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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 25 May 1872, Page 3

TOBACCO CULTURE. We call tho attention of our settler® to the followin;. 1 ; extract from a New South Wales paper. Tobacco of oxcollcnt quality has been grown in this district, anil all that is required is the establishment of a manufactory under the management of a competent man to make the tobacco industry one of the moat flourishing in the country : — "Mr. .James Henley, of Oxley, is an intelligent, industrious, and pushing colonist, who some ten year* ago waa clear-headed enough to ace that, although grain-growing was then a profitable occupation, the time would shortly arrive when such would not be the case, for at that time the demand exceeded tho supply, and 9» to 10s per bushel for fair milling wheat waa not thought anything extraordinary ; and other descriptions of grain proportionately high. Mr, Henley very well knew that, as tho goldlields in the Ovens were becoming exhausted, a great addition to the farming interest must inevitably'take place, as, without industries <>f any kind except gold-digging, and that certain soon to become unremunerative, many who possessed oven a rude knowledge of farming would be compelled to turn their attention to it. And he judged rightly ; nor was his judgment at fault as to the result ; year by year the quantity of land under cultivation increased, until at length more grain is produced than can be easily disposed of at one-third its value some ten or twelve years ago. £n view of this alteration in farming results, Mr Henley, who possessed some knowledge of tobacco culture, turned his attention to that pursuit. The average quantity of land under cultivation for this purpose was about 30 acres, the lowest year being 17 acres and the highest (50 acres. This year Mr. Elcnlsy had sown enough to plant about 20 acres, but unfortunately blight made its appearance a little before the time of planting out, and in consequence he will not get more than 20 acres crop this year. Mr. lienley does not sell a single pound of leaf, but manufactures it into what is declared by hundreds of component judges to be in quality equal to the best American aromatic tobacco, and is got up in much the same style. Mr. Henley disposes of his goods in the district, and he informs us that he is unable to supply anything like the amount required. It is very encouraging to those who are are at all inclined to step aside from the old track and try tobacco growing, that Mr. Henley has succeded so well that he in now in a position to purchase extensively for luanu faeture, thus ottering to the beginner not only the benefit of his nine or ten's year's experience as j a grower, but also finding for him a local market, j ]S'ow that Mr. Henley has proved that tobacco j growing will pay handsomely, others are about to j follow in his wake, mid no doubt they are acting j wisely in so doing. We may mention that Mr. j Henley employe as many as 60 hands in the course of the year, and in tlie'slaek season finds employment for at least half that number. —Albury Banner. ♦ TRIPLE FURROW PLOUGHING. The feat of ploughing thirty acres of land iu one week, to which we alluded in our last issue, yfcas finished on Tuesday, 2nd instaut, by Mr. William Drummond, ploughman to Mr. R. Smith, of Baldhill. It seems that the affair arose from a bet made by a well-known boniface at Trawalla, who was firmly of opinion that no white mail could do the quantity of work mentioned within six days, working only from sunrise to sunset, and being willing to back his opinion to the amount of 5 sovs., tht business was speedily arranged, the agreemen specifying that the ploughing was to be performer in a workmanlike manner, and to be judged by Messrs. Hugh Arthur, Donald M'Lean, and Henn Read, farmers. Mr. Drummond accomplished hit task within the week, and with more than half &i acre of land to spare, working with Mr. Smith's well known triple-furrow plough and four horses, guiding and driving without assistance. Durinj. the last half-day of his task, however, he used only a single-furrow implement—probably being fully aware that his victory was certain. Had he kept on with the triple-furrow he would have ploughed at least thirty-three acres. On the morning of Tuesday a number of gentlemen interested in agricultural pursuits proceeded to Mr. Smith's farm to witness the conclusion of the ploughman's task and inspect the work. The measurement of the

fground and examination of the work Bhowed that ali the conditions attached to*the wager had been complied with, the ploughing being workmanlike, ami of an average dopth of a little under seven inchoH ft vvhh evident enough that neither Drumuiond nor his horses had over-exerted themselves, and the entire party of witne*se» expressed themselves ia high terms regarding the adaptability and economy of double and triple furrow plough# for land »uch as that operated upon that day land previously cropped, and nearly free from roots, stones, or sharp inclines. Mr. Smith and his men were warmly congratulated upon the successful reault of the experiment, and the company separated very well satisiied with the knowledge they had acquired or confirmed during the day.—Btaufort ( Victoria) C'hrunicb', (Jth April. »