Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-29
TOBACCO PROSPECTS.

We hear numerous loud and doleful
complaints from the tobacco growers In
the GAINESVILLE region in reference to the
destruction of the young plants by the
bugs. 1t would, perhaps, be fortunate
circumstance, could the amount of dam
age be equalized among the farmers, for
something 10 occur to render the produc-
ton of full crop of tobacco impossible
during the present year. For two years
the stocks have been accommodating on the
great tobacco markets of the world, and
prices have reached such low point that
the production of the weed is almost IN
remunerative to the grower. 1t was
thought, during the progress of the
Franco ermanic war, that the number of
men taken from the rural districts of
Germany would materially diminish the
tobacco crop in that country. Such may
have been the case, but no esgerness on
the part Of buyers for the German market
has yet been manifested. The probabili-
ties are that the usual crop has been saved
through the lsbors of the old men and
women and children.
1t rarely happens with tobacco grow
ers that two large crops are raised in sue
cession. Several causes conspire to pro.
duce alternate large and small crops
When, for instance, large crop has been
grown, the best land has invariably been
put in cultivation, snd it requires also,
much more labor in the spring to get a
large crop TO market, so that opportuni-
ties are wanting to prepare for the plant
ing of another large crop. We do not,
therefore, look for as much tobacco to
be set out during the present year as was
the last.
Another reason: On the outskirts of
the tobacco growing region, where the
crop is grown only when the prices for the
article are high, the abandonment of its
growth to considerable extent must be
looked for, inssmuch as its substitution
at the present prices for hay or stock is
manifestly unwise. Such farmers will
probably return to their original crops.
The stimulus, too, which high prices
awaken, will be wanting during the present
year. There is q manifest indifference
among many farmers TO planting largely,
believing that the risk is too CREST in hir-
ing hands. We should be glad to know,
sorely as it might press upon us at present,
that another plant of tobacco would never
be planted in the rich region around
GAINESVILLE. For fifty years the farmers
have been sending away the cream Of
their soils aud but for the gift of clover
their lands would be as much impoverish-
ed as the uplands in the cotton belt. We
hold that no country can grow rich thstre-
lies for its income solely upon the export
alton of its rawu aterials. Could the tobac-
90 which has been grown around Clarks-
vile for the past half century have been
manufactured into cigars, snuff, chew
ing tobacco, etc, no people in the United
States would be in more affiuent Circum-
stances. AS it is, the profits have been
distributed through hundred hands, and
those who have least trouble with it often
realize the largest profits. Since the war,
however, tobacco buyers have made but
little money. The tendency in prices
has been constantly downward-oper-
ated upon as they have been by two very
powerful agencies-improvement in the
currency and increased production. Al
present tobacco is lower than ii has beer
for fifteen years. We trust our tobacco
and cotton planters during the prevalence
of low prices may turn their attention tc
the improvement of their lands, and 81
increase their wealth by increasing tbeil
ability to add to their income withou
adding TO their expenses.