The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-02-02
The White Burley Tobacco.


it in time to be OF benefit SO them this
season, and we hope they will give
all that we publish on the subject the
attention it may deserve. Our friend
John OFT, of Richmond, is very SAN
guine that it is the thing for planters
to take hold of now. From a four.
column article in the GAINESVILLE,
Tenn, Tobacco Leaf, we compile
the following:
Estate Agricultural Commissioner,
Killebrew, the writer of the article
after speaking Of the decline of pros
perity in Montgomery and surround
ing counties of that State-a decline
evidenced by the general air OF un.
thrift which pervades the section
says that some changes in their agri-
culture are evidently necessary, and
then goes on to speak of the White
Burley tobacco. We cannot follow
him in tracing out the causes of the
said decline. 1t is the old story of
the vicious system of chopping that
has prevailed there-the tenant plan
of half cultivation and no manure,
not confined to that section by any
means, and which is fast impoversh-
ing such vast areas of our Southern
farms. The decline is a decline in
the acreage yield of the land.
One OF the causes of the decline
that he speaks of, we must notice,
however, because it bears directly on
the subject before US. 1t is 1.-THE
want of adaptability of the leading
money crop to the demands of the
time" Tennessee planters have been
following their old ruts and cultiva.
ting the old crops regardless of what
the market called for. And Virginia
and Carolina farmers have been do.
ing the same thing, notwithstanding
our repeated caution to them 20 grow
what the market demands. If The
world calls tor poke tops the farmers
should grow them, and quit cabbages
and other things. I'm growing alto
getber the heavy shipping tobacco,
or that suited Tor foreign markets,
the planters have entirely ignored
the wants of the American people,
who pay three or four times higher
for the tobacco they consume than
any other people on the globe. Our
true course is, TO grow such type
OF tobacco as will readily sell at
home or abroad, and not cOnfine our
selves to quality only taken for ex-
port" In connection with this part
Of the subject, the Commissioner
says, "There is a grander result hing
ing on the production of quality of
tobacco suited to American tastes,
and that is. the manufacturing of it
at home, thereby resping all the pro.
fits for our country, and giving en-
ployment to thousands who are de-
pendent on their work Tor their daily
bread" This is an important point
TO keep in view, one that farmers
ought especially to foster and en-
courage, inasmuch as increase ofman-
ufacturing establishments opens up
wider and very profitable home
market for all the surplus perishable
crops of the farm, such as fruits, veg.
etabIes, fresh meats. chickens, eggs,
etc. We propose to enlarge upon
this point in future article.
Coming directly to the discussion
OF the " hite Burley tobacco, Mr..
Killebrew first gives the history and
progress of this variety in the follow
ing words:
"This is a sprout which originated
in Brown County, Ohio, between
1860 and 1870. 1t has few qualities
that we would call good. 1t is thin,
80 much SO that it will rattle like
fodder. 1t has not enough gum to
make it supple. II is deep drinker.
Ii is probably the mildest tobacco
grown. We would call it thin,
chaffy stuff, hardly fit to be put with
Tugs. But our opinions do not coin.
eide with the opinions of the tobacco
consuming people of America. Since
1872, at which time it began to be
used for making plug tobacco (betore
used for cutting), it has well nigh
made the conquest OF the United
States. The sweet chew of Missouri,
the sun cured Of Virginia, and indeed
all the tavorlte types for the manu-
tacture of plug tobacco have been
dethroned by this tobacco King OF
the Ohio Valley. And still its con-
quests spread. England wants it;
Germany wants il; France would
take it; but the American people
have plainly said, we hava not pro-
duced enough yet ior the require
ments OF our manufacturers, and if
,.ou ,unnt il won nmst nav for il y