straw 'ffaiharvest, 2,835 lb., dry, 2,353 lb..';jcotay|h, 191 lb. Mtneral .substances ! remdjs&: Nitrogen, .32 lb. ; potash, 38 lb. fiC>2. ; soda, 7 lb. 3 o/., ; lime, lllbv8,o;wL; magnet-ia, 9 lb. 2 o/s. ; phospbonc 'acidTup lb. 9 o^s. ; silica, 91 lb. 1 oz,< ch^rjn^'^jo^s. ; sulphur, 8 lb. B M-ley • grain^jdO bushol", weight of crop '»t 'harveiU 2,080 lbs., when dry, 1,747 lb^;; biiffl at harvest, 2,1*7 lb., dry, 2^080; lb. ; total ash , 1 6 i lb. Minei nl Hubstances, remWctl : Nitrogen, 47 lb. ; potash,"* 311b". 4 czs. ; soda, o lb. 2 o/>. ; lime, 9 lb. S ozsff magnesia, 6 lb. 5 o/.s. ; phosphoria*aoid ; ' s5O s 50 lb. G ozs. ; silica, G3 lb. o o^B. ;^chlorule, 3 lb. 6 ozs : sulplmr, G lb. 1 oz._ ' ' i Potato t||bers,jj ton.«, woight of crop at harvest 13540 lb*, when dry, 3,360 lbs. ; Inulm at H|vveat|' 4,274 lb., dry, Sol lb. , total ash, t-76 lb. Mineral substances lemovrd: 67 lb. ; potash, 76 lb. 5 ozs. : MKhft 41b, ; limo, 2o lb. 8 ozs. ; uugnesia, 18ilb. ,1 oz. ; phosphoric aoil, 26 lb. 8 ozm 1 ; siliOfi, 5 lb ; ehloiino, o lb. 4 o/s. ; sulphur, 4 lb. 8 o/s. M'ingel mot, 2:1 tons, weight of crop at harvest 49,280 tbs., when dry, d,628 lbs; loaf at harvest, 18,233 lb., dry, 1,654 lb; total ash, 690 lb. Mineral substances removod : Nitrogen, 117 lb; potash, 262 lb 5 o?5s; soda, 140 lb 6 ozs ; lime, 53 lb 3ozfs;iinagnosia, 46 lb 9 ozs; phosphoric acid, 49 lb 1 o/. ; silica, 2o lb Gozs ; chlorine, 90Jb 4 ozs; sulphur, 11 lb. ' From the abov<[ it will bo seen that cereals contain much less nitrogen than root crops; nbou ; three-fourths of this element is in tie coin and only onefourth in the s'raw. The amount of phosphoric acid ir the grain and roots is greater than in 'the straw and leavos. Potash is a voiV large constituent of rooH, and pvoponflorates in the straw of cereals. When cpnsumed off the farm, root-crops are very exhaustive iv character, partioulaily the mangel. M.inuies nerd not bo applied to colonial lands until there is evidenco of thoir falling off in feitility, through tlio ieinoval of crop". This point having been reached, it is important that the farmer should understand the relation existing between the composition of a manure and the actual deficiencies in the soil. In proceeding to explain this it may be well to mention that it is essential s to growing plants, that thejj should have an adequate supply of jail the substances rekuired to build up and maintain their structure, and thnt if one of those substances be present 'in the soil in too small proportion, the resjolt, so far as the yield of product is concerned, will be the same as if all the constituents had been defioient. Now, wh«n land is worn out through the continuous removal of crops, the falling oft" in fertility is never duo to the withdrawal of all its assimilable plant j- food con&tifcueuts but to the more or' less completu removal of olie of these only which from its having or ginally occurred in the soil in relatively smaller quantity, Avas sooner alMiaeted ;han the others Tims, for example, a soil might be deprived of its phosplioiic aeii or its available combined nitrogen aid still^'contain ample propoitions of tin other substauccd reijuiicd by plants. To restore the productive power of a soilin this, condition it is only necessary to 'etuin<iu the form of a bpecial manure tin > constituent, however, a manure contain n'g a substance other than the one ierju)red by the soil were applied, then nojlbenefit would result, because it could not make good the deficiency, but simplvt increase the pioportion of an already?) Abundant constituent. Thus to add lime land already rich in lime, or potash toiaifd already containing abundance of potai sh,' would be a useless expenditure of ti rte -and money. It is only \yhen its com jolition will enable it to replace those c )it||}tuents of the soil, which, through r'enioval ', in produce, have become/defic eni^liat a.m anure can possibly produced j^mfcrjied result. To a soil impoverish© i f|!||i > oBpliia,tes, apply phosphates /j, and of potash, add potash j )sjj^|iQjx I ghQaphates to land poo^ffipota; f^fo|jffijgh *o land

is carried on somewnac cxiensiveij Manufacturing, too, makes headway, an great fortunes have been made in tha department. Yet, notwithstanding th undoubted advantages which favours th production of leaf here, it is not grow to any. thing like the extent th manfanufactureis use, and to nothing lik the quantity sufficient to suppl; colonial consumption of tobacco. Th imports of both leaf and manufacture! tobacco of themore common kind — whicl ought to be produced in the colonies t the full extent of the consumption— goo on increasing steadily ; while the impor of cigars and cigavettees increases cnor mously But itisnotwiththefiscalaspecto the tobacco question we purpose dealing The grow th and curing of leaf, and tin manufacture of the commercial articli k are more in our line. The reference ha: i been made only to justify the title chosenfo: these papers— that they are to deal witl crops of which more could be producet with advantage to colonial cultivators At the outset of what to be said con corning tobacco, it may be well to adc that, as a crop' it has to be worket skillfully and with care. Fiam the time of putting in the seed-bed ; and treating of the young plants, in setting them oul and tending the until they get started fairly— after which they are as hardy as cabbage— tobbaco requires very careful, considerate, and patient manipulating ;and if this cannot be given it is better to let tobacco growing alone. It is from the want of this vciy caie that no small share of the disappointments associated \\ ith tobacco has arisen ; and it is but right to add that unless the neccsfcary attention can be given, it is better to avoid disappointment and, leave tobacco out of the ciops grown. The inducements, however to go into tobacco culture aie great, and we can desire, very heai tily that more colonials shared in the industry. Recent news frrm America, the mainstay of loaf production, show conclusively that ycni by year while the demand increases, the production of leaf does not keep pace with it. The last two seasons have given fair, but not what can be termed very short crops, yet from one cause or other, leaf is both scarce and dear. Were the colonial crop three times more heavy than it is, there would be Nile for the whole, and at prices which are certainly encouraging to thoes who oJlcr reasonably good and fairly ciued leaf. Nor ib this acfcivitcd of demand for good colonial tobacco a flash only. As stated, the article is re.illy not increasing in the quantity required in the great leaf producing district of America ; and they are further being drained of the best they grow to supply the demands of the rapidly increasing tiade of the cigar manufacturers of Havannah. The latter, it is no secret, have buyers of leaf out in all directions, not in Cuba only, but throughout such of the West Indian islands as pioducc the leaf in quantity. They have been also and for yeais draining the American leaf markets of their a cry best sorts ; and, although from the eiioL'Jious dimcn.sions of the tiade, and the comparatively many sourscs of supply, actual .scarcity has not been ielt until recently. It is now beyond a doubt that the supply is not equal to the demand, and that good leaf is sure to increase very much in \ alue. The eficct is being felt by the colonial mannfaetuiers as well as otheis, and they are eagerly looking for increased home supplies. Those mtcrcstd in colonial agriculture are not sorry that such prospects .should be ahead for leaf growers. We feel assured it ■\\ould be lor the benefit of all concerned, and would be more likely to increase rather than lower the prices for good leaf if, in addition to supplymgall thedemands of the manufacturers here, tabaeeo leaf were a heavy colonial export. If the pioduct is up to the standaul of excellence required, wo can depend upon it that buyers would come after it as eagerly as they come for Australian wool. Ere cntei ing upon a description of the practical details of leaf growing and curing for market, it is necessary only to make the further remark that tabacco manufactaring is a business entirely distinct from growing the leaf. The manufacture demands the advantages of capital and machinery to turn out fhst-cltss material in the best style. It is found, furthoi, that it answers best to work up tobacco in quantity, and to cairy on the business in the rapid and activo manner charactenstic of this business in the great tobacco factories of the present day all over the world. The grower has not the facilities to do this ; and he is at a great disadvantage in not being able to keep pace with the chemical aspect of the business which notices the changes going on all the time in the taste of tobacco user*, not in the get up only of the article they favor most, but in the flavor as well. There have boon and aro still tobacco growers who manufacture a very excellent article for which they can always find icady salo. But they aro men, without an exception, of great natural ability and business raet — men, indeed, who would succeed in any business they took in hand. But even they know how much bettor they could do if they had control of the moro powerful machinery, and the use of leaf in greater quantity, which all who take to the niiinufacfcuiing of tobacco aro very decided aids to success. They would soon, had they the means, becomo manufacturers in reality. As a rule, therefore, it is the better course to sell the leaf to those who make a business of manufacturing ; that is, providing there aro fair prices paid for the raw material, There is considerable difference of opinion amongst buyers regarding the description of loaf which they prefer. This ih owing to the character of the tobacco they are manufacturing, and, to some extent the machineiy employed. Amongst the usual sorts of tobacco grown in the colonies for salo purposes are Havauuah, Yarra, Clolden drop, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, Connecticut, Turkey, birdseye, German or Cabbage leaf, &c. The sorts change from tho seed and mix very freely ; and, although considerable is said in the sale rooms where the tobacco leaf is disposed of, and also by manufacturers regarding the purity of the sorta offced for sale and used, it is no easy matte r, in any place to get pure leaf af any one variety. They are all disposed to change, and it by no means follows that the seed gathered from a plant will yield the same variety. The bees are very activo amongst the flowers of the tobacco plaut, which are prominent and in large, bold branches, which the bees mix up in their travelling from flower to flower. The nature of the soil also in which the plant is grown has considerable effect upon tho leaf. In strong rich soil, when the season ia damp and favorable for growth, tho German variety, for instanco, may well deserve the title given to it. It is then, of cabbagy appearance, and may be suitable only for fillers or packing in between fivmer leaf in tho manufacturing! process. Yet, during the past BQason t sorftetons of/ .this very German : grbwn^iipon;

during a dry season, is about 12cwt per acre. The price obtained was BAd per lb, which may be accepted as a tolerable average of a fair crop grown and cured by men of long experience. It is a very good plan for those commencing with tubacco to consult the auctioneers or others through whom they are to make sales, or the manufacturers, if the letter arc convenient and comentable, regarding varieties of leaf which are most suitable in their business. If at all possible, seed should be gob from some grower who has a reputation for the quality of what he sells. The plant is an enormous yielder of seed. A single plant of the larger fcorts will give seed enough for half a dozen acres. The usual allowance in sowing for plants is to put in one ounce of peed over a seed bed for each acre to bo planted ; and if the season is favorable (ho ounco of seed is likely to give sufficient plants for the purpose. The space oocupied by a seed bed to give bufficicnt plants for an acre would three feet in width by twelve feet in length.