The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-10-01
Tobacco.

The Charleston Ne,os and Courier is
using all its influence to stimulate the
cultivation of Cuba seed tobacco in South
Carolina. We extract as follows from
an article in a recent issue, remarking
that if such rich results arc realized in
Pennsylvania and North Carolina they
may be exceeded farther South in Florida,
where the climate and the sea exposure
so nearly assimilate those conditions Of
the plants West Indian habitat whence
the seed are imported. Long before the
war much choice leaf tobacco was raised
IN Middle Florida, which was sold mostly
to European buyers, and the wealthy
planters of Leon and adjoining counties
smoked the cigars made in their house
holds of the native weed-as being just
good enough though their purses were
long enough to reach Havana easily
enough. Says our Charleston contempt
rary:
What the tobacco crop has done for North
Carolina il can do for South Carolina, and with.
out interfering materially with other crops. II
has been recently pointed out by correspondent
OF the Neacs and Courier that even the care OF
the cotton crop affords ample time for attention
10 few acres OF tobacco, the two crops seldom
requiring work at the same time, while labor
that cannot be applied TO the one at all times
may may be utilized by employing it upon the
There must be decided profit in the cultivation
IF toh In for fho ~
ity OF the crop among the thrifty and shrewd
farmers of Pennsylvania Ond Connecticut and
for the remarkable recent increase in the extent
OF its cultivation ia North Carolina Tobacco
raising has now become the leading industry in
one Of Pennsylvania largest and wealhiest
counties, Lancaster, and is also extensively car
ried on In the counties adjoining. 1t has been
practiced there for many years. and bids fair to
continue many more. The cultivation OF the old
native leaf has almost ceased, but its place has
been taken by the important seed leaf, in the
raising OF which the Pennsylvanians competed
successfully with their leading rivals in the Con-
necticut valley. Their tobacco has tor some
years been in good demand for wrappers and
binders of Havana cigars. Last year, ambitious
of producing still higher clase of goods, the
Lancasirians introduced the Havana tobacco it.
self, and Its culture has greatly Increased the
present year Ii does not yield 50 largely as the
seed leaf, producing this year about 900 pounds
more than makes up the deficiency.
In North Carolina, it is stated by the Whining
ton Star, the tobacco crop has nearly doubled in
six years The census of 1880 places The total
crop for the State oil the year OF 1879 at 1885,.
2l3 pounds. The crop of 1884, il is estimated,
exceeded 40 900 900 pounds. OF tho crop OF 1879.
again, fifteen counties grew all but 1864, 1898
pounds. the whole crop being divided into sew
enty-twO counties. Granville aud Vance coup-
ties are credited with about 5000, 900 pounds
each last year, while Caswell, Person and Rock
ingham were moi far behind. Il can readily be
estimated what u source of wealth this impor
tant product would be to the State If received
the same attention 10 all the counties thai il re-
ccved In the five named, or even in the fifteen
which produced over % G0O, 900 pounds i'm 1879
For years., says the Wilmington Star, 1.-The
prices have been highly remunerativc The fine
tObaccOs oil the best sections will average from
$40 10 $50 per hundred pounds leaf OF course
choice lots even fetch more. The most success
full farmers realize from $500 10 $500 Der acre
and many will make 81 700 TO every hand they
work. There are no doubt in Granville twenty
five men who make from $500 10 $500 to the
acre."
II goes without saying, of course that the best
results are only achieved by the best farmers and
that there are Others who realize very much less
while others barely exc Out living as the reward
of ignorance aud ihriNlessncss. II Is proper and
fair, however, 10 compare the best results OBJ
tainable from tobacco with those obtsinable
from cotton, and taking two bales of the latter
per acre az the highest. the difference IN the
price Of the two products per acre ts the differ
ence between $50 and $500. II would he diff.
hcult matter TO point out twenty-five men In all
South Carolina who could rank in successful
farming with the twenty. 1--WE referred ~ In the
one county OF Granville In North Carolina, and
the advantage Of our neighbon across the State
line IL owing entirely 70 their wisdom In the
choice Of q CROP