The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-18
Department of Agriculture.
Washington, ID. c., March 9, 'S5.
CULTURE AND CURING OF TOBACCO
N NnRru CARDIINA

IN NoRTH CAROLINA.
The development of the fine tobacco
interest in North Carolina exhibits one
of the most remarkable transitions IN
the annals of agriculture. Its growth
was first begun in this State by two
brothers, Eli and Elisha Slade, of Cas-
we'll county, upon a ridge between two
small tributaries Of the Dan River. The
soil was thin and sandy, and, in compar-
ison with the river bottoms, was OF little
value. About 1852 or 1855 the SHADES
grew, by chance, as they supposed, a
small crop Of yellow tobacco. Asst grew
year after year its peculiarities were at
tributed to special methods OF culture
and curing. They communicated thelr
methods to all inquirers, and it was soon
found that the soil was the chief element,
although care in the modes OF cultivation
and curing was also found to be necessa
ry to the production of the best qualities.
From the plantation of the SHADES It's
growth extended we Caswell county,
and along the same ridge into Plttsyl-
yania county, Virginia. This covered
almost the entire area of yellow tobacco
CT lture before the civil war, when the
production of tobacco was almost entirely
suspended. The wal increased the man
ufacture Of tobacco in the North, where
no tobacco suitable for plug or wrappers
was grown, and at its close attention was
called to the fitness OF the North Caro-
lima yellow leaf for this purpose. The
price rose with the demands, and the
production extended to other counties,
especially to Person, Granville and Rock
ingham. Granville outstrips all compe-
titors, although many other counties have
entered the list, from Buncombe and
Madison in the west where it is grown
on the slope of the A~lleghanies, 5000
feet above s~ea-level, to the coast belt
about Goldsboro. POO feet above the sea
"a vertical range of $500 feet, and a
climatic range equal to about eight and a
half degrees of latitude. While yellow
leaf may have been raised in Virginia 10
small quantities, this may be taken as an
accurate sketch of the origin and spread
Of the new product in North Carolina and
In the contiguous counties OF Virginia.
After the war the cheap and abundant
production of shipping tobacco in the
West and the reduction of the price be
low the cost of production in North Car
DINA conceded with the demand Cor fine
tobacco, to diminish the growth OF the
heavy tobacco aud to extend widely the
production of the fancy leaf. There are,
broadly and generally stated, two yarie-
ties of soil IN North Carolina: a gray,
sandy, light soil, with a yellow sandy
clay subsoil, suited to yellow leaf and the
various types of fine tobacco, a rich, uuct-
uous heavy soil, with a red clay subsoil,
suited especially to the cereals or red to-
bacco.
The change in the growth of tobacco
has been from one Of these to the other.
Shipping leaf is still grown, however,
both as an industry upon soil selected for
it, and as an incident to attempts to raise
fine tobacco upon lands not suited to its
production. Sometimes a part of the
same field will afford both kinds of soil
and grows both fine and heavy tobacco.
The production of shipping leaf is not re-
garded as profitable, and planters gener-
ally endeavor to raise the fine leaf, so that
this is the only branch of tobacco culture
worthy of especial notice.
Along side the decline In wealth in old
araes of prosperity there are other instan-
ces in the South ofthe growth of thrift and
wealth in communities which were poor
before the war, but no other section pre-
sents such wonderful changes. Comfor>
Portable farm-houses have taken the
place of rude log-cabins, excellent and
convenient barnes and outhouses exhibit
the new thrift, and new life has been in-
fused into all classes and into both races.
The distinctive feature of this ~phenome-
non is hat it has brought into requisi-
ton, as most profitable, the poorest soils
in the State, and wrought its improve
tents on the poorest farming classes. 1t
has also enhanced the value of such
lands until they actually sell for more than
the most fertile bottom lands. and the
spectacle has actually been witnessed Of a
contention between counties as to which
could show the most poor land. The eff
feet of this is practically to increase large
ly the wealth-produelng power of the
State, breaking down the ordinary econ
omlc distinctions between sterile and fer
tile lands. The amount of this enhance
ment cannot be given with even approx
mate accuracy, because nothing definite
can yet be known as to the area as fine
tobacco lands, the continued value of
poor lands depending also on the stability
Of the demand for such tobacco.
The population of Winston, Forsyth
county In 1870 was 443. The leaf opened
IN 1872, and one small factory was built,
making 40, 600 pounds. There are now
fourteen plug factories in operation. The
plug factories make 3 $50, 900 pounds.
Population in 1870, ? S54.
Reidsvi!le, Rockingham county, had il
1870, ~ corporate existence. In 1850 il
had 1916 inhabitants and nine plug and
two smokiug-tohacco factories, with d
capacity Of 3 900, 900 pounds vi plug and
twist.
Lands worth rom 81 TO s. PEI acre j
lo60 now bring from $50 10 $lo0, and Old
feds, worn out fifty years ago aud grow.
up IN ~plnes-helds which would scarce,
produce a bushel Of corn to the acre. are
now often sold for $50 per acre.
To be Continued
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