The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-01-19
PUBLISHERS ANNOUNCEMENT
HOW CAN An OVERCROP BE
PREVENTED.

PREVENTED.
One great trouble with the farmers
is an over production of tobacco
planting more than they can properly
cultivate and handle, thereby throw
ing too much common and monde
script stock for which there Is little or
no demand, upon the market. The
GOLD LEAF warns the tobacco planters
of Virginia and North Carolina not to
be led off by the high prices at which
tobacco is now selling and over crop
themselves when they come to plant
this Spring. Better cultivate little
and cultivate it we'll. There is more
money and less work in it for the
farmers. On this subject the Southern
Tobacco Journal says:
The time has come when the subject
Of a new crop is engaging the planters
attention. With this fact in view it is
highly necessary that We cast about
for a remedy, if such can he found,
for preventing an oyercrop of tobacco
in 1883.
1t is hardly necessary to point out
the evil that must result from an over
crop this year in Virginia and North
Carolina. Our farmers have learned
by sad experience what such a policy
rs overCropping brings them, and by
this time the lesson should have been
sufficiently well understood to prove a
guide in the future. Take the crop of,
1885 as an example. That year the
farmers planted about double the acre
age that should have been planted and
neglected other crops. The direct
result was huge crop of nondescript
tobacco which sold at prices below the
cost of production. In addition to
this calamity the farmers found them
selves with insufficient bread crops
to support them and huge fertilizer
bills unpaid. The direct result was
the year of terrible suffering that came
upon the heels Of that unfortunate crop. |
In parts of North Carolina this suffer
ing on the part Of the country people |
resulted almost in famine, and the
farmers throughout the tobacco sec
tions of both States carry memory |
of that year, anything else than pleas
ant.
Now contrast with that dark picture
the result of the crop two years later. |
The 1887 planting WAS barely over
half a crop, with full crops Of grain
and other bread crops. The direct
result: tobacco is selling at high |
prices, the farmers have we'll filled |
harms and cribs and the whole tobacco
section to-day-Gs Il Girect result ct a
short fr0b-is in better condition than
it has been for many, many years.
When we see such glazing contrasts
as the result of overplanting it seems
that the farmers would need no advice
on the subject, and yet there seems to
be an effort again this year to repeat
the foolish policy of 1855. And with
this fact looking US in the face how
shall we keep the farmers from such a
course? Only by united effort of all
parties interested in the tobacco trade.
Let every leaf dealer use his influence
as he talks with the planter on the
warehouse floor. Let every ware
house man send out circulars to their
customers asking them to keep down
the acreage, ut least to the standard
of 1887 planting. Let the matter be
freely discussed in every farmers
meeting and let meetings be held for
the special purpose of discussing this
all important matter. This matter of
short planting is of by far more I'M
portance than the repeal of the revenue
tax, and the cry against overcropping
should be louder than the cry against
the revenue collector, In this con-
nection, if The local papers in all the
tobacco sections will aid US in this cry
against big crop great deal of good
can be done. We cannot understand
how the papers Of the State can be SO
silent on subject of such importance.
Press the matter upon the attention of
your farmer readers, show them the
foolishncss of overplanting and by
your influence much good will result.
Only by such concerted action on
khe part Of all interested parties can
an overcrop be prevented this year.
The temptation for the farmer to plant
heavily is strong, but is only a Siren
song 10 lead him into trouble again.
Let us all work together for an end so
much to be desired and the reward ,
will EAR outweigh the labor.