Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-24
THE TOBACCO CROP.

A Prosper that Too Much VIII be
PIanted-EurORe's Stock on Hand
How the Increased Tax VIII Affect
COnsumpGiOn-COrn aud Hogs as a
Remedy for the Hard Times.
Louisville Ledger.
We have numerous letters from all
the Western and Southern States In
which tobacco is raised, IN regard to
the preparation Of the crop to be grown
this year. Without a single exception
they all predict very liIrge planting,
provided the season suits. In many
places the area will be double, and some
trebble that which is planted in average
years. In what is known as the Clarks-
vile and Henderson and Greensboro
districts, the crop viii be increased
very little, from the fact that tobacco,
being the chief staple, has always been
planted in excess Of the labor Of the
country, 80 that as far as these main
tobacco regions are concerned, all de-
ponds on the season. Last year there
was almost an entire failure in these
sections, particularly Of the Clarksville
and Hopkinsvllle heavy shipping leaf
A large crop was anticipated In the
year 1874, fully as much as the labor
of the country could BEAR but the con-
tinued drouth of May, June and July
prevented its being planted.
The great increase this year viii be
In West and Middle Tennessee, Hi
nois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio,
where a nondescript tobacco, poorly
cultivated in many places, and worse
managed, for want Of barns and expe-
rience, will no doubt BE- raised, and
placed next winter on the markets of
the West, much to the damage of the
regular planters, whose capital is en-
pl2yed every year in the production of
this staple.
The impression has gore forth that
tobacco must necessarily be high in
price for some years to come. There
never was a more fata error. The
stock on hand in the various marts of
this country and Europe show that the
surplus is amply sufhcien5 to supply all
demand until the crop of this years
growth arrives in market, and the in
dications are that the substitutes for
the heavy American tObaccOs raised In
Europe will be greater than ever.
This is why tobacco nov seems dull
at ruling quotations IN the country.
Added to this the new tax of four
cents per pound WA decrtase the con-
sumption to a certain extent, since
manufactured tObaccOs before this
were taxed from 100 to AGO per cent by |
the old law, while this will add at |
least another so per cent to the price |
IN the leaf received by tho planter.
A large crop in Europe and America,
this year, viii certainly knock down
the price to the mere productive point, |
while 4 general disappointment will be |
felt through the entire tobacco belt of |
our country.
Let us warn our farmers, then, to |
look at things as they really are, and |
not to be carried off by expectations
which they will never see realized. |
This fatal error occurs every year with |
the cotton raisers, who seem never to
learn anything from experience.
Corn and hogs are to-day each rela-
lively higher IN price throughout the |
United States than tobacco or cotton,
and viii for the next two years be more
than either of these crops. |
Look at tue figures as quoted in our
issue Of this week, and say whether the
farmer had not better divide his crop, |
at least so as t. let the country be /
easy on the-question of the staff of life /
corn. For a heavy corn crop, sold on
the hoof or IN the fleece, will bring
riches into the country, and dispel hard
times.