Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-09-29
Tobacco a Profitable Crop in South
Carolina.
Savannah News.l

~'S''S'1
At his plantation at EstilI, in South
Carolina, sixty miles from Savannah, Mr..
C. q. Wilcox, of C.. L. Montague & Co..
has successfully demonstrated that the
finest grades Of tobacco can be raised at
what will seem to the general farmer an
enormous profit to the grower.
From fifteen acres devoted to tobacco
culture this year Mr.. Wilcox will realize
1,5Oo clear of all expenses, an average OF
500 per acre. His total outlay per acre
for seed, fertilizers, labor, etc., was
about $50, or less than is generally ex-
pended in raising truck. But for the
mistakes natural to beginner and the
devastation wrought by the grasshoppers
Mr.. Willcox's crop would have netted
him between $500 and s4oO per acre, or
from $, 800 to $4,000 on the fifteen acres
planted. In all probability there is no
other Southern product from which the
same amount of money could be realized
on the same land.
Mr.. Wilcox is confident that with the
same acreage, with thir,-eason's expert
ence, he could next year make on the
average fully s4O0 per acre. BE discov-
cred, after the grasshoppers had done
considerable damage to the crop, an easy
way of effectually ridding the fields of
those pests. He planted too late this
year, and so lost the second crop, and
committed other errors which tended to
either injurc the quantity or quality OF
the crop. lie is well satisfied with the
results, though, especially as experts
have promo lnced the leaves the equal in
every respect of the best grown in Flo
rida or Dec: tur county, Georgia, and he
has been informed that there is ready
market for them any time he sees fit to
sell at 81 to 50 per pound.
THE FIRST FAIR TEST.
Mr.. Willcox's plantation, known as
Wilcox & O'Neal's place, is one of the
finest in South Carolina. 1t embraces
1000 acres Of woodland and cultivated
soil. A large part of it is in fine
state of culture, over fifty acres being
pears, peaches and other fruits. The
results from the orchards, like the
results from the tobacco field, are
recognized everywhere as the best in
the State. Some time ago Mr.. Wilcox
became convinced that if tobacco rails
ing were given fair trial in that sec
ton of the State it would be shown to
be not only possible, but highly
profitable crop. Experiments have been
made in the past in other sections of the
State, but either through bad selection
of ground or inadequate attention the
results have been generally unsatisfac-
! tory. He determined to give tobacco a
fair chance on his place, and accordingly
set aside fifteen acres of the best land for
it. He also erected necessary buildings
for curing purposes. The seed was
secured through Editor Ben Russell, OF
Bainbridge Democrat 1t was the Uvelta
Abajo variety, one of the finest grown IN
Cuba A pound of seed, which costs
sl6, is sufficient to plant more than fifteen
acres. That which, Wilcox obtained
was selected no more carefully than
other seed of the same character, OF
which there is probably plenty on hand
for prospective planters. He prepared
the ground with care, making up spe-
cial fertilizer for it. DR.. O'Neal, who
manages the plantation. supervised all
the arrangements for the planting and
devoted considerable time to watching
the plants growth and studying their
development. When curing time came
an expert was brought from Florida tc
superintend the work. AS result OF al
this Mr.. Wilcox is able to place on the
market wrapper that for aroma and
other desired qualities is unexcelled by
any raised in the United States. He has
not determined yet whether he will sci
the tobacco or place two or three sl;ilfu
cigar makers on the plantation and have
them make it up and place their produce
on the market. He is a inn believer II
home industries and will probably adop
this plan as tending to still further
encourage tobacco growing in that por
ton of South Carolina.
TO SPREAD OUT NEXT YEAR.
Mr.. Wilcox Will further demonstrate
his faith in tobacco next year by givinG
up about seventy-five acres to it. BE
will also put up saw mill soon t" cu
timber for several new buildings he vii
erect especially for tobacco curing. Ht
will secure new supply of seed for the
greater part of next crop, but will make
quite extensive experiments with his
seed from this years crop i'll order tt
ascertain if it deteriorates in value, and
if so, to what extent.
Mr.. Ives, DR.. Smith, Mr.. a. ?. Lawtor
and others along the South Bound have
also experimental with tobacco, on
similar scale, With satisfactory results
and next year will likewise extend thell
operations. Other planters Il. the vicinity
have announced their intention OF p&'ant
| ing tobacco. and as a result there vii
doubtless be several hundred acre
devoted to its culture thereabout mex
year.
Savannah is naturally greatly interested
in the success of the new crop. Thl
city is the market to which all Tobacco
raised along the South Bound will tint
its way. If its culture assumes lars
dimensions, as now seems probable, thu
city will be greatly benefited, as well a
the planters.
Attention, Alliancemen and al
Those Friendly to the Cause
Of Reform.
-,