The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-05
TOBACCO IN AUSTRALIA.
The Antipodes to Become a Compcti-
tor Of the Western World.

Australia has at last set about making
serious effort TO cultivate tobacco. For thirty
years or more the weed has been grown in
limited areas in New South Wales, Queens
land and Victoria, but 10 can scarcely be
said to have been cultivated. Not at any
stage has the industry been backed by scien'
titio knowledge; at least, not until experts
were sent over from this country. Victoria
secured the services of Mr.. Bondurant
Kentuckian, IL We mistake not, and New
South Wales those OF Mr.. Howell, also from
tho South. The former has been at the An
tipodes for two or three years. and the latter
only few months Sufficient, however. has
been done by Mr.. Bondurant in Victoria TO
demonstrate that gooi marketable article
can be grown there and that in future to-
bacco will figure much more prominently in
the list of Australian export than was
thought likely few years back. II was the
succeis which attended the efforts of Mr..
Bondurant as n practical instructor that in
duced the government of New South Wales TO
follow Victorias lead. and also to turn TO
the States for scientific teacher And now
we learn that the agricu ltursl department Of
Queensland is assisting its growers by import
ing the best American seed procurable. The
expert, IL is presumed. will follow in due
course.
There is no doubt whatever that tobacco
can be proftably grown in all tho Australian
colonies. The product may never rival Vuel-
Ia Aba even equl that of our New Eng
land states; but the fact that the governments
have decided 10 push the enterprise for oil
that IL is worth means that tobacco in large
quantities will eventually be produced and
placed ON the markets Of Europe. The latest
reports from Victoria place the new crop at
$50 tons. but the average annual yield has
been double that for some years past. The
great drouth that afflicted Australasia in the
latter part OF 1896 accounts for the falling on.
Just what percentage of these 2jO tons VIII
be shipped abroad is not stated, but fair
quantity is destined for London and Liver
pool-as sample shipments only, be 1t under
stood. The tobacco is probably on its way TO
Europe at this moment, for the report under
review was written in June. The leaf was
then treated for shipment, but II was thought
some little time would be consumed In get
ting il ready. II will be packed much the
same as our Southern Tobsccos.
From this report, however, we learn that
the government expert ~ very well pleased
with the results attained at the experimental
farm at Eli, VIII re he planted largo num-
Der Of varieties Of plug and cigar leaf tobsc-
co. Mr.. Bondurant's chief object has been 20
dtermino what varieties of leaf were best
adapted TO Victorian soil and climate: and
this ii is cllimed, he has done Next season
a larger crop is TO be set out, nna should that
prove a commercial success the tobacco rails
ing industry will be fairly launched. In all
human probability it will be years before
Austr ala becmes a competitor Of ours in this
field but once II has been proved that tobacco
is a profitable crop to grow, and the farmers
have learned 10 handle it, then We may have
TO bestir ourselves. Tobacco Leaf.