TOBACCO GROWING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22621, 8 January 1937, Page 13

TOBACCO GROWING

Sir—Having read the sub-leader under the heading '"lobacco for Export," together with the quoted remarks of Mr. Willis, I leel it incumbent to sound a note of warning which, coming, as it does, from one who lias been intimately connected with the industry for the past seven years, may be taken in good part by those interested. To begin with there been thousands of pounds lost in Auckland Province in the past in trying to establish tobacco growing. Experimental crops are now being grown by one of the largest manufacturing firms operating in this country which should bo watched v'ith the keenest interest before another penny is sunk in the industry. Given success it is one of the greatest crops which those on small holdings can turn their attention to but, converselv, it is one which can cause the greatest disappointment and loss from a financial point of view. It is significant that growing for a considerable number of years has been tried in this province without success; that all the manufacturing companies have been giving contracts to growers in the Motueka district in increasing volume latterly; and.that even down there there are numbers of growers who have made failures financially in spite of the intimate knowledge, gained through years of experience, placed at their service. The land found most suitable is light and sandy along the banks of the Motueka River and along the near by valleys. For years tobacco has been grown throughout the British Empire in the desire to obtain a leaf equal to that grown in Virginia. In the Nelson district the light golden-coloured fine leaf produced ihere has resulted in the high range of prices recently realised on our last export venture. Experts have stated that there is little, if any, distinction between it and the finest Virginian. Another point of significance is the fact that Nelson is the hop-pro-ducing centre and, as farmers down there grow both hops and tobacco. in adjoining lands, the main factor in the success must be climatic. The prevailing winds are salt-laden, the days are sunny and hot, and there is yet a useful percentage of rain, all of which help toward a successful crop. Some idea of the rapid growth can bo obtained from the fact that tobacco is a 90-day crop, requiring constant work and attention from well-trained and efficient growers. Thero is room for extension in the industry in the Nelson district, and we will see closer settlement with families able to make a good living off five and 10-acro farms, but can this bo done elsewhere? Experience so far says distinctly and definitely, "Not" Henco this note of warning. H. R. Russf.ll.