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MKIOCOrV RtSOUJTION TBT CHART

(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No 2)

A /APPLIED IN/MGE Inc

B" 16^3 Eos' Mo.n yreet

^^ Rochester. Ne* Yo.V 1*609 USA

(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone

(716) 288 - 5989 - Fa«

l^

\ /

lOMINION DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

OTTAWA. CANADA

TOBACCO i^ivisioisr

KEPOKT FOU THE YEAH IJtlO

1. Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa.

2. The Quebec Experimental Tobacco Stations.

3. The Harrow Station.

4. Cleaning and grading tobacco seed.

Appendix. The Tobacco Division of the Department of Agriculture.

Toba.-ro 1-iiillotiii TsTo. A-l'Ci

Published under instructions of the Hon. Sydney Fisher, Minister of Agricultur*,

Ottawa, Ont.

Al^KIL. lull

I

3- ' i

DOMINION DBPABTMBNT OF AGBICULTUHB

OTTAWA, CAlt^ADA

TOBACCO DIA^ISION

1

!

REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1910

1. Central Ezp«rimentil Farm, Ottawa.

S. The Qnebeo Experimental Tobaceo Stations.

3. The Harrow Station.

4. Cleaning and grading tobacco leed.

Appendix. The Tobacco Diviiion of the Department of Agriculture.

Tobacco Bulletin No. A.1Q,

Published under inatruotioni of th* Hon. Sydney FUhor, Miniator of Agriculture,

Ottawa, Ont.

4876—1

APRIL. 1011

Ottawa, April 18, 1011.
The Honourable

The Minister of Agriculture.

SiK, — I hare the honour to submit herewith Bulletin No. A-12, series of the
Tobacco Division, entitled ' Report for the year 1910.' This bulletin contains a report
of the work done at our various experimental stations during the season 1910-11.

An article on the nature of the work performed by our Division is given as an
appendix.

I beg to recommend that this bulletin be printed for distribution.
I have the honour to be. Sir,

Your obedient serrant,

P. OHABLAN,

Chief of the Tobaeeo Diviiion.

487«— li

OTTAWA IXFZBDIZITAL f.

During the •e«»on of 1910, the following Ttrietiee were grown on the tobacco
e«perinient«I field of the Central Fenn, OtUwa: Oonutodi Speniih, Ctnalle, Virel
•nd Ifontmilian. The two firat Tarieties were grown chiefly for the production of
seed; the other two— the Virel and Montmflian— imported from France, were teited
with 8 view of producing pipe tobacco.

Sowing was done in the usual manner. The bed* were treated with iormalin,
•own on the 20th of April, at the rate of H of an ounce per 100 iquare feet, and a
larifc niimlier of strong, healthy »eedling8, with plenty of root hair, were obtained,
and these were ready to be set out by the end of May.

Setting out was started on May 30 and completed on June 1. The weather was
damp, which facilitated the recovery of the seedlingr, but caused the soil to become
quite firm. The worms did a great deal of damage, especially on that part of the
field which has been pastured during the two previous years; o^ the other half, which
had been in hay the year before, the damage was not quite so great. On account of
the rainy weather, several applications of Furis green had to be made: it was mixed
with bran, in the proportion of one part of Paris green to fifty parts of bran. How-
ever, the insects were held in check and all dead seedlings systematically reset, a very
even stand was obtained.

During the night of June 4 a heavy frost very nearlr destroyed the whole of our
crop. Fortunately the heart of the young tobacc.i plants was, to some extent, pro-
tected by the partially grown leaves (the recovery of the seedlings not being com-
plete the leaves were yet a little wilted). The leaves died, but the majority A the
seedlings recovered, apparently at least.

This heavy frost of June 4 accounts, we think, for the comparatively large pro-
portion of plants affected with mosaic disease that were observed later ou our experi-
mental plot. It was certainly the cnuse of the unhealthy condition of a number of
plants.

On account of this accident, the proportion of plants that had at first been set
aside for seed production had to be considerably reduced. By successive selections
it was finally cut down to one-third of the original number, which was barely sufficient
to meet the demand for seed in March, 1011.

The Conistock vari' '.y grown on this experimental field came from seed produced
the year before at St. Jacques I'Achigan. The leaf is large, of a good width, with thin
ribs, and quite suitable for 'binder' purposes. Although carefully selected for two
years, it still varies slightly from the type which we are endeavouring to fix, and some
care will be necessary during the next season in order to fix this type definitely.

A different strain of Comstock was grown on another part of the experimental
field, the seed of which had been obtained two years before, from a British Columbia
grower, Mr. Holman, in the course of a trip in the Kelowna valley.

This Comstock appeared to be of a larger site than the Quebec Comstocks, and
with more prominent ribs. However, when grown at Ottawa, no great difference was

6

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ob«rved ween the product, of this Com.tock.^d tho«, "* .^ P^^^^^i^^^
£r^ M«d obtained in Wiwonsin and wUch h.d been •«^>"»'*«f " ^^''^^J^^
variet^had a common origin and. when grown on the .ame^ot, they P««««^^
Z characteristics. It may therefore be stated that »^« i*-":^;';^'^^
texture-differences^ noUceable-that exist between the Kelowna and Quebec

C^— te entirWue to the difference in ^^ P^^J ::^;X:^i;^fo ^
The large proportion of lime and the finer texture of Kelowna soils account lor ^
W s !e of the Kelowna Comstocks; .nd the more rapid growth ,s "^Pf-W-J"
the larger wiSth of the leaf. Tobacco grow, more rapidly in Kelowna. xn sp.te of

the drier atmosphere, because nitrification is more active.

A good crop was obtained with the Verel and Montm61ianva„e1.es.

These tol,.ocos may be grown as far apart as the Comstock 30 '-^-^ /« ^f^ ^
Thev rennire the same care as this variety; they are topped m the usual way and h.r-

-^1hri;!f 7t^^..^. and particularly that of ^e V.rel, ^^ ^

a d«rker preen than that of the Comstock. The indications are *»>«» **>« P™

b 1:1 wTnot burn „.ite as fast and bum ^^^ ^'^'^^l^^^^ ^^:. fj^^,

tobacco. After curing, the Montm«Uan was judged the best of the two. the V6rel

was found a little too strong. „„«!„:-„* nuantitv of

The main .bjeot in growing these varieties was to secure « «'>®"«°* ?™/ °*

seed o experiment on a large scale next year; however the results obtained so far are

TttfactorT: goo.l burning auality, large leaf, strong but not coarse texture, yield

•""t ::ulrbrh:;':sible to give the exact yield ^r acre obtained on the experi-

""i'Zta\t normal condition, rather forward, and completely topped, when
it wa? t ked at the end of July by a small but very active --^'Jl^^' famished
p an bug ' The injuries, not very apparent at first, were not noticed by the men who
looked afer the crop. It was only when the majority of the top leav«. gave ev^ence
oT^lrt r re^^^^^^^^ f-m bites of the insect, and which, soon after, caused the
Mit r thltissues. that the damage was observed, and some time was necessa^
lo dllver the cause. The presence of a field of turnips in close proximity to the
tobacco field accounts for this invasion.

All that could be done was to remove the affected leaves, which were the top one..

All tnat coum oe u . . , , rm,. number of leaves left on the plants after

„ore tender and more easily .ticked- J^ -"^/^i^^^, ,^^^ ^^,,,, have carried
this cleaning process was only i to 9 ot tne numoer wui ., vi v, i„™ *\,.t

under normal conditions; therefore the yield in weight -" --f'fj^^^^ *^'J
ihich could have been anticipated from the appearance of the crop at the start, and

*'" Thrinrt wa'ITd'entified by Mr. Hewitt, the Dominion Entomologist, and it i.
hopellt :?th Mr. Hewitt', co-operation we will be able to find efficient means of

^°" WeTarh'owever. at this time, advise against the growing of tcJ-J -jj-
on which turnips have been grown the previous year; proximity to the latter should
also be avoided. ^ CHARLAN.

II.

D
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10

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ilot
aid

THE QUEBEC TOBACCO EXPERIMENTAl STATIONS.

{Report of the Assistant in charge.)

Sm,— I have the honour to aubmit herewith a report on the work done during the
season of 1910 at the Tobacco Experimental Stations of St. Jacques I'Achigan and
St. C^saire, in the province of Quebec.

ST. JACQUES STATION.

The season opened very early in 1910, and the majority of the growers, who felt
inclined to plant more tobacco than usual, started work at the beginning of April.
At first, all went well, and a heavy crop was looked for owing to the large amount of
seeding done. Unfortunately, this year, as usual, this hope was frustrated. A very
heavy frost on the 13th of April, followed by a period of damp and cold weather, and,
finally by seventeen days of almost continuous rain, when the seedlings were ready
to be set out, did a great deal of damage. Practically one-third of the seedlings were
destroyed during this period. In short, the season of 1910 was a bad one for the
tobacco growers; those who were new in the industry were rather discouraged, and
it must be admitted that few years have been so unfavourable as this one.

EXPERIMENTS WITH VARIETIES.

As previously stated (we gave the preference this year to the hybrid Comstock
Sumatra. Of five beds, 21 feet x 6 feet, two were sown with this new variety. The
Comstock-Spanish was grown exclusively for seed production, this variety being now
sufficiently well known to make further experiments with it unnecessary. Some
Cuban, directly imported, was again grown as it was desired to aEcertain what advan-
tage this variety might offer for the production of ' fillers.' Another hybrid strain, the
big Ohio X Sumatra, was 8ubmitt«>d to careful experiments. This hybrid was origin-
ated with the object of improving the earliness and the texture of the Big Ohio. The
Big Ohio is a heavy yielder, but, unfortunately, a slow grower. Last year it could
not be cured during the normal curing season, and could not be taken down from the
hooks before the spring.

Several other varieties had also to be tested, viz: —

1. The hybrid Comstock x Sumatra, originated last year, and tested for purposen
of comparison with the strain that has already been grown for two years.

2. The hybrid Comstock x Sumatra x Sumatra.

8. The big Ohio, for purposes of comparison with the hybrid Big Ohio x Sumatra
previously mentioned, in order to ascertain the quality or the defects of the latter.

SOWINO.

Sowing was started on April 13, nine days earlier than the preceding year. The
beds had been ready for four days. All were hot-beds, with the exception of one that
might be called half hot or warm bed and about which more will be said further on.

7

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i

» -I

' wniJizer, Ma of a pound per square foot.

Bed No. 4. Hot bed.- -Cuban ; i of an ounce (on account of t),

power of the seed), dr. ,eed. without an;^:::rt«:tL:nr ^^''"'"^^
'^^^ fl^r^^^ ^^ see, H Of an ounce; Victor fertiliser and

Bed No. 6. Hot bed.-(a) Hybrid Bi^ Ohio , Sumatra.
(*) " Comstock X Sumatra,
(c) " Comstock X Sumatra x Sumatra

fe.iHrl^Se?/3Sa^lS r^-" ^^t " ^^-'^"'-'^ ^^« ^^^ °^ Victor
seeds and germinated sLs ' ' " '" combination, on bed, sown with dry

withtLt^ure;,':;;^;^^^^

cold weather, with Z^Lr'TX " eT "^M '^ t"^" ''^ '^''^ °' *^« "^^^
bed. .t from 7 to 10 degrel f^nS A f ' *° ^^^^ '^' temperature of the

7 degrees Centigrade. wrobse^.^TnBed'^rV'' "f ' ^'^ ^"""^ *«'"^"*"--
ing. There wa, no manure in tlS id but i 'h^d'b ''''. 1 ^'"'' ''' ^^^^ •"°-
l.yer of manure 2 feet thick Th! Z.' ^ -,. . '" """^""^ surrounded with a
observed in the coldtds of a number .' ''^" '^^"*''^""^« ^^^^ ^'"''•) -"
stand w„s fair,, uniform t tJ the except onT^'e C T ''"" '" ^^ ^-"^ ^''^
injuries, save for the mushrooms wS / "" ^''''^'^- """^ 'J-*'" ^«« no

The stand of the Big OhrxZ^;tri;n;r'''r1 V"' "^ "'^^ ^''^ «'> «»•-
ably uniform. "*'" """^ ^'""'^°«"' ' Sumatra x Sumatra was remark- "

third'LTprrroXsrLt::^^^^^^ '-''■ ^^ ^^^ -'^ °^ --"- *^«

there were four distinct leaves ^"^ ""' ^''''*^'^- ^"^ ^''^ "th of May

was subsecuontly reduced to 1 of a Tu^d Itt T ^ ^'""^ '""' *'^ ""'""-

sprinkled with this solution twice a Ty in I r^"; ^ "''"' *'^ ^^^ "^'^
forward, and the action of nitrati of tl ^^ ^^'^ ^' ^''^ ^a^' the beds were well

treated with both nitrate of odVndThe^c^ T^' ""^ ""^ '' "'""'' ^"'^ ^"^
5. which had received the Lme treatment " "" "" *'" ^"'•^^*- ^^^ No.

concluded once more that thZiri „T \ ""' '"''"' ^''"^^"'^ ^^ '"»y be

in. The aPPlicatioVof atirtiroVvt:rTrre:Tnr7 ^^"'^ «-^-

appears to have a very good effect. ^ ^"^^ °^ '°'''' "" ^''^ beds

On Mmy 10, exactly iaat weeks after seeding, some seedlings were ready for setting
out. On the 20th of May, some few hundreds of seedlings were ready in every bed,
and particularly on the beds sown with Comstock and hybrid Comstock x Sumatra.
The seedlings were robust, quite healthy and provided with abundant root hair.
Everything was ready for transplanting.

NOTES ON MAKINO OF BEDS.

It cannot be doubted that the success of the crop depends largely on the success
of the beds. Therefore great care should be exercised in the making and management
of the latter. Many growers are very careful in this respect, but there are others who
seem to think that it does not matter very much how beds are made. For instance
we have met growers who had a very queer conception of the making of seed beds,
especially in Montcalm county. This is how thty proceed: In wooden frames, placed
generally in ill selected spots, they put a layer of ordinary earth, and ou the top of
this a layer of finer earth, mixed sometimes with a little chemical fertilizer, and then
a thin layer of earth, finer still, in which the seed is sown. These beds
are built once for all; they are ploughed when the seedlings have been taken out,
and are supposed to be ready for seeding the next spring. They are left the
whole winter in this condition and what takes place may be readily imagined: the
frost, working fre ly on the beds all winter, the grower finds the following spring a
solid cake of ice, which is not entirely melted when seeding time has come. Germin-
ated seeds are sown, and it is easy to understand that in such a poor soil, the germs
are soon destroyed. This is what the growers call a ' cold bed ' and this designation
is certainly correct. As a general rule, such beds give a very uneven stand, with
numerous bare spots, on which no seedlings ever appear. The few seedlings that
succeed in coming out are very waak, yellow and soon make spindlings. Cold beds of
this kind are a prey to diseases which cause much injury. A large number of the
seedlings are destroyeil by rot and the few that remain require constant care, as they
would surely be killed by the least sunstroke. It is obvious that seedlings growing
in such conditions, that is in an atmosphere always saturated with moisture and
necessarily foul— ventilation being avoided for fear of cooling the beds— do not thrive
when set out ; the success of the crop is therefore very problematic.

Up to the present hot beds have the advantage, and we have strongly recommended
them as they are sure to give the best results in the province of Quebec. However,
there is another bed called ' half hot ' or ' warm,' which also gives very satisfactory
results.

The chief difference between the hot hod and the warm bed is ihiit the latter does
not contain any hot manure, hut like t:ic former it is tilso worked over every spring.
A thin layer of tobacco stems and straw is used in place of mnnuro. It is advisabl?
to make the warm bed early in the spring and leave it exposed to the sun during ten
days or so before sowing. By so doing the earth will warm up, many weed seeds will
germinate and will he easily destroyed before sowing. Earth of good quality only
should be used, and it will be found profitable to mix the top part of the soil with
chemical fertilizers (such as Victor fertilizer). The whole should then be covered
with a good layer of vegetable earth, i of an inch deep, on which seed very lightly
germinated will be sown.

10

far lee,, and furthennore no ZhCZZeZt^ T '.'' '^'' '"' ^''^'^ -'» ei
T f. l"'** '^'^ P^-'^*' "^ the hot^ and h ' "?• '^"'""" *^« ""^ ^s will

the cold bed. or at least «uch a. soTe ill T ^ "° °''^"^^*'''» 'o this. A. to
dropped without the least hesitation ' " ""'"***"'^ ='' '' ^^ould certainly be

QUALITY OF THE Son,.

" r " »■«* -!'■" food .. p<,„l,e r/Lt : '■"' """^ •" "'"• •»'' ■■• 'l""!'

-- -ioh . eo„tar:^s,;;7ari::.:::-^^ r -"^^ ^^ ^-^ °^ ^^^ -^

the „,ak.ng of the bed and seeding time So t '/■ °' ^ '^^ ^^''P^^^ ''^tween

;■" '^"f^ » fo-Iy large quantity of weed s Jh f *"'°' '^^ ''^*'°° °^ the sun

--ved. However, weeding is laysTot t j! f™'""*^' "''''''' ^'" >- --'^
possible to make the beds ten davs beW, T '^''"^'•<'"«. and it is not always

the soil with heat or steam. ZlttZ "^' ^"""'^"'^ '' '^ "-ecommended to tr^

to Bulletin No. A-8. " *'*^ '""'P*-" "^ this method the reader is refer"d

a * -^^ "t'Jutntu7'oVi!g\relnrfrom? r"*""'"! "''*'""^ " recommended: Take
heat or steam, then mix It as th 1^ / "'"'' '"'* '' '^"^^""•^- treat it w th
up as follows.- thoroughly as possible with a chemical fertiIi^er mad,

Potiish

^"itros•en S per cent.

Phosphoric acid 5 "

10 "

- ^:::;i':;::,:"^;n.;-^;^^ to . . .., , .„ ,„,,^„^ ^^ ,^^^^

o fine oarth wi„ be ..eeessary to receive t^^" "ittV ^"^ ^"'- '' '^^ '"■-'
n .n,.hes ,„ fhi,.k„.,,, .hould ^^ .. t fro J old ^t , ^°' *i''' ^°'"'' P'*^^-^^ ot sod about
heaps, and loft until the vc, : ;. ZZ ili T^I' "^^'^ °^ '^'"'^''^ ^te- piled in
years or .„. This will make . JZ sli ^r^ 'T'T'' ''''"' ^^'^ '^''^ two
I'o.ng careful],, sifted, may be u«ed as a ton ' Z "'^ '" '""""^' «"'' ^hieh. after
^ueh as guano Victor for instance ould b^'"i" '^l '""■ ^ "''-«- fertilizer
of a pound per s.uaro foot of bed wl'n Z 17^ "*' *''^ "'' "^ *»>« "te of M
taken off, the soi, carefully mi.xed and pi, d „? 'T '" "*' '"^ ''-""^^ ^''-''^ »-
«hou bo turned over several times befo^ the fl "''".'"'' '''''' '^P «* -">
B'onally with liquid manure. ^ ^°"°^''"^ ^P"''^ and sprinkled occa-

MUSHBOOMS AND DfJURious INSECTO

11

extremely fast and cause much injury- It is very hard to get rid of them, and in
order to save his seedlings from complete destruction the grower is compelled to
nmove them one by one, morning and evening, which causes a great loss of time.
Only preventive remedies can be suggested against this pest :

1. An excess of horse manure should be avoided.

2. A thin layer of ordinary salt, or a layer of vegetable ash about one-fourth of
an inch deep, should be spread on the layer of manure before applying the soil. Salt
•nd ashes prevent the growth of the mycelium of the mushroom. The use of thick
sheets of cardboard and even wooden boards between the manure and the soil has also
been tried, but as cardboard and wood rot very quickly, they have to be replaced every
year, and this means of prevention is very costly.

8. The exposure of the soil to the winter frost, or treatment with steam will kill
ths spores of the mushrooms.

4. Lastly, warm beds, where no manure is used inside the frames, may be used

instead of hot beds.

The insects most often met with in beds are the aphis and sometimes very small
caterpillars. Being very tender, the young seedlings suffer greatly from their attacks.
These pests can he destroyed by a light sprinkling of a solution of lead arsenate, two
pounds of lead arsenate in 2.-5 gallons of water. A solution ot J of a pound of Pans
green in 50 gallons of water will serve the same purpose. There is another insecticide
not so well known: the nicotine oxalate, which gives very satisfactory results. It is
used as a solution of a strength of 1 part in 250 parts of water, by weight.

HOW TO HASTEN THE GROWTH OF THE SEEDLKOS.

When cold or warm beds are used instead of hot beds, the young seedlings may
at first grow very slowly, and when the weather is cold or damp or remains cloudy it
is often necessary to resort to artificial means to hasten the growth, so that the seed-
lings may be ready for setting out at the proper time. The use of nitrate of soda and
hen manure may be recommended for this purpose.

We have made experiments with various solutions of nitrate of soda and found
that a strength of } of a pound in two gallons of water is the most effective. When
it was used at the strength of J pound of nitrate to one gallon of water it was found
that some leaves were injured by the nitrate after the water had evaporated. It is
better to water every day with a solution of i of a pound of nitrate in two gallons of
water than to water every other day with a solution of J of a pound in one gallon of
water. A good thing would be to water lightly with ordinary water after applying the
solution, in order t« wash off the excess of solution and prevent the deposit of salt
which would injure the leaves.

The use of hen manure is quite as effective, and much less complicated. ^ The
following method may be used: Pull about three bushels of hen manure in an ordinary
wooden barrel, then fill with warm water and leave the whole mass to ferment for
about a week. Then strain the liquid through a cloth and mix it with tepid water
in the proportion of one part of liquid to ten parts of water. One application of this
solution, every week, until the seedlings completely cover the bed, considerably hastens
the growth. In two beds, sown the same day. ore treated with hen manure and the
other untreated, we have observed a difference of five lays in the grovth of the seed-
lingH.

18

PUPASATIOII or THB 80IL FOB PLAKIIHa

. ■

Our tobacoo field for the crop of 1010 wu ploughed in the fall of 1900 and maa-
ured at the rate of 18 tons of farmyard manure to the acre. Spring work waa started
on May 6, 1010, as follows:—

1. One ploughing with the ordinary plough.

2. Two diskings with a disk harrow.

3. One harrowing with the drag harrow.

The weather being favourable all this work was easily and comparatively well
done; up to that time, conditions were much better than the preceding year; we were
nearly one month ahead, as in 1909 the spring work could not be started before the
second of June. But this advance could not be maintained ; a rainy period starting
on May 12 and lasting sixteen dayi in succession put the soil back to the condition
in which it was at the end of winter, and it was neoessaiV to work it over again
entirely. On May 25, the seedlings were well grown and the stand was compact. Aftsr
two or three days of comparatively fine weather, setting out was started. On May 26
a chemical fertilizer was applied to the plot reserved for a special test of fertilizers —
the results oi which will be given later— and on May 25, 3,000 seedlings of Hybrid
Comstock X Sumatra and 3,000 seedlings of Comstock were planted. Then a new
period of rain and cold set in and no more transplanting could be done before the 17th
of June- On June 10, a heavy frost caused a great deal of damage. A number of
tobacco fields were completely destroyed and had to be entirely reset.

From the 20th of May to the 17th of June, transplanting operations were at a
complete standstill. The seedlings had to be left in the beds, which became extremely
dense and had to be thinned to prevent rot from setting in. Of course, the best and
earliest plants were sacrificed. A number of growers n.^glected this precaution and
rot soon appeared in the beds. Not being able to foresee when the rain would stop,
an endeavour was made to check the growth of the seedlings. No more watering was
done. The exposure to the sun was reduced to a minimum, ery little ventilation was
given during the day and a great deal at night. By dint of care we succeeded in
saving about 3 of the seedlings in each bed, but a great many growers were not so
fortunate. Some had to ; it down their plantation by half. Others had to leave out
tobacoo entirely for the ycai. Such accidents occurred almost everywhere in the
province of Quebec, and this is the reason why the crop of 1910 was not much larger
than that of 1009, whilst if conditions had been favourable, Quebec would have pro-
duced at least 7,000,000 pounds of tobacco in 1910.

NICOTINE OXALATE AND PARIS OREEV FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF CUTWORMS AND WIREWORMS.

Paris green is about the only insecticide used at present against insects afFecting
tobacco. It varies greatly in efficiency. In dry weather, the chances are that the
cutworms will he destroyed, but in rainy weather the Paris green is very often washed
off before its effect can he felt. As to the wireworms, Paris green does not affect it in
the least. This worm is very hard to get at. as it penetrates into the young plants
tL.^agh the root and eats off the inside of the stem. We have exyerimented with
another insecticide this year: the nicotine oxalate, and also with Paris green, for
purposes of comparison.

In oniDr to MomUin wkat atMaftk of wlatim would fiv* tho InM iwvltf. it
wu fiMt neceuary to determiM tho rMiitanoe offered by the idenU to both ol theee
inMctioidee. We proceeded ■■ foOowt:

On May M, IS rowt of Ooaitook Spenieh were Mt oat with 10 plant* in each
row. TheM 18 row4 wen watop^ twioe on the Mune day with the followiNT fAw
tiona:—

Qvantity ol iMMtMd* nnd. Stieacfh.

6 grama nicotine oxalate in 1} litre of water Hh

10 " " " Mj»

" « 1 litre of water. . . .

Hoo
Ho

H5

Ho

Row*.
No. 1.

8.

8. 15

4. 80

6. 60
6.150

7. Ordinary water, ohedt plot.

8. Paris green solution— 1 teaapoonfnl in 6 gallons of water.

9. " « 4 "

10. " « 8 "

11. " « 2 "

12. " « 1

13. « « J «

14. Ordinary water, check plot

Four days later the following observations were made:

Per cent.
1. Oxnlate at %;o: growth 100

No.

2.

«

3.

tt

4.

t(

5.

tt

«.

it

7.

Ordiuar

8.

Paris gi

9.

tt

10.

tt

11.

tt

12.

(t

13.

u

Moo
Ho

Vis

100
90
60
20

Ho: not one seedling survived.

water : growth 90

Paris green — 1 teaspoonful in 5 gal. water: growth. . 90

4
3

2
1

i

14. Ordinary water, check plot.

100
90

100

100
70

100

The following conclusions were at once evident: —

1. Paris green Joes not practically interfere with the growth of the plants.

2. Nicotine oxalate interferes with the growth only when used in solution of
one part to fifty parts of water; all plants were destroyed when it was used at the
strength of ',^5 and Vio.

Ten days later the growtb was quite normal in rows No. 1, No. 2 and No. 7.
Two plants were dead in row No. 3 as well as in row No. 4 and one in row No. 5.
It was then concluded that it was safer to use solutions of a strength of Hso and H2B.

14

At the Mune date the following obaerrations were made on the plot treated with
Peril green : —

1. The growth waa normal in rowi Not. 8. 0 and 10.

3. Two plants were dead in row No. 11 and thoee that remained had a sickly
appearance. This sickly appearance was more pronounced in row No. 18, and still
more so in row No. 18 in which 6 plants were dead; those that remained appeared to
be checked in their growth and had the characteristic yellow hue of sick plants; much
later plants which remained in rows Nos. 11, 12 and 18 showed very distinct symptonu
of rust, and one case of polyphyllie was observed.

With this information available, we were ready to start the fight against the
cutworms and the wireworms. The experiment was conducted as follows:

Plot (a) 3 rows, each containing 253 plants, treated with a solution of nicotine
oxalate of a strength of one part in 2S0 parts of water. A known quantity of nico-
tine oxalate wae dissolved in a definite volume of water and the mixture was placed
in the barrel of the sowing machine.

Plot (b) 3 rows, untreated, used as checks.

Plot (c) 3 rows with nicotine oxalate at the strength of H2a.

Plot ((f) 8 rows, untreated, used as checks.

Plot (e) 3 rows treated with nicotine oxalate at the strength of Mas, and with
Paris green, at the strength of one teaspoonful to four gallons of water.

Plot (/) 3 rows untreated, used as checks.

Plot (g) 3 rows treated with Paris green, one ten spoonful in five gallons of water.

Reiults. — Generally speaking, the growth was perfect. The proportion of plants
which had to be reset in the various plots was as follows: —

Per cent.
Plot (a) %so nicotine oxalate, 3 resettings, total 6-25

Plot (6) Check " 11-40

Plot (c) Mas: " 4

Plot (<f) Check " 10-82

Plot (e) Mas " and Paris gr«>en — plants reset. . 2-25

Plot (/) Check— Plants reset 12

Plot (g) Paris green, 1 teaspoonful in 5 gallons, plants reset. 8
For the remainder of the crop, which was treated with Paris green, the average
proportion of plants reset was 7 per cent.

CONCLUSIONS.

1. Nicotine oxalate has a very marked effect, especially when used at the strength
of Mas. When this solution was used 4 per cent of the plants had to he reset, instead
of 6-25 per eent when the strength was Hao.

2. Nicotine oxalate seems to have a stronger action than Paris green; witness
plot (g), treated with Paris green, and where only 8 per cent of the plants had to
be reset.

3. Paris green used in solution does not seem to have any efficiency.

4. However, used in solution with nicotine oxalate, Paris green seems to have
some effect. If we look at plot (e) we see that only 2-25 per eeut of the plants had
to be reset

1»

6. Pari* green used in powder fomi kilU both cutworms and wirewormi. SonM
dead insects were found where Paris green had been used in powder form, but not
one was found dead in plot (g) where it had been used in solution.

6. Nicotine oxalate does not kill these insects. It seenu rather to drive them
•way. In ploto (a), (c), (») we have not found any dead insects, and we eren found
some alive in plot (a), but not one in ploU (c) and («). Probably the smell of nico-
tine oxalate around the root of the plant drives away both cutworms and wireworms.

This conclusion is based upon the fact that between the plots (a, e, t, g) where
budnrheat had been sown, we found a rather large number of cutworms and wire-
worms, especially in the buckwheat of plots (c) and (e).

We do not claim that these conclusions are absolutely correct, but we think the
results obtained are worth noting, and we intend to repeat this experiment on a large
scale as soon as a suflScient quantity of nicotine oxalate is available.

WORK AND YIELDS.

A summary of the work done and of the yield obtained is given in the following
table:—

Varieties Sown.

Hybrid Comatoek x Sum

" " ......

Conutock SMniah

Bis Ohio

Cuban

Big Ohio X Sumatra

Conutook X Sumatra

Comstock X Sum. x Sumatra

Area.

larp.
1 »
1 „

IWft.

100 M

300 M

Plantation.

June 1
1

ir>

15
IG

8
8
8

Topping. I Crop.

July 25

H 25

Aug. 6

., 15

.. 10

July 15

n 13

.. 16

Sept. 2

1352 Iba

9

1172 ..

.. 6-7

1076 .,

.. 20

1866 ,.

., 2t

680 ..

Aug. 25

2127 M

.. 24

1684 ,.

.. 22

1028 ,.

Yield |)er
Arpent.

RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENT WITH CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS.

With the object of finding out positively the fertility of the soil at our station,
the experiment with chemical fertiliiers, started in 1909, was resumed this year, with
this difference, however, that this time the farmyard manure was ploughed in before
the winter instead of being ploughed in in the spring. Thd hybrid Comstock x
Sumatra was used for this experiment. The plot operated upon measured an arpent.
This was divided in five equal lots, which were treated as follows: —

Lot No.l. — 18 tons of manure to the arpent.

Lot No. 2.—

18 tons of manure to the arpent.
Sulphate of ammonia; 600 pounds per arpent.
Sulphate of potaah: 300 pounds per arpent.
Superphosphate: 300 pounds per arpent.

'V

Lot Na. I.-.

Tamyui mum*: 18 toM pw arpnt

8ulph.U of potMh: 800 potRMfa p« „p«,t

SapwDhegplMtt: 800 pouada pw MpHit.
Lot No. 4.—

Farmyard munra: 18 tons per uprat

Sulphate of ammoaia: 6(0 pound* per atpent

Superphoaphate: 800 pounda per arpant
Lot No. 6.—

Farmyard manure : 18 toaa per arpeat
Suh^ of ammonia: SOO ponnda per arpent.
Sulphate of potaah: 800 pounda per arpent.

The five lou were planted the tame day. On the 0th of JuIt tl„ #«ii •
obieryations were made: "^ »« oi July the following

1. Lot No. 1 was the laten by far.

TIELO.

T » ^•'fhts Yield per

lot. obtained. arp«iit.

No. 1. . . . ^'»- I-b*-

N^. 2 214 1,070

Loi. .3 308 1,640

No. 4. . .". 266 1..325

No. 5. . 286 1,425

280 1,400

CONCLUSIONS.

.i.J'ii'.t™'^:,:^";:'^^"'" "" r "; "»"'"' """"=" " •«»*■"■

IT

WM 448 poundi. This year, the differanca was only ISO poundi, a gain of 808 poundi.
Thit gain may be attributed to th« fact that for the crop of 1910 fannyard manure
wa« ploughed in before the wintt-r. while it waa ploughed in only in the ipring for
the crop of 1909.

NOTES ON VARIETIES.

Ilyhrid Comitocle x Sumatra.— ThU hybrid, recnlly originated, was grown on
a large scale for the first time this year and we were able to judge its qualities from
a practical point of view. In a general way it may be said that the qualities which
were observed last year were again noticeable this year. Of course. a« usual at the
sUrt with all hybrids, we found some plants reverting back to the Sumatra and Com-
slook blood. However, it was very easy to find 800 ceod planta which presented all
the characteristics of the original type. Furthermore in order to make as good a
selection as possible, we took as standard a hybrid of the aame nature but originattd
last year and grown this year for the first time.

The qualities of the tissue were much the same as in the original type, and the
two chief poinu that we were anxious to fix, viz., earlinesa and yield, are quite
apparent. Of course, another year or perhaps two more years of selection will be
required to &x this hybrid, hut such as it is the result may be considered as quite
satisfactory.

Hybrid Comatoch x Sumalra x Sumatra.— The infusion of a blood of

Sumatra to the Hybrid Comstock x Sumatra does not appear to be pt . itable. The
tendency to go back to the Sumatra variety, or to the type under which this variety
is known in our country, is quite marked: plant comparatively high, leaves small
and corrugated witli rather prominent ribs. Furthermore this variety appears to be
tender and it is not so early as the hybrid Comstock x Sumatra. For all these
reasons, we think it is as well to drop this hybrid. We will keep the hybrid Comstock
X Sumatra and try to improve it and fix it by selection.

Hybrid Big Ohio x Sumatra.— This hybrid was originated at St. Jacques in
1909. The object was to secure an earlier strain of Big Ohio and to improve its
tissue, especially in elasticity and strength. Although this tobacco wts grown only
on a very small scale, yet the results seem to indicate that it is a promising variety,
more so perhaps than the hybrid Comstock x Sumatra. Earliness. yield, size of leaf
and good texture are among the chief qualities of the hybrid Big Ohio x Sumatra.

^or/jness.— Set out on the 9th of June, the Big Ohio x Sumatra was harvested on
the 24th of August. Thus the time required for this hybrid to reach maturity is only
twp months and a half, which leaves the whole month of September available for
curing. This makes it very valuable for Quebec growers. In this case, as in the
case of the hybrid Comstock x Sumatra, the infusion of Sumatra blood has caused
a very great improvement in earliness. This fact is still more striking when one
considers that the Big Ohio requires a little over three months to ripen.

Yield.— The hybrid Big Ohio x Sumatra gives about one ton to the arpcnt. This
is probably the best yield ever observed in the provnce of Quebec. On account of
the large proportion of wrappers which it gives and owing to the fine texture of the
leaves, the Big Ohio x Sumatra sells easily for 16 cents a pound. Therefore a net

4876—2

18
i. ullir'tu!! r".V •'""'/: *'"'""' •'"»«•"♦•'"■• "••» tl.o BiK Ohio X Sumatra

t«»e orer the B.g Oh.o: tl.o t...ue i. firm .. well a. eU.tic and tho rih. .re remark-

urn .:!%.• r '' *""'• '" *''^* """« ''"• "'« "- ""^'-''.v .-trading on the

cotitreel''" "'^''^- '"'• ^' " •""" "^^••••' -''•' - - - ^■^' "'"^- -

In conclusion, let u. »uy that if the oharaoU,r..,io, of th. hybrid 1% Ohio x

■\

ST. CESAIHK STATION.

nnfo?' ^r'r"'' '^l"'''' " '"'' P'"'""^' '^ ""''""''''' "» "»" "»«»!<-» eould not.

nfortuna.,,, be comph^ted. On the 8th of Augu.t „ hail-Morm. accompanied b,
a strong wind, practically destroyed our crop.

„n,l ^h" TT^^V" '""'" " '•°'"P«'""vo study of two varieties: the Brewer hybrid

and the hybr.d Comstock x Sun.atra. We wa.ted to find out what results "these

nefes wou.l g.ye for the production of binder, and even of wrappers on the soil

It was proposed also to ascertain what effect the maintenance of the terminal
uds would Imv... ,f any. on the labour, the nicotine contents and the texture of th.
top lea,.s. Expenmcnts with chemical fertilisers were also carried, but the resulU
«. re not su.I.c.ent ly conclu3,ve to be worth mentioning. Our two arpents of tobacco
were almost entuely destroye,! and only about 700 pounds of Brewer and 760 pound,
of ron.st.,ck X hnmatra were harvested; furthermore this crop was so badly torn that
U wa. ,u.te ,mpo,.,ible to use it for manufacturing purposes, except for 'cut tobacco.'

lours respectfully,

O. CHEVALIKR,

Omw.. January. 1911. ^"""'"' '" ""'"" "' ^'"^'^^ *^'""''""-

■J

ZZI.

•na HAMOW TOBACCO IXPERIMENTAl STATIOH.

(Report of the Amiitanl in charge.)

8in.-l Imvv tho honour to suhmit hervwitl. a rrport o„ w„rk .I.„,o .lurinK the
«<««on of iniO ut the Tobaroo Experimentnl St„tin„ nf llnrrow. ()„t.

ir.VUUOW STATION-.

Twelv,. m-re, of tohacco. compri^in^ ,ix m res .,f Hurlry (Iinprov,..!). U,V (.hio
«n,l r„„„...,„-ut HroH.l I..of. uml .ix aorcs „f the kiln .Iric-l t.vp,.-\V«rno v.nVtv'
were fxponmcntcd with. ' '

Twelve, acre, of norn o„d whe,,t wor- ubo gn.w„. Thi. latter .nentioned ornage
wa., .oe.Ic.1 w.th clover, the bIx acre fiel.l of wheat ut the rate ..f 15 p.H.n.N ,>cr acre
and the Mx-uore plot of .v.rn c^ 10 poumU .K-r ace. .Since „,o«t of thi. h.n.l revived
a .ffht coat of manure eith., .ho fall of Um or i„ the spring „f l»l„. „ verv fair
catch of clover wa.. ohtaine,!. . might add that part of thi, area was .e,.|,.d' with
clover m the spring of 1009, hut very little of it grew.

Since, the acreage of the farm has been extended to 40 acres, with 36 acres avail-
able for a systematic rotation; the intention is to grow 13 acres of tobacco. 12 acres of
wheat and 12 acres of corn, in rotation. At all events the acnagc in corn and wheat will
be .ee< ed w.th clover every year. Since no sto<.k h raised, the crop will not l,o pas-
tured. but whatever growth has been made will be ploughed down the following spring
By manuring the Burley grouml every year, (the area for bright tobacco does not
require manure), an.l as much as possible of the corn ground, together with the
ploughing under of clover, and the use of commercial fertiliser, it is believed that tho
fertility of the soil will lie maintained and even increased.

While this rotation will not apply .lir, ctly to the whole farm of the average
farmer, (since hig acreage is too large to warrant having one-thir.l of the land in corn
or tobacco), still a short rotation suited to particular classes of crops is navigable

Again the average tobacco grower keeps considerable stock on his farm, and pro.
vision has to be made for pasturage. Notwithstanding, the writer would advise the
grower not to aim to prmluco Burley tobacco on the same field oftener than once
every three years.

CORN AND WHEAT EXPERIMENTvS.

Six acres of Imported Learning corn were planted on May 27. The s^ed wag
obtali.ed from a member of the Canadian Seed Growers' Association. Twenty ears
were selected to plant a seed plot, composed cf 20 rows with 20 hills to the row. This
plot was conducted according to the regulations of the association. The general crop
of Tx?aming yielded 100 measured bushels of cars per acre of well matured hard com
which is being sold for seed purposes. Undoubtedly, had a severe drought not affected
the crop when earing up, the yield would have been much larger. On August 22

4S76-2i 19

20

M

clover (at the rate of 10 pounds per acre), wa« sown in the com before the last culti-
ration. Despite the late seeding and the dry weather following, it made a very fair
growth. Small plots of Reid's Yellow Dent and Wisconsin No. 7 gave splendid yields.
It would seem that the first-mentioned is well adapted to this loil so far as yield is
concerned, but it is too late in maturing.

Six acres of Dawson's Golden Chaflf wheat was sown, but the yield was not up
to standard, the crop being badly winter killed. The sample was good, and a portion
of the crop was sold for seed purposes. Several pounds were selected ii the head in
the field before harvest, and this hand-selected seed was used to sow a seed plot for

PLANT-BED EXPERIMENTS.

OBJECT OF THE WOBK.

A continuation of the work outlined in 1909 was undertaken. The object was
to illustrate the best method of rearing healthy, vigorous plants, with good develop-
ment of roots.

SCARCITY or PlJlNTS.

As was the case last season, a large number of failures with plants were reported,
and there was a scarcity of plants at planting time. Although a number of people
in the villages, and many small farmers and gardeners made a business of growing
plants to sell, still there was an increasing demand for seedlings at high prices. The
need for plants was even greater than in ordinary seasons, owing: first, to the exces-
31 - ravages of the cutworms at planting time; and second, to the severe drought
experienced at setting time, causing a large percentage of seedlings to die. Several
fields had to be cultivated over again and entirely reset, while most fields required
resetting more than once.

NECESSITY FOB THE WOBK.

The failures in rearing plants may be attributed to a varietj- of causes, the chief
of which are the following: Too frequent growing of plants in the eame bed without
changing the soil. The large permanent beds under glass of the Walker Company
Walkerville, sown with the Burley variety, were almost a total failure. Part of the
soil had been used but one year. This soil was in an ideal physical condition and
rich chemically, being well manured and fertilised. It was thought the cause of the
trouble was due to a bacterial disease of the roots. The outcome is that their per-
manent bf 's with steam fittings are being torn down at a large expense, and the
frame, are being built in a different location. Other causes of failure are insufficient
watering, a location lacking natural drainage, and lack of care in establishing the

DCuS.

THE KrNDS OF BEDS.

Beds to the extent of 1,300 square feet were established according to the follow-
mg metho<ls: 1st. Cold bed with glass covering. 2nd. Cold bed with cotton cover-

SI

top. 3rd. Cold bed with diHerent proportions of plant bed fertilizer applied to the
ordinary soil. 4th. Cold bed with a thin layer of black soil on top. 6th. Hot bed
with glass covering. 6th. Hot bed with cotton covertop. 7th. Hot bed with different
proportions of plant bed fertilizer applied. All the beds received the same care, and
were sown on the same date — April 9.

W\RNE AKD YELIX>W ORONOKO BEOS.

Seven beds, of 70 square feet each, were prepared as follows: The land waa
ploughed, thoroughly worktd in the fall, and a dressing of well rotted manure,
applied. In spring it w&s spaded up and a special plant bed fertilizer^' Gold Dust'
mi.xed with i to 1 inch of ordinary soil at Mo of a pound per square foot. The seed
was sown dry on March 30 and the whole area covered with glass.

RATE OF 8EEDIK0.

The seed was sown at the rate of W of an ounce per 70 square feet This rate
was found about right for this variety. The plants had sufBcient room for free cir-
culation of air between them. No symptoms of root rot were apparent, and a large
number of plants were produced from the above area. Thinner seeding (W oz. per
100 square feet— W oz. is a heaping teaspoonful), would be advisable for tender grow-
ing plants like the Burley variety. They have a tendency to develop root rot, and
become spindly when cown too thickly.

NOTES ON BEDS.

The first plants were noticed April 12, just two weeks from the date of seeding.
Had the weather been favourable, the plants were ready for transplanting on May
30. Four and one-half acres were planted June 2, 3 and 4 from the 490 square feet

The ' Gold Dust ' fertilizer made the plants grow quite rapidly giving them a
very rich dark green cast. They were just as large and as early as where the ' Eureka '
fertilizer was applied.

DRY vs. SPROUTED SEED.

While the seed was very ilow in germinating, still the plants made very rapid
growth when once t'le seedlings appeared through the ground. The reason for the
retarded growth at first was the fact that dry seed was used instead of swollen seed
and the beds did not receive suflScient watering during my absence for three days.
Where the seedlings are grown under glass, there is no risk in the way of killing the
young tender germ ,vhen dry seed is used. Whereas if sprouted seed containing long
sprouts were sowi there is great danger of scorching the young germ, particularly
if the day is warm and sun shiny. The danger of bruising the tender gemmule, in
sowing the seed, is eliminated also. The grower gains a few days by using sprouted
seed and it would seem, in nold beds with cotton covering, the practice is a plausible
one, and generally not attended with any evil effects. However, the writer recom-
mends the practice of bursting the seed coat only, and not allowing the young germ
to grow to any appreciable size before sowing. By so doing the plants will come on
about as soon, and there will be no danger from injury, through cold unfavourable
weather, and from causing disease by bruising the young germ.

;(

98

BVULEr EXPKa.ME>T8 WITH METH. OV BED E8TABLU.HME«T.

fine black soil applied °^ °"^'""^ ^°" '"'^ *''«'> "bout 1 inch of

W-The above sash .as sown w" ,. d.v seed I.p,„.ed Burley. on April 8.
Exp. 6._Cold bed. under glass, 1 sash fertilized with ' Fureka ' i,f U n« a

with J,; .„d April " ' '"™ """• "" '•"" "< W» ■>=-= «.™

NOTES OX BI-RLEY BEDS JUNE 9.

Hoi Beds.

soone?Th:Jiieki:nlTh?hV:r' ""'-^^"1* ^^''"^^' '-''^ *» -* •^-e 1 -

plants to .row n^ucir uil r. Th^ ooTe'Ir tt""^ T I'"'' ""'^ ^""^ *^«
rapidly. • * °- ^'"^ ^"*'''^" """dfi the plants grow ..^uite

23

Exp. 3.— Very unifonn stand ; plants about as large as where the lighter applica-
tion was given. It would appear that fertilizer applied at ^a to We pound per square
foot will give as good results as any rate of application.

Exp. 4. — Large thrifty seedlings, even stand.

Cold Beds.

Exp. 5.— On June 9 the plants in these beds were just ready for transplanting,
hence the hot bed with manure below gave plants ten days earlier than the cold bed
with the same covering-glass on each.

Exp. 6. — The stand was more even than in Exp. 5.

E.\p. 7.— The seedlings were about the same size as in Exp. 6.

E.' ). 8.— The plants were apparently as large as where the heavier application
of '^ ound per square foot was given.

Exp. 9.— Hot bed, cotton covering, stand not good, most of the seedlings were
too small to set— very poor showing compared with the hot bed under glass.

Exp. 10. — Plants were quite small, not as large as in Exp. 9.

Burley Cold Beds under Cotton.

About 400 square feet of bed area was sown with swollen seed oi. April 15. The
beds were fertilized with ' Gold Dust ' at the rate of Mo pound per square foot on
the surface of ordinary black soil, not bush mould. The fertilizer was thoroughly
mixed with the soil by hand raking, the seed sown and raked in. The plants were
nicely up in a week's time. However, these beds made ve-y slow growth, due no
doubt to the lack of heat. It would seem that ordinary soil was preferable to muck
soil, under cotton, since the latter retained too much moisture and kept the beds
cold. On the other hand the black soil under glass gave excellent results owing to
the opportunity for greater absorption of heat, and the consequent drying out of the
soil particles. The temperature was on the average 10° to 15° Fahr. higher under
glass as compared with the cotton.

These beds i-roduced strong healthy plants, but they were rather late for planting
at the proper time. In case the grower is growing Burley plants under cotton, it
is preferable to make up a portion of the bed area in hot bed to have plants ready for
setting early in June. The area in cold frames might be watered with heated water,
thus hastening growth. I saw some excellent plant beds handled in this manner
that were ready for setting early in June. A number of successful growers have
found it necessary to change at least a portion of their bed area from the cotton
covering to the glass sash to get plants sufficiently early.

Watering with Nitrate of Soda Solution.

Whenever the plants were well started in the beds a weak solution of nitrate of
soda was used in watering. A small handful in a 4-gallon can was tried at the out-
set. This quantity was gradually increased. After sprinkling with the soda solution,
another light sprinkling with pure water was given. The plants were closely watched,
and in case the loaf became spotted, or the edges turned yellow in any particular

•pot of the bed, the application of nitrate of soda was withdrawn for two to three
days. The effect of the soda solution was very noticeable in most beds, particularly
those of the flue cured type.

8UIIUART.

1. The plants grown under glass were ten days to two weeks earlier than those
grown under cotton.

2. The hot bed with glass covering gave plants a week earlier than the cold bed
with similar cover top.

3. A solution of nitrate of soda gave excellent results in forcing the plants.

4. An application of Ms to % pound of fertilizer per square foot gave the best
results. One-twelfth of a pound pet square foot could be recommended.

5. Swollen seed gave as good results as dry seed, and the former method did not
let the weeds get such a start.

6. The average temperature of the hot beds was 75° Fahr.

7. There was no appreciable difference in the thrift and robustness of the plants
under glass or under cotton.

PREPARATION OP THE TOBACCO GROUND.

Five acres of ground were manured for Burley at the rate of 10 loads per acre
and ploughed 4 to 5 inches deep. I might add that a great deal of the manure
obtained was not of a very high manurial value. After ploughing, the land was
rolled, double disked, rolled, harrowed, and rolled before planting. On account of
the severe drought at this time, the soil tended to dry out quickly on the surface.
The object of the several rollings was to firm the soil and bring the moisture
nearer the surface so the plants would live when set out. Of course a mulch was
soon restored again after planting, by cultivation, thus avoiding a loss of surface
moisture. Planting was begun June 16.

-■.I

GENERAL CARE OP THE CROP.

Owing to the severe ravages of the cutworms one acre of Burley had to be planted
over again, while the whole area in tobacco re<iuired resetting four times. Thus we
used several thousand more plants than was required in an ordinarj- season.

The crop was cultivated about every ten days with a two-horse combination
tobacco and corn cultivator, 'i.iis implement was used until there was danger of
damaging the leaves and breaking off the root hairs spreading out in the rows, when
it was exchanged for the single cultivator and the harrow-toothed cultivator. The
Burley crop required hoeing but once owing to the splendid work done by tliis special
one-horse implement. The Virginia leaf was cultivated rather more than the Burley.
Being planted earlier and the small weeds getting a chance to grow more, it r. quired
hoeing twice. But with these two hand hoeings and continuous stirring with the
two-liorse cultivator, the weeds were easily kept down and a surface blanket of loose
soil maintained. In no small degree do we attribute the yields to thorough tillage.

25

SPBATINO WITH UAO AB8KKATE.

During the first part of August the tobacco worms became quite numerous and
spraying with lead arsenate was resorted to. This insecticide is cheaper than Paris
green, will not burn the leaves and adheres longer to them. It was used at the
rate of 3 pounds to 40 gallons of water. While it was quite effective in killing the
young worms, it would have been necessary to spray three times to keep the large
worms in close check. Hence a morr effective agent, namely the duck, was resorted to.

THE USE OF DUCKS IN TOBACCO CULTURE.

Twenty ducks were placed in the 12-acre patch of tobacco, and it was quite
encouraging to find that the large worms, also the smaller ones, were becojiing fewer
every day, and the tobacco was not damaged any more by caterpillars. The ducks
were not fed any grain, simply given plenty of water in the field, consequently they
were compelled to hunt for a good living. By moving the watering basin occasionally
they kept the patch practically free of worms. Later in the fall they were fattened
on com and disposed of to good advantage. Several of the neighbouring growers
kept their tobacco fields free of worms by the same means.

T would strongly recommend the trial of a small flock of ducks in the tobacco
plantation, and have them in the field whenever the first worms are noticed.

FERTILIZES EXPERIMENTS WITH BURLET.

With a view to finding out how to maintain and increase the present yields of
Burley tobacco a series of experiments that were begun in 1909 were continued this
seasou.

The intention was to prove that n such a soil, (a first class tobacco soil, but
only of fair fertility), the yield could be materially increased. It will be seen further
that despite the severe drought in the early part of the growing season — not allowing
the fertilizer to become dissolved and available — we had very good success.

The whole five acres were under different fertilizer tests. One acre was divided
into six plots of equal size. The soil of each plot being of like texture, was prepared
in the ordinary manner, and planted June 29 with the same type of plants. The
distance of planting was the same on all plots — 3 feet 6 inches x 32 inches.

The three single fertilizers, namely: nitrate of soda, sulphate of potash, and
.superphosphate, besides farmyard manure, were used in this experiment. To each
plot differrat combinations of the above manures were applied.

These fertilizers, which may be obtained from any fertilizer company, were spread
on broadcast and harrowed in.

The plots were treated as follows: —

Plot No. 1—

400 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre (66-6 lbs.).
800 lbs- sulphate of potash per acre (50 lbs.)
200 lbs. superphosphate per acre (33-6 lbs.).
Barnyard manure, 10 tons per acre.

96

<<i

■^ }'

Plot No. 2. — Barnyard manure, 15 tons per acre.

Plot No. 3.—

800 lbs. sulphate of potash per acre (60 lbs.).
200 lbs. superphosphate per acre (336 lbs.).
Barnyard manure, 10 tons per acre.

Plot No. 4—

300 lbs. sulphate of potash per acre (50 lbs.).
400 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre (66-6 lbs.).
Barnyard manure, 10 tons per acre.

Plot No. 5—

200 lbs. superphosphate per acre ,(.33-6 lbs.).
400 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre (66-6 lbs.)
Barnyard manure, 10 tons per aero.

Plot No. 6. — Obeck plot, no manure, no fertilizer.

As shown above ihe experiment was planned to find out: —
First. — The influence of chemical fertilizers.

iSepond. — The demands of the crop and the particular elements lacking in the
soil.

Third. — The necessity for using barnyard manure.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The information to be gathered from the field observations was as follows:
Plots 1 and 4 always were ahead, while plot 6, the check plot, made very slow
growth and yellowed up prematurely, not showing the natural process of ripening.
Plot 4 indicated that the Burley plant required the two elements, potash and nitrogen,
\rtiile phosphoric acid was least required. The manure plot gave a larger and darker
green Ic.if than the check plot, indicating that the soil required manure.

The yields per acre, the value of the crop calculated at 16 cents per pound — ^the
prevailing market price — the cost of the manure and fertilizer, and the net receipts
per aero, are given in the following table. The cost of the fertilizer was figured
according to market prices. Sulphate of potash $54 per ton, nitrate of soda $54 per
ton and superphosphate $18 per ton. Farmyard manure was valued at $1 per ton.

Quantity of fertilizer in iKmnHs |ier acre.

Yirld of Value of

crop crop

Iier acre, per acre.

Co»tof
fertiliser
per acre.

AOO Ihe. nitrate of soda, 300 lb». sulphate of
lutasli, 200 11m. superphopbate, 10 tons
manure 2,028

Bamvard manure, 18 tons l.Otifi

300 lbs. sulphate of |iotaiih, 300 lbs. super-

phophate, 10 t'-.s n.anure 1,044

300 U«. Hulphatr ■ potash, 400 lbs. nitrate of

soda, 10 ton» .aiiuifc 1,848

200 lbs. sulphate of potash, 400 lbs. nitrate of

soda, 10 Urns niauure l,(l^6

Check plot, no manure, no fertiliser 1.204

204 96
192 64

Coetof ; Net
rinnure ^ returns
per acre. \ per acre.

243 14

276 78

242.16
192 64

27

OOUUENn.

\s shown by the table Plot 1 gave the highest yield and the largest net return
per acre. Plot 4 receiving the potash and aoda was a very close second. The former
yield was 824 lbs. per acre more than that obtained on the check plut. This latter
mentioned plot, where no manure or fertilizer was applied, gave the smallest net return
of any of the plots. Plots 2 and 6 showed tue advantage of using barnyard manure,
an increase of 562 lbs. per acre being obtained through its use. An increase of 462
lbs. per acre in Plot 1 over Plot 2 indicated that to get maximum results, commer-
cial fertilizers must be used. The small difference of 12 pounds per acre between Plot

3 fertilized with potash and phosphoric acid, and Plot 5 fertilized with nitrate of
soda and phosphoric acid is worthy of comment. A comparison of Plots
8 and 1 indicated the beneficial effect of nitrate of soda. Plots 5 and
1 indicated the effect produced by sulphate of potash. The difference in
yield in these two cases was about equal, indicating that both nitrogen
and potash were lacking in the soil and that the Burley plant required a large supply
of both. Plots 3 and 5 indicated that one was needed as badly as the other and Plot

4 demonstrated that they were inseparable if the best results were aimed at.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

First. — An application of manure was a necessary paying investment and it was
the most economical method of adding humus and plant food to the soil.

Second. — To get the largest yields in growing Burley, barnyard manure must be
supplemented with a moderate dressing of commercial fertilizer.

Third. — The soil was lacking in potash and nitrogen, and the Burley plant
required both elements. This f.'\ct was plainly shown by the increase in yield of 644
lbs. per acre in the potash and nitrogen plot over the check plot.

Fourth. — The results o^ the fertilizer esperiments of 1910 bear out those obtained
in 1909. In the light of two years successful tests, it is economical to use the single
fertilizers.

Experiment 2.— One acre of Improved Burley was planted 3 feet 8 inches x 32
inches June 11. The fertilizer was spread on broadcast and harrowed in before
planting. It was applied as a complement to a light coat of manure at the following
rate: —

300 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre.
260 lbs. sulphate of potash per acre.
12 tons manure per acre.

The above fertilizers were mixed together on the barn floor before application.
The same mpthod was adopted in all other experiments.

Notes on the plot. — The plants grew well but for the severe ravages of the cut-
worms which destroyed fully 60 to 70 per cent of the plot. This necessitated replant-
inff at different times, consequently there were a great many small plants at harvest
time and the plot lacked uniformity. It seemed that this plot was attacked worse
by the cutworms than any others.

Nevertheleis, the planti that remained from the fir«t setting were very large,
showing that the crop required sulphate of potash and nitrate of soda. The yield
per acre was 1,340 Iba., and I believe bad the cutworms not attacked it so badly, the
yield would have been at least 800 lbs. more. I might add that the above rate of
apiJicatiou of the two fertili«er»— sulphate of potash and nitrate of soda— is recom-
mended for trial by the average grower. The cost of the above, including freight,
will be tl6 per acre.

Experiment 3.— One acre was divided into two plots of balf an acre each. Each
plot was planted with Improved Burley on June 16, at the same distance 3 feet 8
inches x 32 inches in the row. The fertiliser was broadcasted by hand and harrowed
in.

The plots were treated as follows: —

No. 1, i acre.— Apply 600 lbs. per acre sulphate of potash, 12 tons manure

per acre.
No. 2, } acre.— Apply 300 lbs. per acre sulphate of potash, 12 tons manure

per acre.

As iiKlionte.1. t:in exiu'rim..iit wiis i.lainicil to Hii.l out tin- offoct on the yield of
the different quantities of potash with manure. I might mention that it was found
from last season's experiments vhat Burley required a large supply of potash to make
the best development. The results coincided with those of 1109. The average yield
per acre for the two plots was 1,680 lbs. per acre.

Plot No. 1 yielded 1.896 lbs. per acre.
" No. 2 " 1,464 "

The net value of the crop from No. 1 was $276.36 per acre.

The nut value of the crop from No. 2 was $216.74 per acre.

The above return was arrived at after deducting the value of the fertilizer at
$50 per ton, plus freight and manure at 75 cents per ton From these figures it will
be seen that the heavier application gave a net return of about $60 per acre more
than the lighter dressing.

When the heavier applications of this special fertilizer paid better than the
lighter dressing on this averagu soil, the writer is safe in saying that the average
tohacco fanner can very pofitahly apply some sulphate of potash along with a good
application of manure. He can get sufficient nitrogen by using all the manure avail-
nblo. and by plowir.jr tinder a clover sod, but the required supply of potash can come
from no other source than some form of potash fertilizer, preferably the sulpha! i.
The outlay need not exceed $10 per acre.

Experiment 4.— One acre was divided into two one-half acre plots, planted the
same day with the same type of plants. The plots were treated as follows:—
Plot No. 1—

COO lbs. per acre nitrate of soda (.300 lbs.),
sulphate of potash (150 Hw.)-

noo

IW " superphosphate (50 lbs.).
12 tons per acre manure.

M

Plot No. 2—

1,000 lbs. per acre guano.
12 tont per acre manure.

OOUUBIITB.

No. 1 yielded 1,742 Ibi. per acre.
No. 2 yielded 1,S42 Iba. per acre.

After deducting the cost of each particular application of chemical fertilizer
and the manure, the net value of the crop per acre was as follows: —

No. 1. Net value of crop per acre, $246.72.
No. 2. " « " $219.72.

The difference in favour of No. 1 was $27 per acre. However, final conclusions
should not be drawn from one particular test. The grower should experiment for
himself with the different fertilizers and find out one which gives the best results on
his particular soil, during varying seasons.

Experiment S. — A plot of one acre was planted the same Atj with the same type
of plants. It was treated as follows: —

625 lbs. per acre nitrate of soda.
325 " sulphate of potash.
160 " superphosphate.
10 tons per acre barnyard manure.

The .yield was 1,.330 lbs. per acre. However, had not at least one-tenth of an acre
been taken up, and shaded by trees, the yield would have licon over 1,400 lbs. per acre.
The manure appliad to thia plot was of very poor quality, being quite strawy. Again,
this plot was planted later than the others.

A epecial tobacco fertilizer. — A tobacco fertilizer composed apparently of tobacco
refuse was applied by hand to each plant on a amal? plot not mentioned above. It
was hoed in. However, owing to the lateness of the arrival of the fertilizer, the test
was not a fair one. Considering the low cost per ton, it gave very good results for
the outlay. It is the intention to give it a thorough test next season.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDAI. S.

First. — To get the largest yield in growing Burley a moderate application of
commercial fertilizer should supplement barnyard manure. Burley is a special crop
requiring particular food elements.

The Burley crop of the farm averaged 1,560 lbs. per acre. I consider that, by
thorough cultivation and the use of commercial manures, the increase per acre was
at least 400 lbs. The net returns frrm the crop, after paying for the fertilizer, was
at least $200 more than had it not been used. In short the direct gain from its use
was $40 per acre.

Second. — The csoessive drmith in the early part of the growing season had a
marked influence by not allowing the fertilizer to become dissolved and incorporated
with the soil when the plant needed it most. The same fertilizers applied at equal

--*

M

r«tei per .ere K>ve larger yield, on imall plott in 1909. Thi. difference wt» due to
the wore favourable climatic conditiont during the growing aeaton. The grower
should not draw conclusion, from a tingle year', test with a particular fertilixer.

The fertiliser, .hould be te.ted during varying H>ason«. Purchaw the .ingle
nigrclients. mix them tt^ether in the proportion, above indicated, and apply brond-
last. Lnrrowing in well before phmting. If a .mall amount i. applied, mix with the
soil around the pl.mt by hand hoeing, or if planting by hand apply in the hill befon.
dotting out.

Third.-An application of gulphato of pota.h and nitrate of so<la gave best
results. The phosphoric acid element was least required. An application of 300
lbs. sulphate of potash and 250 lbs. nitrate of soda in conjunction with a liberal
applu-ntion of good manure might W tried to advantage on the ordinary soil In
caso n thick clover sod wore plowed under, the quantity of nitrate of soda might be
reduced.

CW.NNECTICL'T BROAD LEAK AND BKl OHIO VARIETIES.

About J of an acre was planted with the above varieties. The ground was not
manured or fertilized. Where the soil was light in texture the crop was good but
owing to a goodly portion of the area being of a clay nature, the crop was below
average. If a farmer has a piece of ground that will not grow Burley successfully
or a soil containing a large amount of black muck, either of the above varieties might
be tried. However, owing to the lack of demand for this dark type, the Burley
variety is recommended to the average grower.

FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH THE KILN DRIED TTPE.

The object of these experiments was to determine the influence of the different
combinations of fertilizers on the growtli and subsequent colour of the crop. One
acre was planted with the Warne variety and divided into six plots. They were
treated as follows: —

Plot Xo. 1.-800 lbs. per acre of a 3-8-3-fertiHzer was applied broadcast before
planting.

Plot No. 2.— Check plot.
Plot No. 3—

350 lbs. per acre superphosphate (68-5 lbs.).

300 lbs. per acre nitrate of soda (50 lbs.).
Plot No. 4—

350 lbs. per acre superphosphate (58-5 lbs.).

3W) " nitrate of soda (50 lbs.).

200 '• sulphate of potash (33-3 Ibg.).

Plot No. 5—

300 lbs. per acre nitrate of soda (50 lbs.).

200 " sulphate of potash (33-3 lbs.).

Plot No. 6—

350 lbs. per acre superpliosphate (58-6 Ibs.j.

200 " sulphate of potash (33.3 lbs.).

81

The 3-8-3 cumbinatioii it tliu form of fortilizor extcniively uicd in Virginia in
growing l)right toliaoco. Tlio figurci represent 3 per cent potash, 4 per c<>ut phos-
phoric acid, and 3 |icr cent nitrogen. The larger percentage of phosphoric acid it
to hasten the maturity of tlie crop. Owing to the excessive damage wrought by the
cutwonns on this particular area, necessitating replanting fcveral times, the crop was
quite uneven and rather late in maturing. Consequently each plot was not kept
separate in the curing process.

The tohaoco on each plot matured about the same time. However, owint; to the
latene^ia of tlie planting, the colour wna not as good lu in the case of the tirst planting.
The crop grew larger, but it retained the greenlHli cast in the field longer than ii
desired to produce a bright colour. In short the fertilizer stimulated the growth, but
did not hasten tlie maturity or improve the final coiour when cured.

The balance of ihc area in Warnc tobacco, comprising an area of 4 aore^, was
fertilized with the 3-8-3 combination at the rate of soo ll.s. jx^r acre. Miuano' at the
rate of TiOO His. per acre win applied to ii plot of one acre. All the above fertilizer
was broadcasted ar.d harrowed in. Since the four-acre plot was planted the first days
in Juno and the cutworms did not cut off many plants, the crop was (luitc uniform
and presented the desired colour in the field.

Cl I.TLIIAI, DIRECTlONsi.

Selection of the toil. — The importance of close selection of the soil for bright
tobacco was suggested again this season. A small portion of the field was low lying
and tended towards a clay loam. The tobacco on this spot was quite small and
seemed to retain the green cast when the crop on the higher lying sandy soil was
growing well and had taken on Uie marked yellow appearance. The very light
coloured sandy soil on some farms might prmluce a bright yellow wrapiier, while
other portions of the same farm (better adapted probably for Burley or for other
farm crops) would produce only the second or cheaper grade.

The season. — However, ihe season, the distribution of the rainfall, or a cold
backward period in the early spring, have a close relationship to tlie final product.

To illustrate, the crop must have a uniform growth after setting, or the plants
will grow up, button out. and require topping too early.

After topping, if moisture comes, the crop will take a second growth and keep
on growing when it should be ripening. This condition of affairs is very objection-
able, and the crop is likely to cure with a greenish cast and have a rough leaf. The
crop should make its growth the latter part of June and the first part of July, but not
in August, when it should be ripening. A moist June and early part of July followed
by dry weather in August is the kind of weather most desired.

Date of planting. — This type of tobacco would have been planted the latter part
of May, but the weather was quite cold and backward and snow fell the last day of
May. As a consequence planting was delayed till June 2, when the snow and rain
ceased and the temperature increased. Four acres were set at the first planting, and
the balance wa? planted in about ten days' time. The early planting ripened up
quicker, was ' 'ore uniform, and altogether presented e brighter coloured leaf than
the later se', .ig.

Any faniMr conUmplating the culture of this t<^aoco should maka proviiloo for
a 'supply of oarljr plant*. As was indicated last season it is almost imperatiTa that
glass sash be used for rearing the seedling* if thejr are to be ready in due time. It
is absolutely neoeaaary to have a plant thoroughly ripe before barraating if we arc to
obtain the ideal colour. Then too the aeason i* none too long for thi* type of tobacoo.
In fact the *ea*on of 1910 seemed to be rather abort for some of the crop to ripen.
Unless harresting is commenced about the middle of September, the high winds
during the latter part of September and the early part of October will damage the
leaTes about as badly as early frost. Further the grower, who is go''<f to handle
three acres in one kiln, will find that at least one curing must be c. rly in order
to handle the balance of the crop expeditiously and aroid damage from letting it
stand in the field too long.

Priming. — The plant was ' prim'ed ' — that is the sand leaves and two or three
lower ones were remove<l so that nothing but sound members remained. Sometimes
three and occasionally five leaves were stripped off. It depended on the condition
of the lower ones and the future possibilities of the plant. These sand lugs were
of poor quality and simply increased the waste products and the subsequent work of
grading. Then too ' priming ' favoured the development of adventitious roots and
allowed the plant food to be carried to the sound leaves rather than to the damaged
bottom members.

Topping. This operation was begun i^aen the button appeared, sometimes
sooner. The plant was topped at eight to twelve leaves, the average being about ten.
This operation required the best of judgment: in addition one must be able to sum
up quickly what the future possibilities of a plant will be. A guldin^ i \h at topjiiii,
time 19 to top low in a damp season and to top high in a dry season. Since, if the
weather is wet at topping time it will usually be dry later on and vice versa. By
following the above rule we shall have a smaller percentage of immature top leaves.
However, no set rule can be closely followed, the grower must use forethought and the
most delicate sense of judgment. Following this operation the piants were hilled
up by turning the inside shovels of the two-horse combination cultivator. Up to this
date, August 7, the crop had been hoed twice, cultivated four times, and the fifth or
last cultivation was railed ' laying by ' the crop.

fi

HARVESTIKO.

The Virginia leaf should be riper before cutting than is the case with any other
type of tobacco, Burley included. Every leaf on the plant should show marked
yellow spots on the upper surface. Since there was a marked difference in the
manner and rate of ripening of different plants, the crop was picked over in the field
and the ripest spots taken. By so doing the kiln was filled with plants of a more
uniform ripeness and the curing was better.

Splitting the stalk: — The plant was first split from the top down to near the
bottom leaves, and then cut off at the ground, with a knife made specially for the
purpose. This knife was sharpened on both edges, the rounded side being used for
splitting and the hooked edge for cutting the stalk. After splitting, the plant was
inverted and placed over the lath. This operation required a boy to hold the stick

in a horizontal |M>iitiuu and lay it duwn whoa full, after plants had been evenly
•pai-eil. The iplitting of the stalk I.: -'entnl the curing proceat by allowing a mure
ready eicope of moisture from the tissues.

Tht method. — The method of proct>]un< wns to drop the lath through the field
every fourth row, thick enough to take the tobacco that was to b« cu>. From six to
ten plants, depending on the size and condition, were placed upon a lath. The
tobacco was hauled to the barn before thoroughly wilttHl, the cutting and hauling
going on simultaneously. When sufficient was cut, the tilling of tlie curing barn was
completed, the cutting, hauling, and hanging being completcxl in one day.

I pur[io!i<>, anotlicr season, trying piling while un th<> loth a portion of the crop
and allowing it to wilt thoroughly and ynllow up U-foro huuiing. It might Imj left
in the field for two days or longer, licforc hauling to the kiln. By so doing the leaf
should bo thoroughly wilted and the lath could bo hung more closely in the barn,
without danger. In addition to the material saving of bani room, a larger load may
be hauled from the field. However, great core must be exercised in handling the
lath, as the leaf is very tender when in the yellowing stage of curing. It is very
easily bruiM>d and darkened. If hung on a tobacco rack when hauling from the field,
and the tips of the leaves not allowed to drag over the racking, no particular damage
should result. By this method of handling, it is expected that the leaf will cure up
to ■ more uniform yellow colour.

CL'UMO.

The object of the curing was to develop a lemon yellow colour, in short a bright
wrapper for plug purpose:). The ideal leaf in addition to the colour had a fine texture
and a rich, o"y. clastic appe<iranc(>. The first two '.:!:.- were filled September 9 and
10, or 106 days from the date of letting. The tobacco was allowed to stand in the
kiln during one day before the fires were started. The object was to start the yellow-
ing process before applying the heat. The firing was begun on Monday, September
12, and the entire process was completed Friday morning at 0 p.m. or in four and
a half days. A cold high wind prevailed, consequently it was more difficult to get
the tobacco to yellow. Then too it required more fuel to maintain the temperature
in the kilns.

Curing of Burley. — Several Burley leaves were placed in the curing barn, but
it was found that after yellowing the leaf turned red as it dried. The final colour
was practically the same as when air cured. However, to have a fair test, the Burley
should have been handled in a separate kiln, since it required different temperatures
for drying. This result was not in keeping with the 1909 experiment, when a bright
lemon yellow colour was obtained. However, the leaf presented a rich gummy appear-
ance and had a thicker tissue.

The two kilns were filled again September 26 and 27, and the fires were r 3d
the eTAning of the 27th. The time required to handle these two curings was about
the same as in the former case, namely four days six hours. There was warm calm
weather most of the time and the temperature was easily maintained.

Formula for curing. — (See Bulletin No. A-9.) However, the same formula did
not apply successfully in every particular curing. The principal reason for this state
4876—3

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84

of affairs was that all the methods were based solely on the temperature. The condi-
tion of the tobacco must be watched as closely as the thermometer.

Scalding and sponging. — If the sap was dried into the leaf through increasing
the temperature too rapidly, a greenish dark colouration known as ' scalding ' resulted.

We eiperienced some of this during one of the curings. On the other hand, if
there was not sufficient heat applied, or if there was not ample ventilation to carry
of* the excess of moisture as soon as given off by the leaf, the latter ' sponged.' Theee
troubles occurred immediately after the sapping of the leaf or during what was known
as ' setting the colour,' which latter period was the most critical of the whole process.

The following is a summary of the method followed during two of the curings : —

80° to 90' Fahr during 24 hours.

100° " 106° " " 12 "

110° Fahr " 12 "

115° « " 6 "

120° « " 12 "

125° " " 2 "

140<» " " 12 "

150° " " 6 "

160° to 170° Fahr " 12 "

180° " 190° " " 15 "

Total 4 days 17 hours.

When the curing was finished, the doors and ventilators were opened. The
weathpr conditions were generally such as to bring tho tobacco ' in case ' in condition
for handling withct bresVing. A light shower, or a foggy night, brought the
tobacco in good ordei.

Bvlking down. — When the leaf was in condition it was bulked down in the base-
ment of the air curing bam without being removed from the lath. A nhnrt time in
the bulk improved the colour and straightened out the leaves. If not in good case,
the laths were first hung up on scaffolding in the basement of the barn where the leaf
generally came in good shape for handling. The longer the crop was left hanging
up so that it came in and out of case occasionally, the better the coloUF obtained.

Grading. — The following classes and grades were made: First. 'Wrappers,'
fo'"1ivided into three grades, bright yellow lemon, bright red and dark led. Second,
'lips,' leaves having a distinct greenish cast. Third. 'Lugs,' divided into the bright
and dark grades.

This latter class might be termed smokers; it included what sand leaves were
present and all those leaves which were badly torn or of a very thin texture.

The proportion of the different grades will vary with different s, in fact with
different curings of the same crop. To illustrate, the first four ci .„s of our 1910
crop containec' six grades, while the last two curings which were co osed -.f a poorer
type of leaf contained but three grades. While the gnding requirt J o, '• . 50 per
cent more timi, than the ordinary method of handling air cured tobai,co, still, the
crop presented a much more attractive appearance, and suited the demands of the
market.

85

Tying. — This tobacco rras tied into small hands, using the tip end of a good leaf
for wrapper and covering tho stem end of the leaf almost entirely. While the above
method would not allow the stcn to dry out as thoroughly as would the ordinary
manner of handling BurVy. -m liw. i^nrket favoured it, and it was the custom in
the bright tobacco belt. ' urtiie/ the stinii i; a leaf of the flue-cured type is more
free from moisture than is (he use with Bur^ay, hence this method of tying.

Rehvlking. — After tyinr t'c l»af was bu'ieu into li.'sre piles, keeping each grade
separate. These piles must be closely rvsiohed thai they do not become too moist, or
the temperature rise beyond normal, when the tobacco will heat and mould very
quickly. In case the bulks began to get too warm they were torn down, the hands
shaken out and the whole rebulked again. This avoided any further trouble.

RETURNS FROM TllE CROP.

The crop yielded 000 lbs. per acre, r id the price obtained was UO cents per pound
for the entire crop. The gross return per acre was $270, This result was quite
encouraging. We can account for the enhanced price from the fact that the crop
was more uniform than that obtained Inst season, and in addition the percentage of
good bright red tobacco was larger.

When we consider that no manure was applied and the cost of fertilizer did not
exceed $5.76 per acre the net returns compared very favourably with Burley. The
c St for fuel was 6.75 per acre. This figure incluJed the initial cost of the wood, the
cutting, the hauling, etc. The net return, not including the labour, use of buildings
and rent of land, was $270 less $12.50 — $257.50 per acre.

However, having secured the use of a ten acre field which is higher lying and
presenting to all appearances a better bright tobacco soil, we hope to produce a still
better grade of leaf in 1911.

SEED SELECTION AND DISTRIBUTION.

Over 500 typical Burley plants were selected for seed and a 10-lb. paper bag
placed over each flower just when it was beginning to open. This prevented the
intercrossing of other varieties grown in the field and also prevented any cross fer-
tilization of the flowers of good plants with those of poor ones and vice versa.

As the plants grew, the bag had to be pulled up on the flower head in order to
give the flowers a chance to de'elop. When sufficient pods had formed seed, the
bags were removed, and all small immature capsules and flowers were destroyed.
Thus nothing but large well developed capsules were allowed to mature. By this
method of selection the seed pods seemed to grow well and ripened normally when
the bags were removed.

The leaves were allowed to remain on the seed plants till after the whole crop
of tobacco was harvested. When it was thought the seid required the balance of the
season to ripen or to brown up, the leaves were stripped off and hung on a lath by a
string fastened to the lath at both ends, and a special loop holding together a bunch
of about ten leaves. There were from 15 to 20 bunches of 10 leaves each, on every
lath. This necessitated a good deal of work, but through this method the leaves cured
up a better colour than they would have by another practical method.

4876— 3J

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UH ^

^9 9

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,

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88

IMPORTANCE OF SOWING RF.LUBI.E SEED.

Experience has taught farmers the necessity of sowing reliable seed for all farm
crops. Why not use selected tobacco seed ? Large plump grains will germinate more
quickly and produce stronger plants witii good root development. Then too, heavy
seed will produce more disease resistant plants. Secure a small sample from a
known reliable source. Select a few plants for your own seed supply, and practice
selection with this particular type. Seed selected on your soil and grown according
to the above directions should give best results. By so doing wc shall not have so
many crops lucking in uniformity and yield. One way of increasing the yield per
•ere of your crop is individual seed selection.

FREE DISTHIBITION OF SEED.

Over 1:5 lbs. of Improved Burley seed was grown for free distribution to any
farmer and may !« had by applying to F. Charlan, Tobacco Division, Canadian

Building, Ottawa.

Yours respectfully,

W. A. BARNET,

AsaUtant in charge of Harrow Station.^
Harrow^ February, 1911.

'I

IV.

CLEANING AND GRADING TOBACCO SEED.

During the last few years the advantage of using heavy tobacco seed (plump
and well ripened) has been particularly urged upon tobacco growers.

It is well known that the quality of the seed varies greatly according to the pro-
portion of ripe or unripe capsules that are harvested, and it is also known that unless
special precautions are taken, the capsules on the same plant are at various stages
of maturity when harvested.

Uniformity of quality in the seed is a very important factor in tobacco growing.
Good seed is essential in order to secure good seedlings, and the success of the crop
depends, in no small degree, on the quality of the seedlings. This is why seed pro-
duction and sowing methods have received so much attention from this division.

TJiese two subjects, the production of seeds and their treatment before sowing,
have ben discussed at full length in previous publications of this division (Bulletins
A-1, A-8, A-9 of the Tobacco Division), and the grower who rlosely follows the
methods advised in these bulletins will be sure to get seed of good quality. But
recommendations are not always acted upon, and it is quite likely that many growers
will continue to harvest mixed seed which will require to be carefully ci\ "d and
graded before it can i* utilized.

Various apparatus have been devised for cleaning and grading seed.
In the first place there are the sieves in sets: hulls and fragments of capsules
remain on the top sieve whilst the cleaned seed is found on the lower oa ; the dust
is collected in a solid bottom. However, tobacco seed .s too small to w graded by
weight and size with this apparatus, and the results, being incomplete, are not entirely
satisfactory.

In other apparatus, a mechanical separa^'on of seeds, dust and f ragmen iS of
capsules is effected, generally by means of air currents. The results are pretty much
the same as those obtained with the sieves, and the latter have the advantage of being
more economical.

The largest tobacco seeds are generally the heaviest, but on account of the
extremely small size of the seeds, as stated above, they cannot be graded with sieves.
It was necessary therefore to. adopt some system of mechanical separation in which
the seeds, being carried by a current of air, would settle at various distances, accord-
ing to their weight.

One of the first apparatus with this object in view is a small mechanical cleaner,
devised by M. E. Yehl, an inspector of the Tobacco Branch, of France.

By means of this apparatus, which has since fallen into aisuse, ifr. Yehl managed
to separate two qualities of seed, one of an apparent density of 0-470, the other of
0.3(K). This apparent density was obtained by weighing 1 litre measure filled with all
the tobacco seed it could contain.

More recently, Americans have advocated the use of an apparatus consisting of
a Tcrtica; jiuss tube (sec Fig. 1), made up of two parts, held together by a metallic

87

i 1

t

I

t<i

88

joint, cemented at the top. At the bottom of the top part is a metallic i lU, &ie
enough to check the passage of tobacco seed, and a stopper for regulating the passage
of air, which is, forced into the tube by means of a treadle blower, connected with the
apparatus by a rubber tube. Under the effect of the current of air, the dust and
fragments arc blown out of the tube, and the seeds of tobacco, being carried by the
air towards the top, run down, when the strength of the current is well regulated in
a series of falls, during which the heaviest seed, falling quicker than the others,
gathers progressively and fairly rapidly at the bottom of the tube.

We have succeeded in separating seed of a considerable density (0-600) by means
of this apparatus, but there are objections to its use.

In the first place, the action is not continuous. After each operation the two
halves of the tube must be taken apart in order to gather the seed which nas collected
at the bottom. This must be done with care so as not to lose any of the seeds con-
tained in the movable top part. Then, there is nothing to indicate the separation
between the seeds of various density. Furthermore, in order that a separation may
be effecte<l, it is necessary to operate upon a larger quantity of seed than is required
to fill the lower tulie.

It is "evident thpt the heaviest seeds collect at the bottom and that the density
goes decreasing progressively from bottom to top. whilst the dust and light fragments
are blown out; but there is nothing to show definitely what quantity of seed must be
rejected.

In theory, the results are excellent, since two distinct grades of seed are obtained,
the heaviest and the lightest, but it may be doubted if this apparatus would work
satisfnctorily in practice, at least in the hands of one who is not nn expert. Further-
more, it is rather expensive, the total cost, blower included, being $10. To this, the
duties must be added, as the apparatus is manufactured in the United States.

But we have .obtained a perfect separation by means of a small fanning mill,
with ventilator attached (see Fig. 2). This mill, which may be operated at varying
rates of speed, divides the seeds into three classes, whilst dust and chaff are carried
out.

However, in order to secure good results, the seeds must first be sifted, so as to
take out all big fragments which might interfere with the regular rate of speed of the
distributor.

In order to test the efficiency of the machine it was run at varying rates of feed-
ing, and the following results were obtained : —

Ist trial.- -Cuban seeds.

(a) High rate of feeding — average speed —

No. 1 52274

" 2 38-672

" S 23-84

(6) Slow rate of feeding — average speed —

No. 1 .'. 0-577

" 2 0-528

" 3 0-43

ri.ATi I.

SEKI) CLKANKI! AM) CIJADKK.

Till' lir;nii'«t s.-<>il ^rutliiT at thf iMittoni uf thr tutu- lift«(i-ii tlii' two metallic ioiiitu rcini'iiti'il

to tlu't-liiss.
4.'<7tJ--|p. :w.

i

Vlatk II.

SEEP CLEANER AND GRADER.

,.„...„,..., ,u*5;~-„Ert^»3-sr'.s-«'*"^^^

8»
(c) Average r.te of feedings. yerage ipeed- ^^^_

No. 1 0-491

" » ; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; '.[ .. o-m

and fragment, was retained in grades 1 and 2, r«o. ^

Apparent density — 0-6884

• No. 1— (a) _

" !•-('>) 0-4986

" 1.— (c) ■

In this the letters a, I, c represent f original lots 12 ^-^<=';-';; ^^ ^,^^

in No 3, wbiUt dust end fragments were well removed.

The following apparent densities were noted:- ^^^^

No. 1 0-446

" 2 ........■■■■ 0-350

•were as follows :— 0-48360

No. 2 (o) . . . . 0-4787

" 2(1) 0-3360

« 2 (c) . , .

PorcenUge of germinated seed*.

No.

1..
2 .
2a
2b
2c
S..

6 days.

77
7fi
82
70
54
81

14 days.

86
80
87
75
58
39

I

40

T-ot No. 3 miuit be rejfoted. and loti 1, 3 (a) and 9 (b) e«n be »«fely mi«e<L

T» J «ppar8tu» works rapidly, make* a clean grading of Mwdi according to denaity,
remove* all du»t and fragnionU and givcK a minimum quantity of wa«te seedi. Any
quantity of seed may be worked upon. Therefore it ii practical and may be recom-
mended.

Vp to the present time, we have chiefly relied upon good methods of production
and careful selection for improving the quality of the varietiea of tobacco grown in
Canada. Any teeth obtainiMl by the methods whic»- have been recommended in pre-
vious publications will not require to be graded by this process. We do it however
in order to further guarant(>o the quality of tobacco 86e<l distributed through the
Department of Agriculture, as we feel confident that befire long all growers will
get their see<l from the department. The effect of thie distribution of seed will be
to increase the yields in weight, to insure a greater uniformity of quality and lesa
variation in the strains. As the quality of these strains for manufacturing purpose!
is duily l)ecoming more apparent, it is important that they be fixed as soon as possible.

XoTE.— The opportunity here presents itself to condenm a practice too common
among tobacco growers with regard to seed testing: The seeds are thrown into a
glass of water and only those that fall to the bottom are considered as good. This
method is worse than useless. As a geniral rule the apecific weight of tobacco seed
is liolow 1. It must therefore be expected that it will remain at the surface, and seed*
should not be rejectrc. .=> bad because the method of testing is faulty.

In one of his tri> ! . G. Blot, of France, has observed that the specific weight of
scpd^ varies from 0-78 to 0-00. In a more recent trial conducted by the Experimental
Farm laboratory at Ottawa, with tobacco 8?ed of a density of 0-60, the specific weight
rpaolie<l as high as 1-0123. However, in spite of this exceptional density, this seed,
when thrown into a glass of water, remained on the surface, owing to the adherence

of air to the hull.

F. CHARLAX.

APP£in>IZ.
THE TOBACCO DIVIBIOIT.

BT

F. Chultn.

The Tobacco Division was orgoni/^d towards the end of the year 101)5, when the
Honourable Sy(h.ey Fisher, Minister of Agriculture, instructed an officer to inquire
into tlie con.litioi of the tobacco growing industry in Canada. This officer, who li
the author of this article Ixjcame, in time, the chief of the Tobacco Divi»-ion.

After a tour of inspection in the chief tobacco growing centres of Canada, viz.,
a few counties in Quebec and the county of Essex, in Ontario, a campaign of improve-
ment was started, beginning with the province of Quebec, the effects of which are
already noticeable. If any part of Canada stood in nee.l of improvement at that
time, so far as metho<ls of growing and curing were concerned, it cannot be doubted
that this part wag the province of Quebec.

Of course, wo are still far fronj perfecUon and a great deal remains to be done,
but this much has been gained: the growing of tobacco, in the chief productive dis-
tricts of the province of Quelwc, has now a definitive aim: the production of pipe
and cigar tobaccos.

Long before this time, the growers of Essex county, more enlightened or better
adviseil, had found their calling, an.l were carrying on the tobacco industry for a
purely manufacturing purpose, the Burley being their almost 'xclusive product. This
varietv, which is greatly appreciated by the manufacturers of plug tobacco and which
may also be utilized in tlie preparation of some pipe mi.xtures. requires special
climatic conditions, not generally met with in the prc>rlnce of Quebec.

At the present time, the tobacco growing centres in Canada may be defined as

follows.

1. South Ontario and Essex county (chiefly the latter). Specialty: plug tobacco,
Burley variety, a heavy yielder in weight, and requiring a fairly long summer and
a favourable fall in order to ripen and cure properly. The soils of Essex county
contain a fairly lorge proportion of lime, which favours the production of a leaf with
. porous texture; such leaves are eminently suitable for the production of plug or
chewing tobaccos, on account of the ease with which they absorb the juices which
enter in such a large proportion in the manufacture of these products.

2 Quebec The chief contributors to the tobacco crop of this province are the
counties on the north shore of the St. Lawrence: Montcalm, Joliette, I'Assomption.
Deux-Monta«nes, etc., and a new group which is daily becoming more important:
the Rouville group, on the opposite shore, south of Montreal. Owing to the com-
paratively short season, the growers of Quebec were compelled to select early varie-
ties such' as Canelle, Petit Kouge, Petit Havana, etc., which are the so-called Canadian
tobaccos. These varieties of tobacco are remarkably early, but their yield, with the
exception of the Canelle which still commands high prices, is so light that they are

41

P

4S

BOt fwjerully very |.r..fitp'.l«. Other vnriotici. including the »ee<l leiif«; Ton •cticut
Bewl Le«f, Havana Hew! I-e»f and Conwtock Spaniih. giv,. aufBiient yiehli to leave
« good profit to tlie pro«luoer. Sooner or later, however, tlie Connecticut Seed Ix«af
will ceaM to b.< grown in the province of Quehec. Being a very ilow grower. thi»
tobMco cannot be .lependwl upon, with any degre.- of certainty, in a normal .«•'•»"
ripen iK-for,. the firat autumn frost.. During t)w lait few year, the Havana Seed
Leaf, not «o largo a vnriet.v hut n iurcr cropper, hn« been taking iti place. But the
Havana Sccl l>puf \-> ul»o (rr.MluHliy disappearing U'fore the Comstoek Spanish, a
recently intro<lu<-.Ml vari. t.v in Cnnoda an.l which has Wome acelimatiziKl in «
marked <lcgrc'?.

3 Hriti^h Columbia (Okanngnn valley). Cuban tobac. o haa l*eu grown for some
time with goo,l result, in this part of C.na.la. The products of this tobacco ore
filler, of e!«eelhtit quality although rather strong.

The count V of Ksscx appear, to be particularly well adapted to the growing of
Birlev the province of QucIk-c to the scvl leafs and Co.nstock. and the Okanagan
Ttllley, owing to its special climatic conditions, is admirably adapted to the growing
of an aromatic filler.

Before t]>c T..l,m DiviMon w«. ..rKani/.e-l the chief aim of the tobacco growers

wa. to get the luavicHt tosmMc .vi.id in «eiKbt. There could not be much objection
to this sv-stem ill the proviiH'e of Ontario, owing to the siK-eial nature of the products.
but it wa. entir-l.v wrong in the province of Quelle, where climatic conditions were

radically against it. ,,,111

In the province of (Juel re. it was usele.. to look 'or heavy yields from such small
yarieties a, the co-called Canadian tobaccos, and the big and slow growing varieties
such as tlie Burley having failed, the farmers of this province had almost generally
adopted the Connecticut Seed Le.f. which they called the Grand Connecticut. The
larger the leaf, the more profitable the variety was supposed to be. Too often, unfor-
tunately, tow.ar.l- the end of August or in the first part of SeptemlH^r. heavy frost,
occurred, which in a few moments ruined a promising crop. As already stated this
i. one of the re«r.ons for which tbi. variety is being abandoned in Queltec.

At our first i.ispeetio.i trip in Quebec, two errors were observed. In the first
place the seel leaf tobaccos were generally too ripe when harvested. They were also
pl«,ted too far apart. Therefore, in some cases, it seemed possible to avoid early
frosts bv harvesting a few days earlier, and it seemed also possible to get heavier
yield, in weight by planting closer, securing, at the same time, a leaf with a more
delicate texture and large enough for all purposes.

The first experiments carried on with Comstoek Spanish on the Central Experi-
mental Farm, at Ottawa, in 1006. gave us a yiel.l of 1,800 lbs. per acre. Although the
spring of lOOfi was rather cold, the year may be considered as having been favour-
able to the growing of tobacco.

This showed us that with earlier varieties, the heavy yields .o eagerly sougiit
by the farmers of Quebec could easily te obtained. This is one of the first adv;m-
tages of close planting. But there is another advantage: Some varieties wh>.h, when
plwited too far apart, gave thick and strong tobaccos, yielded, when planted closer.
finer leaver and lighter products. Here was a possibility of producing a bmder type
of tobaew of fir=t cl«ss quality, in the province of Quebec. It is well known that

C.n.<U import! million! of pound, of tobacco for tK. , purpo«, every year from
WiKon.in .na Connwtieut. Th*re w.« no reaeon why • IwiiM. grown product, of
equal quHlity. could not meet thi« demand.

Quebec grower*, at le««t tho«e iituatwl in the more imporUnt di.tricti. loon
realized the imp.>rt«nce of .peciali^ing in tuch varicti.*.. Two di.trict, wer,. foremost
i, $. doiiiK. Montcalm and Ilouvillc. Warel.ouHM for the handling and preparation
of thew tobacco, have now l*..n e4tnbliil.e.l in the province of Quelle and a number
of other* will .oon be built. Thi. i. c(M...lu.iv,. proof that the product, of thii pro-
vince are now .nifablc for maniifiuturing purpose* and they are of first das. quniity
acconling to «ome manufacturers.

The future work of the Tobacco I)ivi«ion will be to endeavour to centrali/e, in
diffennt dii.til.t-. the various tyi>e. necessary for the rnnadirfn manufncturiiiK in-
duitry. To do thin will re(|uire fur more work and work of a more .idicate nature
than to correct niistiikp. in production n« wu^ done for t'lc (armor* of Quelx'c. It
ia vcrv difficult to indii.c .1 farmer to rIvc up the growing of a vari-ty to which Im
is a.'ctistonicd nn.l whi.-h he consider-, a. profitable. Private interest, sometimes mis-
understoo.!, -.ftei. speak.s louder than Rcneral interest. This le<l to the establishment
of experimental fields in the various districts, in or.ler to test the ndiiptability of the
ilifTcreiit varieties of tobacco as produced in all parts of Canada.

Th^ main obj«'t was to find out whether the county of Esicx was aide to grow
as R.md a MOfllity of seed leaf as that produced in various part, of the province of
Qucl.cc. TIm. (}uel>.-c grower looked upon his collcaRue from Ontario as a rival.
an.l liv,.d ill constant fear of s,H>inK the s.'.-d leafs of the latter province enteriuR in
.•■•niix'tition with lii-^ own.

Onr tirst exiwritneiits convinced us that, pren.rally speaking, the «'ed leafs of
Ontario have a much looser and coarser tcxtur.' than those of Quebec. The soils
of Kssex are particularly well B<lnpted to the ffrowins of Burley. But the porous
tissue, which is a <iiiality in Burley. is an objection in seed leaf tobacco. .\Kain in
l.urninjf (pmlity, the st^ed leafs of Ontario an- generally inferior to tho.c of the pro-
luee of Q'li-liec.

The •^•rics of cx!«riment8 undertaken in 1900 has enabled us to ascertain the
,„„,,,., „f ,he vMTious varieties of tobacco grown in ditTerent parts of Canada. Com-
,U3e& Simnish Ilazelwood and Cuban were grown the same year, at Harrow. St
. a«Mia^ Xch _-at, and St. r,.saire. After being cured these tobaccos were handed
.;aa«aiii: pa.-ker wliirii iiad them fermented in his warehouse at Farnham.
V w- "i thi> products after fermentation gave the following results:
r.,m^..-^ <,.anisli hinder type. The tobacco from St^ Cesairo stands first with
a n» .*^' >nd w^a dcvclop»'d leaf. The tobacco grown at St. Jacques is not
luiu. * :31m- ^n texture; its chief fault ia lack of size, although the leaves are large
en..u«c - k.. use.- us binders. The Ontario Comstocks, not quite so large as those
af -M ^mm,. yifid a thicker leaf, with a strong taste and aroma. The superiority
01 iJBwtHH- «ed leafs is quite evident, and in this, our opinion is corroborttcd by the
(.rmst^ ■rt. helped u? in handling the products.

Tn- C--,ai -ariety grown in Essex yields an excellent filler, with an agreeable
raiTty Mrong. TTowf .'er. the Caban grown at St. Jacques I'Achigan is a better
St. tap leaf is not quite so large, but the aroma is very delicate and mild in

44

t»»te. It is even posgible that this Cuban may compete with the fUlew of British
Columbia, which, generally speaking, hnvo » stronger taste. There a question rises:
whether the growing of Cuban from imported seed or from Canadian seed of the
first and second generation may not be profitable in the province of Quebec. Doubt-
less, it will be profiUble if the farmer can get a price sufficient to make compensation
for the rather weak yield in weight of this variety.

On the other hand, the Ilazelwood grown in Ontario appears to be of better
quality than the Hazelwood grown at St. Jacques I'Achigan. This is an anomaly
wliich requires explanation, as we do not see why some .rarieties of filler tobacco
should give better results in Ontario while other varieties give better results in
Quebec, inasmuch as all of them may be included in the same group, the Havanenais.

A lot of Big Havana at Harrow gave a thick filler with a rather strong taste and
a fair aroma, but the fermentation of this product has proved difficult. After beinff
submitted to very high temperatures in bulks, the leaf of the Big Havana was still
streaky as though the fermentation had not been sufficient.

Judging by these results, it seems useless to try to grow seed leafs with light
tissue in Essex. Perhaps, owing to the length of the season which allows for the
curing of large tobacco, good results may be obtained with Big Ohio in this part of
Canndn. But delicate products such as the Comstock Spanish and the Brewer hybrid
will have to be grown in suitable districts in the province of Quebec.

A mention should be made here of the hybrid Comstock-Sumatra. created by this
division in 1908 at St. Cesaire, and grown for the first time in 1909 at our station
of St. Jacques I'Achigan. This tobacco possesses remarkable qualities; the oval shape
of the leaf is a distinct advantage, as it enables the manufacturer to produce a maxi-
mum number of wrappers. The tissue is fine, although resistant, and the ribs,
instead of being prominent, lose themselves in the tissue. Owing to this fact, this
variety can be used as binder in the manufacture of cigars of superior quality wrapped
with Sumatra. The burning quality is good. The yield in weight per acre is much
above that of the Comstock Spanish, owing to the larger size of the leaf and the larger
number of leaves that it is possible to leave on the plant at topping. In addition to
these qualities, which make this variety a manufacturing tobacco of high merit, it
ripens quickly, dries more easily and more regularly than the Comstock and is lesa
susceptible to rust. Whilst the bottom leaves of the Comstock grown at St. Jacques
station showed numerous spots of rust, those of the Comstock-Sumatra were not
in the least affected. This particularity shows that the bottom leaves of the hybrid
are more resistant and more elastic than those of the Comstock, and. in fact, the
handling of the small quantity of the Comstock-Sumatra that we were able to harvest
has not given any waste fo speak of, while for the Comstock there was a minimum
of C per cent of waste. All low leaves, torn, and of such a texture that they cannot
be utilized with profit, are looked upon as waste.

Experiments with Burley. the variety almost exclusively grown in Essex, are
being conducted at Harrow. The object of these experiments is to demonstrate the
advantages of a rotation of crops, and to find out what fertilizer gives the best resulU
with this kind of tobacco. The soils of Essox, where Burley has been grown for
many years without interruption, give signs of fatigue, which we hope to overcome
by a suiUble rotation. By the rational use of fertilizers, we hope to increase the
yields in weight and improve the quality. The results obtained so far are most

45

encouraging. In .ome cases, the yield in weight has gone up to nearly 2;»J^ P°";^»
~ acre Thi, vield. much above the average. fuUy justifies the use of fert.luers.
Se cost of fe^ili.er being deducted, the yield in money, computed »* -rket Pnces
foMhe yearl909. has reached $323 per acre. If growing expenses are deducted from
thif. sum it leaves a net profit of at least $250 per ac. ^ ■ t

TtXrow station, special attention is given to the growing and curmg of
ViJLi. tubals Thi industry is still in the experimental stage in Essex coun y.
r^U mTapiarLs it seems to be .uite profitable All -»- - not ejuj^^
adapted to the growing of yellow tobaccos, but there are a ^^ «";^^^J '^J
which appear to be quite suitable. Favourable results w.re obtained ^^^^fi^J ^«"
Ind we hL in the near future to see the process of flue curmg generally adopted
in E^ county. If the E.sex farmers, who have suitable soils for the purpose, should
'^owTrS thel might be a corresponding decrease in t^e P-duct.n of Bur^y
which would not be an objection as there has been an over product,on o^ th.s var e ty
for some vcars. This decrease would tend to regularize the pnce . The Virguua
tlccos! produced in fairly largo quantities, would find a ready sale ,n Canada, as
our manufacturers make heavy imports of this kind of product.

Special attention was given to seed beds. This question is f -yj^-^sTad;
ance f^the growers of the province of Quebec, who must have their «^l-««/««^^
owards the end of May or the beginning of June. Hot beds ar. a "--^ ^ *J^^^
p.rtof Canada, and experiments have been undertaken wiUi a view of te chmg
Canadian farme'rs to use these beds so as to get the best resu ts. ^ ^-f ^7^^
conditions are more favourable in Essex county, it seems likely that hot J^s jj
gradually replace cold frames, generally used in this part of Canada The growers
S Essex county have suffered in 1909 because their seedlings were not well protec.^^
It cannot be doubted that the area in Burley would have been far greater last y ar
but for the lack of seedlings. The loss to growers may be readily imagmed from the
prices at which this tobacco sold last year.

Bulletins No. 8 and No. 9 of the Tobacco Division, to be published shortly, will
show the results obtained on our various stations during the year 1909.

Special attention was also given to the production of seeds, particularly at the
Central Experimental Farm. Ottawa, where we have a small «-P«7*'"^'J «f . "
Canadian growers will follow the instructions conUmed m our bulletins No 6«idNo.
8 they will be able to produce tobacco seed of first quality and so improve their types.
This is the first requisite if one wishes to obtain good yields. Jo aeco jeed BTOwn
after the method which we suggest, has a germination of 86 to 100 P^' ""^^^ f
special apparatus, to separate heavy seed from light seed, is always P-fitahk, but if
BuTh .re not available, one may obUin good heavy seeds of high quality by follow-

ing our instructioiiJ. . .

We have made a large distribution of seeds obtained at our various stations, as
we wanted in the first place to supply the growers with choice seeds for heir crop
of 1910. and in the second, to replace entirely, in time, the seed of low Q^al'ty oo
often purchased by farmers unable to verify their origin. When the use of selected
«H^ grown in the locality will become general, tlvere will soon be an improvement
in the produ..t as well as a greater uniformity in the quality, and the crop, being
more uniform, will be more easily marketed at more remunerative prices.

Ottawa. April, 1910.