The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29
THE TOBACCO CROP.
Gloomy Outlook for This Product-south
Boston's Progress.

SOUTH BosToY, Va, Mar 28.-ISpecial.l J.
The theme that most engrosses US now IS the
weather-n fact it forces itself on Us nolens
volens Our natures are so accommodating
that we expect nothing but clouds aud ram.
and when we arse in the morning, accept II
as the regular order Of nature. Ii has raned.
showed and sleeted fOrmor than two months
with very few days of sunshine. | have known
III times of great drought the people 10 assem-
bic in their churches and pray for rain, but
never have | known them 70 pray for sun
shine Such % course would be IN order now.
People are beginning 10 look at the matter
seriously as b. It's effect on the crops Of 1891.
The general opinion is that large crop OF
ANYTHING cannot be raised tins year but as
tobacco is the great money crop all interest
centres in the prospects for that crop. The
conditions and outlook are as follows: TObac-
co land must be fallowed in the winter or
early spring. in order that the vegetable mat
ter may become fully rotted: to fallOw II
short time before planting-time renders II
rough. clOddy, and loose, more liable 10 dry
out from the summer sun. and t. the rayages
of the cut-wOrm. Very little following has
been done for tobacco or corn.
But the most alarming contingency is that
of plants; very few plant beds have been
burned and sOwn. and these are badly washed
and beat down by the heavy rains. Should
the rain cease now, VI which We have no indi-
cations. and plant beds prepared. the plant
ING would necessarily be late while the tender
plants thus forced by highly stimulating fer
tilizers would stand badly the heat of June
and July sun, and it is only 10y early planting
that the fine. bright tObaccOs Of which this
section is renowned can be raised. Hence
the concensus OF opinion Is that the crop
will be a short one, and much of II neces-
sarily late and of inferior quality. ! have
talked with several of the largest leaf dealers
here within the past few days. and they think
good tObaccos, !udiciously bought, VIII pay
we'll in the near future.
Despite the elements and the most shock
ing roads ever known in q civilized country,
the breaks Of tobacco have been exceedingly
large. There has been no decline in prices,
but rather a stihening. and from the amount
of money paid out 10 the farmers here in the
past eight weeks there must be "a great deal
of money in the country. The farmers are
more prosperous than since 1884. Much of
the tobacco sold on this market comes
by rail. With three lines of railroads in the
county, amounting 10 100 miles, most any
section Of the county is within easy reach Of
this great artery of commerce. And as all
roads lead 20 Rome, so all the roads centre al
South Boston. the hub Of Southern Virginia.
With additional and competing lines of rail-
road. this is fast becoming considerable job
bing point in all lines of goods, and the Rich
mond and Danyille railroad has recently made
reduced rates on freight from here TO points
in North Corolina, thus showing that IL is
willing 10 lend helping hand TO this young
town, struggling for commercial honors.
The candidate is abroad in the land. and
his name is legion. For every Office to be
filed there arc from three 10 SIX asplrants.