Trials of Flue-cured Tobacco Varieties

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 84, Issue 3, 15 March 1952, Page 199

Trials of Flue-cured Tobacco Varieties

TO obtain the best returns from a crop of tobacco the most suitable variety must be grown. Choice of variety is governed by soil and climate, the same varieties producing different results under varying conditions. So much is this the case that usually each country has developed its own group of varieties most suited to its local requirements. To determine those most suited to New Zealand conditions field trials of flue-cured varieties have been carried out at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research's Tobacco Research Station, Motueka, for a number of years. In this article R. Thomson, Director of the Station, describes the results of these trials. THE tobacco-growing district in New Zealand is relatively compact, being confined to Waimea County of the Nelson Province. There is a fairly wide range of soil types, but the climate is much less diversified. While individual variations, such as in the prevalence of wind or earliness of frosts, do occur, in a broad sense the climate throughout the growing district is reasonably uniform. For this reason the requirements of the district probably would be met by a much smaller number of varieties of tobacco than would be the case in a country where there was a greater range of both soil and climate. Before the establishment of tobacco growing in this country New Zealand was entirely dependent on the United States for its tobacco requirements, either directly as raw leaf or indirectly through manufactured products. The public taste was therefore built up on Virginia-type leaf and it was necessary that the characteristics of any leaf grown in New Zealand should conform fairly closely to those of the imported article which it would eventually replace. With this objective obviously the first varieties to be grown here would be those which were in general cultivation in the United States. Some of these had definite shortcomings in yield or quality, and subsequent trials have had the object of finding a variety

which would give a good return to the grower and at the same time not differ too widely from the imported leaf in quality.

TABLE I—YIELD PER ACRE OVER A PERIOD OF 7 YEARS Yield of H. Yield as Yield per acre No. of Sp. 215 for % of H. Variety 1942-43 1944-45 1945-46 1946-47 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50 Average years same period Sp. 215 lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. Harrisons Special 215 .. 1354 1642 1824 1958 1415 1699 2015 1701 7 1701 100.0 Harrisons Special 218 .. 1147 1253 1304 1406 ' 883 765 . 1126 6 1649 ' 68.4 Special 400 .. .. 1246 1451 1825 1701 1287 1415 1487 6 1649 90.2 Special 401 .. .. 1788 1757 1466 1670 3 1732 92.8 Special 402 . . . . 1636 1434 1194 1421 3 1691 84.0 Yellow Special . . .. 1239 1380 1735 1451 3 1808 80.3 Broadleaf . . . . 1478 1277 1455 1867 1519 4 ' 1694 89.7 Gold Dollar .. .. 1017 1031 1400 1149 3 1607 71.5 White Mammoth '.. 1021 1198 ‘ 1110 2 1498 73.5 Yellow Mammoth .. 1107 1127 1377 1204 3 1607 74.9 Virginia Bright Leaf .. 993 884 939 2 1498 62.6 Jamaica Wrapper .. 784 557 671 2 1498 44.8 Cash 824 483 . 654 2 1498 43.7 Bonanza 984 ' 914 949 2 1498 63.3 Mammoth Gold . . .. 894 860 877 2 1498 58.6 W. S. Orinoco .. .. 1072 976 1024 2 1498 68.4 Duquesne .. .. 1204 861 1033 2 1498 69.0 Meadows Giant .. .. 1204 1204 1 1354 89.0 Oxford 1 .... 928 928 1 1415 65.6 Oxford 3 877 858 868 2 1557 ' 55.8 Oxford 26 . . .. 1083 1083 1 1415 76.6 Delray 1518 1500 1509 2 1891 79.8 Delcrest 1079 • 1260 1170 2 1857 63.0 C-7/46 943 943 1 2015 46.8 C-10/46 1152 1152 1 2015 57.2

Material and Methods , ~ ~ , . , The first trials included all the chief varieties that were in general cultivation m the United States. As-informa-tion was gained on these they were dropped from the trial and other more recent introductions included. In addition to varieties from the United States, flue-cured tobaccos were received from Canada and Rhodesia and these were tested for their performance under local conditions. Plots consisted of 100 plants each. At the beginning of the trials, when a large number of varieties was under consideration, it was not possible to

grow more than two replications. Early trials indicated some definitely unsuit - able varieties, and by omitting these it was possible to increase the number of replications to four. Trials were continned over a varying number of years. If a variety possessed some outstanding defect, such as extreme susceptibility to black root rot, or an undesirable i ea type, it was discarded after 1 or 2 years. On the other hand varieties showing promise were carried on up to 6 seasons. All received the same cultural and fertiliser treatment One weak point in the trials was the necessity to cure all the varieties together in the same kiln, and as all did not have the same leaf characteristics, this obviously reacted to the detriment of some lines. With such a large number of varieties in trials extending over varying

numbers of years some difficulty was experienced in presenting the results in a form which would enable the necessary comparisons to be made. This was overcome in Table 1 by showing the average yield per acre over the period the particular variety was included in the trials, the average yield of the standard variety Harrisons Special 215 over the same period, and the yield of the variety expressed as a percentage of Harrisons Special 215.

In Table 2 the yields of a number of varieties grown on land infected with black root rot are set out. Infection of the area was uniform but not heavy and was most evident in the early stages of growth.

TABLE 2—YIELD PER ACRE OF VARIETIES GROWN ON SOIL INFECTED WITH BLACK ROOT ROT as Yield tier acre No. of 215 for % of Variety 1944-45 1945-46 1946-47, 1947-48 1948-49 Average years H. Sp. 215 Harrisons Special 215 .. .. 1486 2235 2185 1998 1601 1901 5 1901 60 - Harrisons Special 218 .. .. 735 1298 1342 1646 728 1150 a 95.2 Special 400 1277 2222 2020 2180 1402 1820 5 19'H j Special 401 2055 . 1817 - 1931 1934 .. .3 -13. Special 402 1913 1984 1190 ibVP o 1969 83 6 Yellow Special .. .. .. 1210 1958 1770 1646 , 2 210 68 , 0 Broadleaf 1532 1472 74g , 1601 - 46 .6 Oxford 1 7fiB 1137 2 1799 63.2 Oxford 3 1666 768 1131 - t 799 83 , 2 , Oxford 26 .■• • I|ls 768 1142 , - 2139 83 .1 Delray 1814 1632 1884 <*< t 59.0 Delcrest p ”

In both tables Harrisons Special 215 has given the highest yield. Harrisons Special 218 on clean land has yielded considerably less and on infected land less still. The Special 400 tobaccos have . all yielded well, but none equalled the yield of Harrisons Special 215. Under conditions in which black root rot prevailed their yield has been equally high, demonstrating that under these conditions they possess a fair degree of resistance. On clean land the Broadleaf variety is a relatively high yielder, but on infected land the yield is greatly reduced. The yields of all the other varieties are relatively low. Notes on Varieties Harrisons Special 215 grows fairly erect. The leaf is broad at the base with a good spread, tapering off to a point. The upper leaves generally fill out well. Body and texture are both good. The variety produces very few laterals, which adds to its popularity with growers. It has a moderate tolerance to black root rot, producing good yields under conditions of light infection. but sometimes failing where.infection is heavy. It is a consistently high yielder. The variety known as Harrisons Special 218 is not Harrisons Special, but has been grown in New Zealand under that name for many years. The plant is semi-erect. The leaf is narrow, tapering to a narrow point. The upper leaves are small. The body and texture are very good and the variety is very easy to handle in the kiln. It is very susceptible to black root rot and has gone entirely out of favour, except for new land, on which it does not grow as rank as Harrisons Special 215. Broadleaf is a local name; the origin of the variety is not. known, except that it came from the United States. It grows fairly tall and the leaves are well spaced on the stem and stand out fairly well. The leaf is very broad, oval, and with a good spread, the upper leaf usually developing well. The texture is thin and the leaf cures out bright. Broadleaf appears to be particularly suited to soil of the Moutere

type. It is very susceptible to black root rot AOO HpwAinnpd in th TTnWfcfi about 19401 The Plant tho I’paf is broad putters 6 and’ lugs are ?SledwX and the width into d the a unner leaves The texture is fine and the Colour usually S ThP var?etv nroduSes laterals freely.’ It has about the same field resistance to black root rot as Harnsons Special 215. It is suitable for growing where the broadleaf type is desired and root rot is a limiting factor Special 401 is of the same general type as 400. It is taller growing and the leaves are spaced farther apart on the stem and . are not quite so wide. The texture is fine and the quality good. There is doubt as to whether it is quite as resistant to black root rot as Special 400. Special 402 resembles Special 400, but the leaf is broader. The upper leaf is usually particularly good. he texbrieh? ThVvarietv produces laterals freely and is definitely less resistant to root rot than is Special 400. v _n_„, Qiwnial in Growth has been indistinguishable from Special 400, but the yield has been consistently less than from that variety..

Gold Dollar, White Mammoth, Yellow Mammoth, Virginia Bright Leaf, Jamaica Wrapper, Cash, Bonanza, Mammoth Gold, W. S. Orinoco,, and Duquesne are distinct varieties and have their own characteristics. However, they have certain features in common which for the purpose of the trial justifies grouping them. They all have a narrow, tapering leaf, which under New Zealand conditions appears T? n grow narrower than it does a leaf United States. Each produces a leaf aS v tocureand each which Is fairly pach iS f S varieties, Gold Dollar, White Mammoth, and Yellow Mammoth have given the highest yields and the most consisen quality. They are not recommended for general cultivation, but on new land may no grow as rank as Harrisons Special 215. Duquesne, a Canadian variety, is the earliest variety of all and as such may have a specific value. Meadows Giant is a South African variety. It belongs to the “Mammoth” type of tobacco which does not flower except under short-day conditions. At the Tobacco Research Station it has produced up to 80 leaves without any sign of inflorescence. The leaf is not large and the quality is poor.

Delray is raised in Canada. The plant is not tall, the ■ growth is spreading, and the leaf is narrow, running off to a point. It cures out very bright and has good body and texture, but the midrib is very thick. It is susceptible to black root rot. Delcrest is a later introduction from Canada than Delray. Growth is semierect. The leaf is broad at the base, tapering off sharply to a narrow point. The texture and body are good and the leaf generally cures out well to a bright colour. The midrib tends to be heavy. . Of the varieties tested so far, Delcrest is the flue-cured variety most resistant to black root rot. C-7/46 and C-10/46 are from Rhodesia. They produce long narrow leaves, with very poor spread. Growth of laterals is profuse. Both varieties are susceptible to black root rot. Oxford Varieties The Oxford varieties were raised specifically for resistance to certain diseases. Thus Oxford 1 and 3 are resistant to black shank and Oxford 26 to Granville wilt. When they were released it was acknowledged that they were not all that could be desired in quality, but the need for diseaseresistant lines was so urgent that it was deemed advisable to distribute them. The three varieties are susceptible to black root rot. Oxford 1 is a variety of the Harrisons Special 218 type. The leaves are long, narrow, and pointed, and growth is semi-drooping. The cured leaf generally tends to be orange, heavy bodied, and slightly harsh in texture. Oxford 3 in general growth is similar to Oxford 1. The leaf is long and narrow, with medium body. The cured leaf has a distinctive olive-green cast and a pungent aroma. Oxford 26 is a distinctive variety with erect growth and leaves standing out sharply from the stem. The leaf is short, wide, and heart shaped; the

cured leaf is generally lemon, of fine texture and medium body.

Discussion Of all the varieties under trial, Harrisons Special 215 has consistently outyielded the others, at the same time producing a good-quality leaf. It has a moderate degree of resistance to black root rot and its characteristic of producing relatively few laterals makes it additionally attractive to growers. The variety grown as Harrisons Special 218 has almost disappeared from commercial culture. It falls into what is known locally as the narrowleaved group of varieties, and as such is not in favour with either growers or manufacturers. In addition it is extremely susceptible to black root rot. Because of their similar growth and their susceptibility to root rot, a number of distinct varieties has been included in the same group. Their yield is low and their only possible place in New Zealand tobacco growing would be on “new” tobacco land, where they do not grow as rank as Harrisons Special 215. Broadleaf has proved to be a good variety . where a wide leaf of fine texture is required, but it is also very susceptible to black root rot. Of the 400 group, Special 400 has Droved to be the best. Its yield has been consistently high and it possesses greater root-rot resistance than the others. It is a broad-leaved, finetextured variety and should be grown where Broadleaf has been eliminated by root rot. The Canadian varieties have proved disappointing. Although Delcrest showed a high degree of resistance to root rot, its yield even under clean conditions was too low to recommend it for general'cultivation, although the leaf was of high quality. The Oxford varieties were produced for resistance to specific diseases, and as these diseases have not been re-corded-in New Zealand these tobaccos have no place under local conditions.

Farm Tree Planting

LATE winter or early spring is the normal season for tree planting in localities where there are neither hard frosts nor strong winds. The best time depends also on the type of soil; with heavy soils in areas of strong winds it is best to delay tree planting until the soil dries out somewhat to keep the trees firmly fixed in the ground. In light soils and with early-spring winds planting can be started best in autumn so that trees get well established before conditions become dry. -Early in winter the land should be prepared. for planting. Ploughing either' completely or in narrow strips for tree lines is good, especially in weedy areas, but this cultivation should be done some months before planting so that the ground can consolidate sufficiently to hold the trees firmly in wind. If stock have access to the area, adequate double fencing must of course be erected before planting is started. Planting Methods The method of planting depends on the type of land; for example, trees should be notched into a ploughed strip in heavy soils or pit-planted or notchplanted in light soils on fern or scrub land. Where quick initial growth is required, as in homestead planting,

some well-rotted farmyard manure or compost may be ploughed into the soil or incorporated with soil at the bottom of the pits so that it cannot come into direct contact with the roots. Planting Stock The quality of planting stock is important. A good fibrous root is of more value than a tall, heavy top, and smaller trees 9in. to 12in. high can adjust themselves more readily to the rougher conditions of the plantation site. Trees raised on the farm should be prepared for lifting by .periodic wrenching in the nursery from the time they are 4in. to sin. high; this will increase the fibrous roots. Certain species such as Cupressus macrocarpa, Cupressus benthami, and some Eucalyptus, are sometimes difficult to establish, and if this occurs, specially “balled” or “trayed” trees should be used. These are more costly than openrooted plants but are reliable. They should be ordered some months before planting time. Full information on this subject is contained in Departmental Bulletin No. 346, “Homestead Shelter Planting”. —M. SUTHERLAND, . Farm Forestry Officer, Department of Agriculture, Wellington

“Forest Taxation in Europe and New Zealand” IN the past there has been considerable misunderstanding among farmers of the ramifications of New Zealand law that governs the taxation of growing or mature tree crops. All farmers and others who are concerned with this important matter will welcome the very comprehensive and complete survey of the subject which has been made by M. B. Grainger, Forest Economist, in information series Bulletin No. 11 of the New Zealand Forest Service. The long-term nature of tree growing with which is involved a system of irregular expenditure and intermittent income makes forest taxation a difficult matter to deal with equitably between owner and State interests and yet encourage the expenditure necessary to establish and maintain growing tree crops efficiently. The author examines the existing status of forest taxation in New Zealand and compares it with the systems used in various timber growing countries of Europe. He has compiled a list of certain anomalies which exist in . the New Zealand system and which in many cases definitely mitigate against increased farm tree planting, as, for example, in shelter belt planting where formerly it has not been allowable to deduct costs of establishment before assessment for income tax, or, again, where farm trees may become a liability through the charging of death duties on the value of the standing timber, a process which may be repeated more than once in the life of the trees. Chapter VIII is the most important section for the New Zealand farmer, as anomalies are enumerated and means for their correction are suggested, while in Appendix 111 the taxation concessions granted by recent legislation are set out clearly. —M.S. New Zealand Forest Service. ss. 9d. “An Experiment in Forestry”: N. D. G. James THE story of 10 acres of trees laid out 46 years ago in experimental plots of various species and combinations at Cirencester in England is told in this book. As so often happens in research, inspection and management of the plantations were affected by economic circumstances and the trees were subjected to periods of total neglect during two world wars. To British tree growers the descriptions of these plots are of definite value in assessing the comparative and competitive growths of different species used on one type of good agricultural, but mostly unsuitable forest, soil. The book demonstrates the possibilities and dangers of variety planting in mixed crops, a point which is little appreciated in New Zealand, where the ease of growing Pinus radiata has during this century coloured, the whole practice of farm tree planting. —M.S. Basil Blackwell, Oxford. 10s. 6d.