TOBACCO GROWING

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20214, 17 April 1931, Page 6

TOBACCO GROWING

INDUSTRY IN NEW ZEALAND. PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE. Among the newly established industries in, the Dominion which seem to have good prospects the tobacco industry is perhaps pre-eminent says ;»n article in the "New Zealand Herald.*' Eight years ago there was hardly any smoking tobacco 'manufactured in the Dominion, and now local factories produce about two-thirds of the total consumption. One of the strongest arguments in favour of the New Zealand tobacco industry is that it is still in its early stages. It has gone a long, way toward meeting the taste of the New Zealand public, and if the product continues to improve as it is doing- at presen.t the prospects for the industry are sound.

Careful handling is necessary in all stages of tobacco culture and manufacture, The best tobacco grown in New Zealand is still grown from imported American seed. As yet no plant has been established in the Dominion sufficiently true to type to supply the seed for the next crop. Probably leaf with characteristics which should, win it a place on the world's markets is already being obtained from plants grown the previous year in New Zealand soil, but it is generally agreed- that the safest course'is still to grow from imported Reed.

The best growing results so far have been obtained in the Nelson district, but there is' considerable activity in different parts of the Auckland province. Several elimatic conditions are necessary for successful tobacco culture. There, "should be sufficient, but not too much, rainfall during the growing period, followed by a warm summer to ripen the tobacco. The summer must always b6 of rfufficient length to ensure complete ripening of the whole crop. This regularity of seasons has not been experienced in ; tobacco-growing districts in New Zealand, nor havo tjje summers been -sufficiently long.

Infertile Soils, Another important point is freedom from wind. All the difficulties of tobacco-growing are enormously increased if it is grown in an area exposed to strong windß, especially if the wind comes from seaward. Light, sandy, infertile soils, about Sin deep, with a light clay subsoil, have been found ; to.give the best results. The soil does little' else but hold the plant up, and the plant is fed or grown on the exact amount of complete, suitable fertiliser and suitable green manure, or cover crops found by actual testing. By the time the plant is fully Sown the fertiliser-is consumed, and as ere la no available plant food in the soil the plant< must and does ripen and mature. - - -

When growing on such mechanically ?erf eet, well aerated, infertile soils, obneeo may be produced with the desired qualities by the balancing of fertilisers and a knowledge of the results oh the plant of the different plant foods. All this, of course, is in conjunction with the ideal climatic condition?. ~t ' „ The seed-is grown in seed beds anu planted out in the fields in November, although the aetual month naturally depen&t on the season and the actual situation .of tho field. Harvesting in tie Nelson district starts about the ' imiddle of February, when the workers may be seen going through the fields ' picking off the ripe leaves. This pro* cess continues for over a month. As the leaves are picked they are taken to the side of the field and strung on sticks preparatory to being placed in the caring barn. ' ' There are two methods of curing in use in the Dominion—flue-curing and air-curing. For flue-curing a barn and artificial heat are needed. It«is the more expensive method, but gives more roliablp' results, although in dry, sunny "weather air-curing is ■ satisfactory for some types of tobacco. The cured leaf has then to be graded 'by the' grower, and correct grading has a great effect in improving the value of (he crop. The process of grading is bjieflyto divide aU the leaf into lightfeodied and lieavy-bodied/ and then'to judge these daises separately as to colour, texture, size of leaf, .tmd other qualities. In all tobacfco-growlng countries, even including ' America, where t}ie industry had been fully developed* for many years, standards of grading and prices paid depend on public; taste, ( «nd flange as taste changes. "All the different leading manufacturers have own, views on grading. 'They buy according t> their experience of pubjje requirements, and after buying r?grade4 Re purchases according totheir 'own '.standards. This point is of great im-portance--in regard W tho. development - of tobacco-growing. > Any attempt' to fix grades, and say -that £ll leaf must be grown according thereto/ would inflict a handicsp on the industry, which must aim meeting the ' .tastes'* of the public, botljv here and in "Othpr countries, if an export trade is to be scoured, , However, the Government should help by/setting, up' minimum qualities or grades to - prevent poorquality leaf being sent away by inexperienced growers.' - ( grower has'not a re*sy buyer' for "Bis graded leaf, or if he ingoing to ship, it'oversea, he must firet^'h^ve'it' redried. This is a most important pro,cess, as any excess moisture woifld ren-der-it'less likely ,tb keep tvjt a long ;seriod, . The tobacco is then, pressed and pttfcin case* nniil it is required for manufacture. ■ During this ' time the 'tobaeco will "sweat" slightly" in hot weather/ with an increase in "mellowness. * owing to the' nature of the, tobacco, and partly to the fact'that this country has no extreme climatic varia-' tions, the' effects of as the process is called, upon, New.' Zealand tohacpo are Jess' than is the case,-else* Wh^e—-at least, that has been the ex« perienco to date. . , Maintaining a standard, V-'&eat'care has ,to be taken by the manufacturer in buying leaf so that he is assured of a continuity of supply of the jright qualities. This involves finding but what the public want,,and alstf entails buying from the grower more than-is actually required, No grower can prodnce solely and exactly what the manufacturer is asking for, and the .tijne of buying there is always some compromise. , The public has. never accepted the grower's* belief that ■ all tobacco is smokeable. The question of quality is particularly important with leaf to be used for cigarette tobacco. So far the quantity of New Zealand' fcpf uped in cigarettes has beon small, and "Twelves" are the only .brand to contain a proportion. One reason for •this is that it'takes time to find out whether the public like it in cigarettes, and another is that New Zealand leaf suitable for use in'cigarettes has not vet been produced in, adequate qqantjties.. There" must be sufficient supplies to .maintain a definite standard, TW s«cref of the success of any <dffarette or tobacco lies in-the blending #t*go in the factory, Successful bjtirt* intt depends on careful grading, an® the nature «f" the blend is the result of years of experience, manufacturer knows erectly what grades of leaf ,in > combination will P«3«ee I the tobacco raaulred by the public# Leaf of many Sades from many different cases.will fjeombined to make up the blend, and tJA leal wili pxoistened suff^