New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-22
WESTERN LEAF Tobacco.
MOVEMENT OF A VAST CROP.

MOVEMENT OF A VAST CROP.
TOBACCO AT TIE PLASTATIoNs-FROsT AND THE
CUT-woRM-METnoD OF SALE IN NEw-YoRk-
PRESENT ASPECT OF THE MARKET.
When Sir Walter Raleigh, after climbing
"the blue Virginia hills" returned to England and was
thought by his attendants to be fire. when they saw
smoke issuin: from his mouth 1t is not probable he fore
saw how great and important article Of commerce he
had introduced to the world. The tobacco crop OF
Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky. Ohio, Indiana, and
Missouri has become enormous rs 10 require millions
of dollars annually to facilitate its movement. The
mode of raising tobacco may not unntercstng as
there are not many who the manufactured article
who are aware Of the skill and care necessary to put the
leaf in a marketable condition.
During the months of December and February accord
ing TO locality, planters prepare the ground for
plants by burning. This is done by covering the plot
with inammale material and producing sufficient heat
to destroy grass roots weeds &c, that when the
delicate plant is sow It will not be chOked by stronger
growth After the bed is fully prepared the little seed Is
put in the ground In the Winter months. the surface Ia
covered with brush' to protect the plants from frost
This however, is not always necessary many planters
do their beds until Spring. after the frost is
supposed to be After the plants have attained
certain growth, about the first OF May,
transpanting begins, and should the weather
prove favorablethat is wet-the plant will be fairly
started. Tobacco has, however, two enemies against
which II is difficult to guardst, the frost ard secondly,
the "cut-wOym" If heavy frost cnsue before trans
planting the tender shoots may be killed. and perhaps at
a time when it will be impossible to repant before the
too far advanced and in this event the carly
Fan frost is almost certain TO Djurc the plant before ma
turity. The cut-wom" is destructive little animal
that in the tobacco bed cuts of the plants
below the surface The careful attention is there
fore necessary to prevent his nroads After the plants
been removed from the bed and set out the planter
anxious for rain, "dly spell is almost certain
death This the chief of the almost total fail
ure the crop year The tobacco harvest begins in
sections early July but on the average the
crop cut until the middle of September. From this
time until the shipping the leaf is prepared by
process of drying, curing and selecting After it is in fit
condition il putup in hogsheads the average weight of
which is about 800 pounds net but which vary from
$50 to 2400 pounds Great care is necessary in putting
up leaf tobacco to have each hoghead "even running"
a. is then satisfactorily sampled, and the result Is
generally to the advantage of the shipper.
As rule, Western shippers cOnsgn TO the care of one Of
the five "Tobacco Inspections" David Dows d Co., H.
Henwood Jarvis & Co.. c. b. Lockwood d Co., or W. j.
HOodcss Co.. in whose warehouses all the leaf tobacco
from the West stored This method saves factors the
trouble engaging storage Immediately upon arrival
each hogshcadis opened and carefully sampled so that
the sample represents exactly the quality of the tobacco
Corresponding with this certificate is issued giving the
marks of the shipper the gross tare and net weight and
running number. The hOgshead is also marked 10 cor
respond; the sample, similarly marked, with the sigma
tre of the prOpreOs of the warehouse Ia sent TO the
consignee; the certificate generally deliverable to
nearer npon payment charges follows the next day.
and tbe tobacco is Tor sale There for dispute
about weights, the certificate Is always the Sudc eA
cent when tobacco has been i'll store for long tiine
when reveigng sometimes allowed, but never with
price belng sufficiently advanced 10 cover amy
"sh0rtage" The storage is fOllows First month ree
and thereafter 40 cents per month"; samplDg being ~ %
per hogshead doubtless accounting for the absence
OF any charge Vr the fist month"; storage charges are
always deducted from the bill by the seller ana charged
the shipper when he is making up his account sales
Tho tobacco business in New.iork is III the hands OF
few large long established houses which fully
acquainted with the needs aud requirements O shippers
ana who supply The hea\y advances necessary 10 lne
marketing Oi valuable crop The past ear mas been
a eventual one III the trade. Severe drOuth last
Spring burnt III al the plants and the dry weather CON
tnuc SO long rs Ia prevent any possibility OF repant
ing About the Isl OF June large speculative demand
began persons in The planting districts having concluded
ihcre could not possibly be more than one,trd OF an
Az to u cents, Which prices they advanced rapidly,
under speculative manipulation ana continued com
plants from the West, 10 and loi2 cents heuulh lear
advanced Jig and cents, until II reached Zig ana
ii cents while good and fine leaf and choice selections
advance from and l2l3 cents TO 10 and 20 cents.
This mos, unpit ccdeted Use III prices had two enccts
checked cons sumption ana drOVe exporters from me
market, leaving the spectators lheaIi! an from ,ne
Wost either the alternative of selling out To one another
Of putting UP satisfactory margins win tner factors
for tbr tIrlrsc locking up tobacco ana conpcinnea
rise i'm value Exporters aud contractors were thus
naturally arrayed against holders both sides waiting 10
quiet period during the Winter, without any material
change prices This continued until recently w1en re-
ports OF frost og the tobacco belt and serious INJURY
10 plants had stimulating effect under which some choice
lois were exporters, VINO were III great nctd oi
supplies scarcity plants this season VIII he nuch
more serious ever before, as 1t has been Utmost M
Dosse TO procure seed in sufficient quaint ~ supply
The demand III fact there has been 81 nlch uclity III
this respect, that leading commission house. ahcllat
ing the necessity, during the Winter, obtained as hucn
fine seed as possible and forwarded 1t to the editors OF
Western papers be distributed among the planters.
The stock of tobacco held in New YORK Ia more tai
double the quantity hand at a corresponding period
for several years there large orders to p heu
by contractors which been extended from time to
time which Will consume "a large lOIllO Vi the ue-
sirae grades The principal portion of STOCK now mere
il OF an nOndcscrp character ana there
can he little doubt really good grades IN SOUND cor
would bring better prices than were optaheu
last Fail.
The following table will give the prices Of tobacco for
he mast nur