The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-02-13
Tobacco G owing.

From the Januacy number Of The
Bulletin of the North Carolina State
Board of Agriculture, we take the fol-
lowing. Mr.. r. H. Kicks, the gentle
man of whom Commissioner Robinson
writes. isl we'll known patron of the
Henderson market. He is one OF the
pioneer tobacco growers of his county
and one of the most successful farmers
of our acquaintance. For the benefit
of others we publish what is said of his
modes and methods of farming:
The tobacco growers of the State
have had, the past season, more sue
cess than the growers of any o.he:
clean cultivated crop. While tie lea
has been light in weight, it has been
generally fine in texture.
Having heard much O. the success
attained in the tobaccO-growing in
Nash county, paid a visit 20 that To-
cali.y few days since, 20 see and know
for myself. While there I was the
guest of Mr.. R. H. Kicks, who has
probably attained as great success in
the growing of fine tobacco as any man
in the State-at least for the past ten
years.
Mr.. Kicks had the past season in to-
bacco, forty-five acres. The average
production per acre was 725 pounds,
for which he will realize at least fo:.y-
five cents per pound. He has sold half
his crop, fortv-five GEMS being the av-
erage. What he has to sell is equally
as fine, if not better. Seven hundred
and twenty-five pounds per acre, at
forty-five cents per pound, is a calcula-
ton easily made, and shows an income
which surpasses anything connected
with farming that has come under my
observation ia the Stale. Mr.. Kicks
informed me that he haG white man
employed for the past five years as
tenant, and that this tenant had saved
from his part of the crop during that
time $4,000 in cash, with which he
now wishes to buy place OF his own
Mr.. Kicks land, and also those Of
his neighbors (who are also doing wei
in growing tobacco), is light sandy
with an original growth of long lea
pine, small oaks and hickory. There
are thousands of acres of just sucf
lands in the Southern portion of Ansol
and Richmond counties, and also IL
Robson county, that with the same
intelligent management will produce
as fine tobacco as the Nash count.
lands.
Mr.. r. manures his lands very heav
lily, using from twenty to thirty dolli rs
worth per acre. He considers the US
of five or six two-horse wagon loads
stable manure indispensable to success
full tobacco growing, which is includes
in the above amount of cost per acre
Mr.. Kicks is very practical man
and grows clover AID grasses, and
raising hoses, cows, and fine hogs
He also has considerable dairy int tests
I learned from him this fact, that h
could not grow clover and cotton te
gether; that is, cotton will not gro
a on land that has been in clover, neithe
Y will it grow in close proximity to it.
ii Isaw a similar communication in tn
Southern Cultiuator and Dirie Fdrme'
, in which the writer asked to have til
u matter explained why he could NJ
n grow cotton after clover. This is
o mat .er that should be investigated b
e the Experiment Stations of the cote
States, and is a proper field of invest
g CATION, as it directly affects the inte
9 est of the farmer.
l. JOHN ROBINSON,
Commissioner.