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1998

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»«c»ocory risoiution tbt chart

(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No 2)

/APPLIED IIVHGE In

1653 East Mom Street

Rochester, Nem York U609 USA

(716) 482 - 0300 - Ptione

("6) 288 - 5989 - To.

DEPARTMENT OP^ AGRICITLTURE

OTTAWA, PANADA.

TOIiACKX) DIVISION

( P»'<'liiniii;uv iiolt^s )

F. CHARLAN.

Tobacco nullolin ^N'o. A-lO

Published by direction of the Hon. SYDNEY A. FISHER, Minister of Agriculture,

Ottawa, Ont.

( >t"l'<)HKI«, I'UU

DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE

OTTAWA. CANADA.

TOBACCO DIVISION

( Pi'olimiiiiii'v iiott'is)

BY

F. CHABIAN.

Tobacco Bulletin ISTo. A-IO

Published by direction of the Hon. SYDNEY A. FISHER, Minitter of Agriculture,

Ottawa, Ont.

10110—1

OCTOBER, lOlO

To tbe Honourable,

The Minister of Agriculture.

Sa:—

I beg to aubmit herewith Bulletia No. A- 10 of the Seriea of the Tobacco Divis-
ion, entitled : " Tobacco growing in British Columbia," which contains a summary of
obserrationa made during a recent trip in British Columbia.

The following points of int. reat for tobacco growers in British Columbia are
diacuseed in this bulletin: the situation of tobacco culture in that part of the
Dominion, and its possibilities from a purely agricultural point of view. Some advice
is given for the guidance of beginners, who may not have found in our previous
publicationa prepared especially for Ontario and Quebec growers, the information
which they are in need of.

I beg to recommend that this bulletin be printed for distribution.

I have the honour to be, air.

Your obedient servant,

F, CHARLAN,

Chief of th$ Tobaeeo Divinon.
Ottawa, October 1910.

10110— IJ

TOBAC(X) HKOWING IN HKITISH COLUMBIA.

(Pbkuminaiiv Notm)

HV

F. CIIAIILAN.

Wliile in Ilriiisli Culumhia, .liiriiiif tlu> latter part of Aiifrimt l!»Ut, the writer
had nil opportunity to sre ttnn.iint; crcps of tol.up.yi in flie Okaiiatfiin valley.

The obBer\olioii« mmlo iit tlint tinio are pn'<'cnte.l in bulletin form, for tlio
guidance of intendinjr tobiioio irrowors in Uritinh Columbia and to help actual grower*
to improve their mclluMlK.

AlthouRh fairly well pntablishe.!. tfJ.iicv, srowintr in the Okanauan vnll»\v i* not.
an yet, entirply out of the c-xiM'riiurnlnl sta«i'. and ««• wi-h to p.iint out hen- -oiiii'
impor^int quostions thnt require elucidation, and the means whereby tliew question--
ean )>e nolved.

TOBACCO OROWINO CENTRES.

There is practically only one centre of tobacco culture: the Okannnan valley mid
chiefly Kelowna. where this branch of farming is still quite new. It \s only ten
years since the first tobacco crop worthy of mention was grown in this district, but
the industry hiis since progressed rapidly.

TTntil 100!) the prowcrs were few in number, and the production of tobacco in
Kelowna hardly excelled 40.000 or C0,000 pounds; a larger area was planted in 1910,
but even then the totJil land in tobacco was not more than 70 or 75 acres. This is
quite insufRcient considering the quality of Kelowna tobacco and its well deserved
reputation, .ind we may expect t» see the txital amount of tobacco produ(e<l ten times
as large at an early date.

Possibly, tobacco jtrowiiig had been tried in other pnrtx of British C.ilumbin. but
practically none of thtec trial* was heard of until 1910. In 189:V94 an experiment
was starteil at the Dominion Ex!>eriinental Farm at Agassiz. but this experiment
was not resumed, although the results were said to be eiicounitring by tlic exiierts to
whom llie products were submitted.

In 1910 there was a marke<l tenilency in favour of tobacco culture in British
Columbia. Nunierou.s applications for 8ee<ls were received from ditTcreut parts of
the province by the Tobneco Division, and a careful experiment was undertaken by i\
large company, "The British Columbia Horticultural Estate. Limited," of Wnlbachin.
B.C. This exjierimeiit, if continued, might bring about a rapid increase in the pro-
duction of tobacco in the province. The movement is not likely to stop and it may
be a.«sume<l that, nt an early date, in all parts of the province where pood agricul-
tural lands of sufficient size are to be found, tobacco will be one of the main crops.

5

CLIMATE.

British Columbia, or rather the southern part of British Columbia, from the
main line of the Canadian Pacific to the international boundary, may be considered
as a country with a temperate climate. Winter is comparatively short and mild,
the summer only fairly hot, less so than in some parts of Ontario or even of Quebec,
siiring and fall arc very fine. However, owing to the great difference in rainfall, the
roRion must be divided into two parts, sharply defined, the part where irrigation is
prncticcd and without which it would be very difficult to secure satisfactory crops,
and the part under more favourable conditions, where irrigation is not necessary,
the rain being more frequent, and the precipitatirn evenly distributed during the
whole of the year. Thus there will be two kinds of tobacco of a very different typo,
tliat grown on irrigated land and the other on non-irrigated land.

However, until the present time, tobacco growing was practically limited to the
Kelowna valley (irrigated part) and only " irrigated " tobacco was produced. Soon,
however, new centres will open in non-irrigate<l districts and then it wiU be possible
to compare the two products so diffcroit in principle.

The following observations apply r )re particularly to the Okanagan valley;
however, with slight modifications, they may be of some use to future tobacco growers
in other parts of the province. Besides, nn endeavour will be made to divide the
subject matter under two heads: tobacco growing on irrigate*! soils and on non-im-
gatcd soils,

CHARACTER OF THE SOIL.
The soils of the Okanagan valley which have been selected for tobacco growing
consist of a rather light coloured, grayish loam, light and deep, contaii.inf: a krge
proportion of organic matter, and with a subsoil generally of a very porous nature.

Heavier soils have, at times, been utilized for tobacco culture and, naturally, the
product obtained had a stronger taste. The presence of white alkali is not considered
as an objection, unless it is in such proportion that the consistency of the «oil is
affected; it is a fact that the best burning tobaccos are grown on alkali Unds. Un-
fortunately, while fermenting, such tobaccos become covered with a white efflores-
cense which, although it does not injure the quality of the product, detracts from its
appcnranco nn.l nmy ren.lcr the sale of loaf tobacco difficult ^^\^vn dealing with manu-
facturers who are not awnrc of this peculiarity.

Tobacco has also boon grown on l)onoh land, in the immediate vicinity of
Kelowna. The pro.hiot obtained is far from boiuB equal to that of the valley, the
loaves being ratlKr .oarso in toxturo and the pi-roentatio of nicotine higlwr. It
should be stal.-.!, however, that this tol)acco was grown by inexperienced farmers.
rri.l.al.ly, irrif-Mtion was carried to an excess, topping was done a little too low (that
is to say tho nunil.or of Uhvos left on tiio plant was too .small) and harvesting a little
to,, late. Such niistakos can oa>ily U- avoided, and it cannot be said, at present,
that the benches of Kelowna are unfit for tobacco growing. At first sight, however,
the soils of the valley appear to be preferable. But the proximity of the lake is not
wilbont objections. The groiind water is at a shallow depth in the porous sub-soil
of the Kelowna valley, and irrigation must bo practised with caution, or else the
pffp^^ might be more injurious than useful, on account of the imperfect drying of
the Burfico soil and of the top part of the subsoil.

VARIETIES.

The two main varieties are the Cuban and the ConiKtock Spanish. The Cuban
yields an aromatic tobacw, with a sliort leaf, which is useil as filler in the manu-
facture of cigars; the Comstoek tobacco lias a light aroma and a fine texture and is
used for binders. The ribs are more prominent in leaves of the same thickneas in
Kelowiia grown Comstocks than in Eastern Comstocks. As to the (;;ubans, none of
the producU obtained in other parts of the Dominion can be compared to them.
Their burning quality and their aroma are of a high order. They will head the list
for a long time among ' filler ' tobaccos of Canadian growth.

The Comstoc-ks grown in the valley are from seed imported from Wisconsin and
acclimatized since several years. The Cubans are also from Canmlian seed, which has
been obtained from seed imported from Cuba and renewed after two oi three genera-
tions. The leaf of the Canadian Cuban is slightly larger than *hat of the original
Cuban and it increases in size as tho sce<l is produced in Canada. Unfortunately,
this increase in size is obtained at the exi)ongc of armiia, and this is why growers have
to use imported seeds periodically.

However it is not known as yet what aroma could be secured by growing entirely
acclimatized Cuban coeds, and it would be interesting to ascertain how far the
Caniidiiin Cuban would increase in size and what would be the final aroma.

Judging by the money returns, tlicse two varieties are about equal. A good
aromatic ' filler ' will sell at a higher price than a good ' binder '. but the latter will
yield abo\it twice as nuich in weight on the s.ime area. On the other hand aromatic
tobaccos must be handled with much greater care than binder tobaccoe, particularly
during the curing process. However the growing of ' fillers ' appears to bo a safe
industry for the tobacco grower of British Columbia. There is as yet no competition
;ri this branch, and competition will always be comparatively difficult while excellent
•binders' are produced in Eastern Canada, and at such cost that they may easily
compete with British Columbia products. The British Columbia grower has a better
protection in tho climate of his i>rovinpe, which allows him to secure an aromatic
"roihut almost unique in Canada, than in his remoteness from the tobacco growing
centres of the East, and in the high rates of transportation across the Rockies.

SEEDLINGS.

On account of the mild climate of Uieir province, British Columbia growrrs do
not have to go to tho expense of making hot-beds as must Quebec and sometimes
Ontario growers.

Even glazed sashos can be done away with, although they nniy be useful at times
to stimulate the growth of late seedlings. A good frame with 12 in. x 1 in. boards
sunk in the ground to the depth of 4 in. x 5 in. and covered with a light cotton
cover is all that is required in Okauagnn to protect tlio young seetllings against severe
wcatlior and the sudden changes of temperature that may occur during the first part
of tlie spring.

Provision should be made for the draining away of rain-water. The cotton
oover may be set up as a tent, with sloping sides held up at the central part of the
Ix-d with a longitudinal bar which is supported by posts a few inches above the level

8

of tlie frame, or, again, the frames may be given a slope of about one inch per foot
in the same direction as the exposure of the be<la. The best exposure is south or
southeast, in a place sheltered from the cold winds, but not shaded.

A layer of vegetable cartli or mould, from 4 to 5 inches thick, is <iuite sufficient.
Where vegetable earth cannot be had in sufficient quantity, a l>ed of gof^l light soil,
nwnuretl during the previous year or sprinkled with liquid manure, may I>o made and
covered with a thin layer of sifted vegetable earth, from 1 to 2 inches in thickness.
It is important that liquid manure sprinklings, which are sometimes used to fertilize
the soil, should be done before the beginning of winter. In all cases, the soil shovild
be turned over with a shovel as often as possible. This shovelling of the Hoil is a
very cheap preventive remedy against mould or various diseaacs that would otiierwiso
apjiear later upon the beds and check the t,-X)wth of young seedlings. It will be all the
more efficient if it is done in cold and dry weather, before the earth freezes up.

Wide beds should be avoidetl. They may be 88 long as the grower requires and
as the place will permit, but the width should \>c such that all parts of the be<l may bo
easily reached. A good width is four feet and it should never be more tlian live feet.
The surroundings of the beds shnubl be kept as clean as po^-^ililc and all wfciis care-
fully destroyed.

With roiiard to seeding, the reader is referred to our previous publications on
this subject, bulletins Xos. A-1. A-8 and A-9 of the Tobacco Divi.sion. Ix>t us insist,
however, on the importance of thin seeding.

Cold beils. with a cotton cover and seeilcil with dry setd. may yield see<lliiis9
ready f'>r settinjt out 00 or 75 days after seeding, according to temperature. It will
be safer to prepare several l>eils and seed them at intervals of a few ilays. Karly be^ls
wiii be u^eil iVr setting out or to start the work, and later beds for the latter part of
the ?e;tins out, ~' as to avoid any undue haste in this work, and for replacini? dead
plants.

As si>in as tlie work of settiig out and resetting is complete*!, the beds shoidd be
entirely turner! over with a s'.ovel and tiw soil put under shelter until the time has
come to rejrenerate it. To leave the beiis as they are, with the unused seedlings,
until they ;!re infe-feil by wet-'tj. is a great mistake.

SETTING OUT.

The setting o;;t • r transplai.ting -hoald be done at the earliest possible date. In
the Okanagan valley this work may safely be starte<l in the latter half of May. An
ear'y setting out offers u-any advantaires. If the land has been well prepari-il by d.eep
fa!! pi' iigl-.ii:!:. it will iiave st'jrei a lanze quantity of water, and will therefore rt-piiro
only (.•omparatively li^'ht irrigati n; it will dry better, will easily get int.i gixxl con-
dition and the see<lliiiir* will tind all that is require^l for a quick gn.nvth: a moi-',
C';ni;>act an! rcellow soil. A soil that has not been well prepare<l and vvhi 'h. tl>re-
t'fu. requires abund'-'nt irria:ation at a riither lafe date, is apt t" bt.. Ux< AAmn at fh.-
S' rfa.'e an.! to dry impen'ei'tly.

When setting out is done early, on a well prepareil soil, the se^Uings take root
evenly an-t well, and if cultivati'u i< starte<l early, as soon as the plantation is well
«faid'-il:e>i ar- i whe-i re«ett!n.r is comi>lete<l. most of the moisture stored in the -oil
w'ii be iiept t:',':-''. ILe sir' w. ii wiii l-e rx-uolar. tlie vit-i.t iu wei^ii.t prorita^ie ar-l tr.r

f

leaves la-.Re and of fine t. \lure. It would l)0 impossible to obtain ii Kfwi leaf if the
I^ants wore oxposwl to porimJs of droiiftbt or hiimi<lil.v.

ScltiiiK out niny bo doiio by haml or by niBpliino. Mncbiiio work is very satis-
factory and miu-li choniior tbnn hniid work. It will bo iiocissury, however, to look
carefully over earh row after tho inachino Iuh |>Bs«od, nnd reset iwiy plants that may
have been set too <le«'p or not deep enoiiifli, a* sometimes luipiH-ns. This work may
easily be done by a child followini^ the maehino.

Distances n;mr/.— (lenerally siH^akiiijf tho fields of tobnoeo s<y<ii l>v the writer were
set too wide apart. Of course it is vcrj- desirable thai sufficient spiice should be left
b<>twecn the rows I,. ;dlow for hor-e cultivation a« Iouk as |»issil.lc. but it should not
be forjrottcn that settiuf; too fur apart results in a dccrcascl yield and in the pro-
duction of tohac'o with a thicker leaf and loo bijib a iktc. iitjine of nicotine.

A ConistiM-k plantation s<'t out at ;10 in. x IH in. is very easily cultivate.1. For
tho Cuban variety tiic ilisianccs apart should not exceed .">0 in. x l.'i in.

The ground sbo\dd bo gone over with a c\dtivator every ten days, as long as
IK)ssiblc. an.l a iitlh- earth should be brought up apauist the plants each time, so as
to hill them \ip slightly. This work should be stopped only when there is danger of
injuring the plants. Cultivation should gradually get shallower; tlie main obj.vt of
this work, when all the wecils have been destroyed, is to check cvuporatiou an.l th\is
keep as long as possibk; tho moisture stored in the soil and iu tho top part of tho
subsoil.

Weeding should ho done at first with the hand boo aiul the ground should be
stirred around each plant. This work gives a further opportiinity to make sure that
the machine work was well done and to correct all defects.

Cleaninri or removal of the boltom leaves. — This work, which consists in the
removal of the lower leaves, wl-.ich are almost in contact with the soil, is ncglocted in
Okanngan. This is a mistake, as the lower leaves are of po<ir tcxtun- and
always dirty; if removed at harvesting and left on tlie ground they are a net loss;
on the other hand, if harvesUnl with good leaves, they depreciate the crop, as they arc
a very inferior product. It is better to remove them at the lime of the last c\dfiviitioU'
so as to reserve all the food for the top leaves.

7'oppi'n(7.— Topping is generally done too late in Okanagan. With tho Ciban
varieties topping may have to be done in n special manner so as to reduco tho i)or-
centage f.f nicotine in the product. This subject will be dealt with later. l?ut with
the Comstock. it is ver>- important that topping be done early, s.> tluU top leaves may
reach a normal size and ripjn soon after the ni'uhUc leaves. In this way tlic nuiturily
of the products is more uniform wlw-n harvc-lcil.

It is a mistake to think that early topping will n-sult in a decreased number of
leaves. The terminal bud should he broken >ff by twisting it sbleways or by pinching
it between the fingers as soon as it apiiears and before it sh<iot,; up to op<^n and
form tho floral cluster. When topping is done in tliis manner, U, 1(1 and even IS
leaves are left on the plant. It is very seldom timt a larger nmnher of leaves can bo
left on Comstock Spanish plants. Topi)ing is more easily done in tho morning, when
the leaves are swollen with water and tho top of the young stem is brittle, as during
tlii- ,lsv (lie st.-ni i^ innrc elastic nvA th.ere is. daniror of tearinff or splitting.

10

Comiiock.—The Comstodt being hirrerted in the latter pert of Augurt, the top-
ping of this variety should be completed at the latest toward* the end of July. No
topping should be done after the 16th of August, even with very late crops. The
writer has seen crope of Comstock that were being topped on the 26th of August to be
harvested the next day, and in a few caaea, the same day. The top leaves of such
plants are only half grown, unripe, hard to dry, and unsuitable for wrappers.

Cuban —The leaves of this variety are comparatively small, even when Canadian
seed of the second generation has been used. Therefore the yield in weight is mu.
smaller than with the Comstock Spanish. It varies from 900 to 1,100 pounds, ana
the latter yield is obtained only when special methods are followed.

Kelowna growers, at least those who have the most experience in growing Cuban
tobacco, have a twofold object: 1. The heaviest possible yield. 2. A leaf with a light
percentage of nicotine, so that it may be utilized in the manufacture of mild cigars.
Such results may be obtained, at least to a certain extent, by close planting.
Although this method is one of the easiest and the most convenient for the growers,
it appears to have been neglected so far.

Growers prefer to resort to the growing of suckers, and to late topping. Some
crope are not topped at all, and, until the day before the harvcet, they look as though
they were kept for the production of seeds.

The Cuban is certainly one of the varieties that form the largest number of
suckers. One of its chief characteristics is the great number of low suckers. So
far as the writer has observed at Kelowna, single stem plants are by far the exception
in a crop of Cubi. >uble stem plants, which come up when a seedling has been out
early by cut wornir .in plants, and plants with suckers starting from the base form
the greater part of the crop.

Double and twin plante have generally two stems of equd strength and equal size,
and each of these stems may be treated as an ordinarj- plant and suckered and topped
according to its ^'leIlgth, but it is very seldom that suckers, even early ones, get to be
of the same size as llic mother stem. This secondary shoot is generally more slendor
and the leaves which it produces are smaller and comparatively narrower tlian those
of the wain stem. Generally they are lance-shaped.

The keepinj? of these suckers, provided they are topped at the right time,— at the
.i.nie tiire ns the main stem,— is certainly one way of increasing the yield and reduc-
ing the nicotine contents of the product. ■" •♦ a large proportion oi the leaves have ii
coarse texture, they lack elasticity, and - take on a dark hue in the curing

shed when fh<.v do not remain entirely greei.. At any rate, such s>ickers yield only a
second grade product, if not quite inferior in quality, and when this system is follow-
ed, the quality of the loaves of the main stem is also affected.

To remove these suckers at a late date, a-s for instance at the time when they
were ob^en-ed by the writer on some crops of Kelowna, in the latter part of August, is
certainly not profitable. Before resorting to such a method it wotihl be more advi-
able to try closer planting, and remove the suckers at the proper time.

However, we are not entirely opposed to iho culture of suckers. It is certainly
one way of reducinir the proportion of nicotine in the leavers and increasing the yield,
but when such a system is followed, great care is required, whilst, as a general niie.

11

it is only a pretext given by the grower, too busy with other farm crops, to care as he
should for his tobacco crop.

The same objections apply to the practice of delaying the topping until the
plants have formed their seeds. It is true that in the formation of flowers, cap-
sules and seeds, plant food is taken up, which, if not utilized in this manner, would
have increased the proportion of nicotine in the leaves; but if the topping is to be
done very late, it should at least be done at such a time that the top leaves may grow
to a rensonable Bize and ripen. As it is now, topping is too often done the day before
the ha^^•e8t. On the 26th of August, most of the crops of Cuban in Kelowna were
still in full bloom.

A mixed method of culture may have to be useil. But it seems obvious that
close planting will always be the chief factor in securing a maximum yield in weight,
as well as a leaf of light texture, not too rich in nicotine but supple enough and
gummy enough to cure well and yield an aromatic product. Such results will never
be obtained by leaving on the plant all the axillary or bottom suckers that it may
produce or by letting it almost ripen its seeds.

If these methods are to be followed, it should be with such care that all the
elements that make up the quality of a tobacco leaf, viz. : texture, good drying and
curing quality, and aroma, may be retained in their entirety.

Some growers are quite aware of the objections to these methods. They have
U9e<l them in order to reduce the proportion of nicotine in their toliacco. but they
admit that they are not satisfactory and that the question is not so simple as it
seems.

To thn)w light on the question, the following methods should be tried, separately
or in combination: 1. Total or partirl growth of suckers (these being left on the
crop or removed as the ease may be). 2. Late topping, when the flowers are open or
the capsules are almost formed. 3. Close planting; and the effect of these metho'l<»
on the following should be ascertained:

The yield in woight.
The te.xture of the leaf.
The curing quality.
The fermentation.
The prnportidu of nicotine.
The aroma.

This will be the object of an exiMjrinierit which will be startwl at an e.-^rly date.
However, this experiment does not involve any technioal difficulties, ami any grower
who desires to get the most of his crop may undortakf it for liiin.self.

HARVESTING.

In the Okantigan .listrii-t, the growth of the toba'o plant is not quite so rapid
as in the eastern parts of Canada. At Ottawa or in the neighbourhood of Montreal,
the Cuban variety ripens in 70 or 75 days, whilst in the valley of Kelowna it require*
90 days to ripen. And apparently this period is not long enough, as the Cubans that
were being harvested on the 26th of August were much too green and should have
been left on the Scld S or 10 days longer in order to ripen properly.

19

Of course the season of 1910 has been exceptional, as unusually cold weather
occurred during the latter part of Augrust, but nothing had been done to hasten the
ripening of the crop. The topping of the Cuban was barely started on the 25th of
August. A very queer state of things was observed by the writer: A grower who
had a splendid crop of Comstock, a little over-ripe, and a fine crop of Cuban, under-
ripe, was harvesting the Cuban, running thereby the risk of getting a green tobacco
and n filler lacking in aroma, and was leaving his Comstock ripening still more with
the risk of hnrvesting thick ' binders,' with a strong proportion of nicotine.

It should not be forgotten that the curing or drying of tobacco is not merely a
ilessication of the leaf, pure and Hiinplc. During the curing process, the leaf under-
goes changes which prepare it for fermentation, during which the aroma develops.
This appHre particularly to the cigar loaf. This transformation cannot take place
r.nless the wi ither is warm enough. The Okanngan climate and the climate of similar
parts of British Columbia is exceedingly mild and remarkably regular, but in the fall
the days are never very hot and the nights, even in summer, are almost always cool.
All things being equal, the temperature of the curing sheda, during tlie months of
August and September, is probably lower than in the curing sheds of Quebec and
Ontario. Therefore, harvesting should be done early, so as to take advantage of the
real hot day^ of August and perhaps of Septemlier. so that the curing may be satisfac-
torj-. This can be done if .he seedlings are set out as early as advised in anotlier part
of the bulletin. In this respect the Okanagan gro- er is greatly favoured, as he can
jrct his land into shape much earlier than the Quebtx; or even the Ontario grower, as
in these provinces the work i.s often delayed by unfavourable temperature. There
may be some truth in the assertion that by getting out the seedlings in the middle of
.T>me one can avoid the evil effects of the drought, which often occurs during the
month of .July and which stiniulntos the growth of flower, in the plants, but the same
results will be obtained by early setting out. Full grown tobacco will stand the
drought better than younger plants and by starting cultivation earlier it is easier to
keep the moisture in the soil.

Tobacco requires a large quantity of water to grow to full size and yield products
>if good quality. But the excess of water is perhaps its greatest foe. The writer i?
■rinvinced that the excess of irrigation or too late irrigation is more to be feared than
ilie drought in Okanagan.

Therefore, the best way to secure f' '1 grown plants able to stand the drought of
.Inly and in good condition fo' harvesting fi^m the 15lh to the 30th of August, plants
that cnn be put in the onring house at the most favour.able time to insure a rapid
curing, is to prepare the land early in the fall by deep ploughing, and to irrigate
early and moderately in liie sjiring. harrow as soon as the land is dry enough, and set
out early.

As to the curing nf tcliaeco, we shall not repeat here what has already been stated
in previous publii'iitinns, nii<l particularly in Bulletin No. A-H. But we desire to call
t)ie attention of the Keiownn grower to one particular point: the first stage of th*
curing sliould not be pushed too fast, so tliat the yellowing of the leaves may take
place perfectly. A great deal of the Kelowna tobacco is cured green or slightly so.
This is a great objection from a manufacturing point of view, but such tobacco surely
comes from i»l- which are harveste.! while yet unripe, or from plants the cnring
of which has been pushed too rapidly at first.

13

Wc truat that Kelowna growers who may recognize their methods here described
will not consider the above as a criticism but merely as a discussion. We fully recog-
niie the superior quality of Okanogan improved tobacco, and we would like to see
this quality still improved by better mcthoils of culture, and the profits of the British
Columbia grower increawsl Uiereby. - No one will deny that there is still room for im-
provement.

All that hss been said applies equally to all parts of British Columbia where
irrigation is practised.

In some valleys, irrigation is not practise<l, although the rainfall ia light.
Tobaeco grown under such oonditions is what might be called ' dry soil tobacco.'

In those diatricta it will be necessary to till t)ie land thoroughly in the fall and
in the spring so aa to store m much moisture as poseible. The growing of Cuban
only should be attempted; Brazilian varieties might perhaps lie tried; but, in any case,
no largo tobacco may be e.xpected.

The maritime parts of the province, where rainfall is abundant, and whose climate
may be considered as moist, have much more of the character of a tropical region. The
Cuban tried at Agassiz yielded very large leaves, fine and silky. The aroma has not
been definitely ascertained, but the experiment may be resumed bo aa to obtain infor-
mation on this point.

In this warm and damp region, the grower's fancy may have free course in the
choice of varieties. He should not forget, however, that it is better to limit the
number of the latter, so as not to overstock the market with rather small quantities
of products without neatly defined characteristics.

Tobacco for "fillers" must be light and aromatic, and such qualities we must
have, even at the expense of a decrease in weight

Leaves for " binders " or " wrappers " must be fine, elastic, M of sufficient size, and
of good shape, without coarse ribs, and with a neutral aroma. Which of these types
is best adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of tlxose districts of British Colum-
bia where tobacco-growing is likely to be established remains to be ascertained by
proper experiments.

BULLETINS ON THE GROWING OF TOBACCO.

No A— 1 — Pi(|)aiiitioii of tlif scidlintjs ,\ni\ thr cur to l,i' ^^\\>■u ilit-iii

No A— 2- I'litilizcis 111 fobiitco (iiliiiii

No, A— 3 — Tlic mouiii^ ol' tolnuci).

No A — 4. — Report on tlie tobai ■ i ludiistiy in Ontario.

No A — 5 — The impoitaiirt' of rotation in tobrtrro fultnre.

No. A — 6 — Experiments cnrried on in 1908.

I. Preliminary experiments in the growinR of seed jilnnts
II. Experiments in the sterilization of soils.
III. Chemical fertilizers in tobacco ctiltnre.

No A — 7. — Brii^iit tobaccos (Viri{inia and North Carolina).

No A— 8 — F-xpen

work. 1909

I Ex|" I iii'.rnt;. Ill the throwing of seed plants.

II, SU'lillZ.lMOIl

soils, — Seed tests — Thickness of seedi

ng

III Ailv.uitagis ot' the use of honie-nroun tobacco seeds for tin-
CHiiiKiimi farmer.

Nil A — D, — Expel iiufiita! work in 190').

I E\jK'niniuial station-, tor the ;^ifiwiii5; of tobacco.

II OlKiallO!

in- toiia" II 111, null 111 the jiroviiice of Qi,

111

l""./:).

Ill E.\]U'riniciitrtl work in 1909 ai tin Harrow stK on

Stilt fii-c uiior, iiiijilii atiuii lo the Di.iiartimul o\ Aivniiilli