The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-12-06
THE TOBACCO CROP.
What 1t Has Grown To.
.tByJ. X. Cant, IlopklnsvIlle, Ky


The following correspondence on
tobacco gives an interesting review OF
| the trade, which we commend to our
resders: The article applies TO that
grade OF tobacco known Ms export to-
bacco and not TO manufacturing to.
bacco nor to cigar leaf used by the
homo trade, and shows how the Reggie
contractors monopolize the export
grades.
Our stocks in New York are ligh.
ter than for the last three years, with
no Western stocks TO draw from rs
in former years. Since the large crop
OF 1877. which furnished New York
with receipts from LIST January, 1878,
to January l. 1879. IA $50 hogsheads,
we have had four short crops. Esti-
mating the crop OF 1881 at not exceed
ing G0,000 noesheads. the four crops
will not average over $1,000 hogs.
heads, whilo the three preceding
crops oflS7G, 1877, and 1878 furnished
New York with 363,336 hogsheads,
making an average for the three years
of 1911 hogshtads, showing that
there were 27,336 hogsheads less to-
bscco raised in the last four years
than were raised in the three preccd-
ing years, which amounts TO short
age In the last -four years OF more
than our entire crop of tobacco or an
average of $1,000 hogsheads less per
year. In 1875. after the short crop OF
1874, prices were nearly double those
now prevailing IN this market Lugs
then sold from l0c 80 l2I6c aud leaf
from l5c TO 25, per pound. We think
our estimate of 10000 hogsheads for
seaboard receipts too large for the
crop OF 1851. ne the encroachment Of
"Burlcy" tobacco in many sections
amounts to 25 to 80 per cent, which
will lessen the amount of export to-
bacco, as the Virginia crop is very
light and inferior. owing to drought
and frost, while in Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Indiana the planting wss
small to begin with. and the stand
was more irregular than ever known,
owing to the unprecedented drought
OF last Summer, which stunted its
growth. That portion planted early
had 10 be cut on uccount OF field fire
or blister during the month of
August, and, OF course 1t had bnt lit.
tie size, and was of light, cliaffy body.
The drought continued until about
the 10th or 10th of September. On
the lst OF September most or the lste
tobacco was with leaves on 1t from
six to twelve inches long, and topped
down to four-and ak leaves. The
bud Is taken out OF all tobacco the
first week of September, without ref.
crence TO tho size of the plant when
the rains forced its growth, giving it
more size OF leaf than expected; but
as II had 10 be cut and housed early
in October on account OF threatening
frost. 1t proved to be full of sap and
of no substance after being cured.
As it was topped low 1t will OF course
haye large proportions OF lngs. as il
lay on the ground, aud the early cut
ting will also have large percentage
OF lugs, owing to blister or field fire.
Now wish II distinctly understood
that these remarks allHde TO the OK
port or dark tobacco crop of the
West. The Burley crop does not
seek the seaboard for market. The
dealers take care OFF in the West.
All bright, light bodied leaf and Bur-
ley stock 10 actively sought after for
American manufacture, and recently
we learn that 800 hogsheads suitable
for filters were bought in
ENGLAND AND SHIPPED BACK
tothis country at an expense of I2,a
cents to IL cents per pound, when the
same tobacco was offered on the New
York market before being shipped al
8lS cents. Tho stock at present in
New York Ia 46,26S hogsheads, with
very little more to he expected. as
Louisville has only about 1000 hogs
heads, most of which is home trade
tobacco, and will not seek the sea.
board, while Clarksyillc, Hopkins
vile, Paducsh, Mayfsld, and Evans
vile nave not exceeded 1000 hogs
heads, aud much of that being
bought Ia order and stored, will not
reach or at least stop in New York.
Much OF the stock here is held in
store by manufacturers and will not
be offered for sale. Ii IS estimated
that there 10 not much IL any over
| 10000 hogsheads of tobacco on sale in
New York City to-day and that
there arc only FROM 5000 to 6.00C
hogsheads Of lugs in the market.
Span alone requires about 10000
, hogsheads, and the Italian require.
ments are from $4,000 to 20,0O0 hogs-
heads for the three types usually
wanted for that Government. 1t il
generally believed that the French
contractor was more provident and
filled the larger portion of his con
tract on the Western breaks. lie ha,
reason TO congratulate himself on hi
good luck or good judgment, which
ever II was.
The crop of Missouri this scasoi
amounts to almost nothing. Mis-
souri, and Illinois will soon be un
|
known as tobacco States. for grair
and stock raising pay them SO mucl
better. We hope, therefore, the tim
0 is not far distant when the producer
of export tobacco will be better pal,
for their labor, as for several year
the price has been
BELOW THE COST OF PRODUCTION.
while the sections whose soils an,
. climate will allow them to grow III
Burley have been well rewarded, o
that peculiar growth is not dependel
for market upon Government con
tracts, let to the lowest bidder, lik
the dark or export grades, but ope
to legitimate competition. as ever
article should be. Spain, France an