TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 August 1928, Page 2

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

MEETING OF RATIONAL" GROWERS Thirty tobacco growers assembledl at the Institute Hall, R>cbmond, la t evening, when Mr C. Nash, the local representative of the National Tobacco Company, addressed the meeting on company matters ajid reviewed the company s ieports on the last season s crops. P Mr Nash read extracts of reports on growers' shipments of leaf t» Auckland which disclosed a varying state of the leaf oft arrival. Some was in excellent oldei titn the colouring and texture all Scould be desired, tie ins up to 2s 5d a pound lor it wtale sliioments from othei- growers arrived in fSeted 1 rotten stfte, the company "out of mercy" to the grower giving * price of Is or 9d a pound. Next season The company would not accept dehveiy of a similar leaf. . Mr Nash said that next season no tobacco would be accepted under 12in in length and Sin in breadth, which meant that tho leaf would have to be lE.inches when green. No second growth leal would be accepted. The following points were also mentioned. The Government had not given any assistance since last October, in© rib of the leaf weighed one-third the whole weight} the imported leaf lor blending was landed at under 9d a pound; and negotiations # were being made for a reduction in freights.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS In answer to questions Mr Nash said that tobacco needed a sheltered position, and advised planting of strips of maize in the tobacco if the area planted was exposed to the wind. A way to get rid of the "leather jacket" grub was to put scwt of burnt lime to the. acre. In about five or six weeks' time the grubs would be near the surface and the application of the lime would then be effective. ' ' \