The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-20
Hall Dollar a Pound


Wake county tobacco men were last
week in high feather. Ia almost every
store could be seen specimens of Bright
Yellow Leaf" and groups Of men on the
street took chews and shouted views In
gres, enthusiasm. The Farmer and
Mechanic received a number Of samples
(of both and enjoyed the success as much
as anybody; because for years we have
sought BY voice and pen to encourage the
culture Of the plant as a means OF tearing
the yoke Of cotton slavery with its Credit
system clamp from the necks of our far
mers. The matter we have printed on
the subject during the past five years
would fill a volume as big as the Diction-
airy.
At length there are signs Of practical
fruits. Day by day ono can see tobacco
barn fues going out and handsome sam
pies coming in. OF cours the season has
been uncomnonly good but the point
| for encouragement is the establishment
Of the fact that our ashy, sandy friable
hill sides, and piney wood lands that are
"oniy tolcrable. thank ye' for Gotten and
corn will produce as fine, SILKY. and golden
Fancy Bright tobacco as any other
portion of the State and this fancy
yellow weed always brings fancy prices,
even when the market for ordinary to
bacco is dull. The three Or four of barns
already cured at the Oaks plantations re-
ceiycd private bids at so aud GO cts and
ifexposed for sale on the warehouse floor
would have gone to so cents per pound
or higher. At half dollar a pound the
clear profit on an acre would be nearly
thirty times greater than the profit on al
acre OF cotton. Tobacco at only cent
per pound and only $50 pounds per acre
would give four times the net profit of
cotton. 1t is estimated by careful far
mers that $45 per acre is a large average
for cotton ; and the net profit to the far
mel (even when he buys his supplies for
cash) does not exceed $40. The cost of
an acre of tobacco does not necessarily
exceed GIG latter the barn has been paid
for), and the profits are very large; while
the risks are less.
Wake cOunty's crop the present season
is not large, but it is sufficiently wide
spread to show that a majority Of the
county is suited to fine tobacco. About
500 farmers have planted from ] to 26
acres. The total will reach 1900 acres,
or more than half q million pounds. This
ought to bring $40, 600 into the county
Think of thatl The largest growers we
have heard of are Mr.. M. A. Parker, 20
acres /; Mr.. Alonzo T. Mial. Is acres; Dir.
Moses Bledsoe II acres; Mr.. I. B..
Bridges 10 acres; MI. Green Terrell 10
acres; the Oaks farm Is acres; Chas. L.
Hinton 3 acres, L, L. Doub 8, Paul Lee 8.
We hear that a Mr.. Moseley Of
Moore's Mills was offered $500 for two
acres of weed, just as it stands in tho
field.
Messrs. John 8. Lockhart and Edward
j. Parish both gave Mr.. Henry II. Powell
an autograph letter stating that they had
never seen liner tobacco, in either color
or texture than the specimens he exhibi-
ted to them raised on the Penitentiary
Farm seven miles north of the city. They
are well known as among the leading to-
bacco-buyers of the State.
Several wagon loads Of Wake county
tobacco are en- route to Durham this
week. A well known firm writes us they
propose to bid for a share of Wakes to-
bacco. 1t would be we'll if all warehouses
would advertise down this way. The crop
is worth gathering.
Since the above was set in type infor-
nation has been received from Durham
stating that a load Of tobacco sent by Mr..
w. A. Safer, Supt of the Penitentiary
farm, sold for 25, so, and IS, averaging
SO cts. per pound, or $500. per acre.