TOBACCO CULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 13

TOBACCO CULTURE.

SUCCESS IN AUCKLAND.

HARVESTING THE CROP

GOOD PROSPECTS FOR INDUSTRY

Auckland's tctbacco crop is now in the most interesting stage—the harvesting and curing of the leaves. Twelve months ago little or no tobacco was under cultivation in the province. To-day there are approximately 120 acres of tobacco, with every prospect of a large increase in the total area in the near future. Auckland's gum and pumice lands are singularly adapted to the successful growth of tobacco and that for an unusually simple reason.

In their natural state these lands contain little of the stimulants of growth. For instance, there is practically no nitrogen in the soil such as is to he found in the richer lands and those that have been under cultivation for some years. Nitrogen in quantity is fatal to the growing of good tobacco. The cultivator of the gum and pumice lands knows, therefore, that ho is starting operations with a soil that contains nothing that will injure his tobacco and he can put into the gTOund only those fertilisers that will be of assistance to the crop. All the varieties of tobacco grown in Nelson have proved successful in the Auckland plantations, which are scattered from Rotorua to Hokianga, and in and around the city. Seed cultures have been supplied through the Department, of Agriculture, whoso instructor, Mr. C. E. Lowe, has krpt in close touch with the producers. The average stand of crop throughout the province has proved of reasonable abundance and of good texture, and when properly harvested and cured should bo a first-class sample.

Trials of Smallholders. Roth shed and kiln curing have been undertaken. The shed curing results in a brown leaf and tho other method gives the golden tobacco used for cigarettes. Experts agree that the erection of a kiln entails greater expense, but they contend this is warranted by the better quality attained and consequently more remunerative prices. The leaf that has so far passed through the kilns has proved of a high quality which should meet a ready market in New Zealand, or hold its own in the overseas markets should tho producers defide to send/ their crops abroad. Apart from tho commercial plantations tobacco growing is being tried by many smallholders./ Sin-h action has much to recommend it. It gives tho smallholder an opportunity of becoming acquainted w 'th the art, in a limited way and minimises tho loss should tho growers' initial efforts be failures.

Ihat there is keen interest in (he prospects of (ho new industry is evidenced by tho number of visitors to the plantations, their object being to gather information and see demonstrations of what is required in tho way of cultivation. Money Made by Women.

Present indications are that tobacco growing should bo a profitable sideline for the smallholder, as two acres is prov--1,13 ;| n ideal average area for one person to attend to. Hie planting and harvestJn g of the crop is so light that it can bo undertaken bv women, arid the assertion has been made that of the £50,000 that accrued to Nelson last year from tobacco, about £35,000 went into the pockets of the n'! ves anr ' daughters of the farmers there. The return per acre varies from CBQ to *-120, according to the quality of the leaf. •Apart, from the smallholder aspect of the industry, plans to establish tobacco growing on a much larger scale are under v ' a .V. A company has been formed to deyelcp about, 200 acre s near the city, and "• is its intention to undertake extensive cultivation next season.