TOBACCO CULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19939, 7 May 1928, Page 7

TOBACCO CULTURE.

PROSPECTS IN AUCKLAND. COMMENTS BY INSTRUCTOR. The possibilities for tobacco growing in the Auckland district aro perhaps better than in any part of the Dominion, but the few Auckland growers do not seem to have acquired the art of intensive cultivation to the same extent that Nelson growers have. This is the opinion of Mr. Charles Lowe, instructor in tobacco culture, attached to the horticultural branch of the Department of Agriculture, who is visiting Auckland. The object of Mr. Lowe's visit is to inspect land which has tobacco-growing possibilities, and to advise prospective growers. He said at one time he had been led to understand that there were 600 acres under cultivation in the Auckland district, but he had found only six. He was greatly impressed with the land in the Riverhead district.

"The growers have acquired the art in Nelson," said Mr. Lowe, "due possibly to the fact that it is a land of hop growers, who have been used to intensive cultivation. Many of the hop growers are now going in for tobacco culture in addition. The Nelson growers are receiving as much as £IOO an acre from their labours." Mr. Lowe said poor, broken, plateau land was most suited to tobacco growing. On Saturday evening Mr. Lowe addressed a large gathering of fruitgrowers and others at Henderson. He will leave for the Hamilton district this morning, where he will inspect land and possibly give a lecture.