The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-31
NEW FIELD FOR TOBACCO
FINE GRADES OF WRAPPERS
ALONG THE SOUTH BOUND.


Mr.. WILCOX of This City Clears 500
an Acre on Fifteen Acres as a Re-
suit of His First Experiment-whst
He Says About Tobacco Culture in
the Section OF South Caroline Near
Savannah.
At his plantation at Estill In South Caro-
lima, sixty miles from Savannah, Mr.. War
rem p. Wilcox Of c. L. Montague & Co.
has successfully demonstrated that the
finest grades OF Havana tobscoo 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 realiE Q
81, 500 clear of all expenses an average of
500 per acre. His total outlay per aero for
seed, fertilizers, labor, ETC., was about $50,
or less than is generally expended
in raising truck. But for the mistakes
natural to beginner, and the devastation
wrought by the grasshoppers, Mr.. Will
cox's crop would have Melted him between
$500 and $500 per acre, or from 5 800 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 DO realized on the same land.
Mr.. Wilcox is confident that with the
same acreage, with this seasons experience,
be could next year make on the average
fully $500 per acre. He discovered, after
| the grassboppers had done con-
siderable damage TO the crop, an
easy way of effectuaIly Kidding 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 injure
the quantity or quality OF the crop He is
well satisfied with the results, though,
especially as experts have pronounced the
leaves the equal In every respect Of the best
grown in Florida or Decatur county,
Georgia, and he has been informed that
there is a ready market tor them any time
he sees fit to sell at 81 to 81 per pound.
THE FIRST FAIR TEST.
Mr.. Willcox's plantation-known as WILL
cox & O'Neilrs PLACES one of the finest In
South Caroliua. 1t embraces 1000 acres OF
woodland and cultivated soil. A large part
Of it is In fine state of culture, over fifty
acres being given up to pears, peaches and
other fruits. The results from the orchards,
like the results from the tobacco fields, are
| recognized everywhere as the best in the
state Some time ago Mr.. Wilcox became
convinced that if tobacco raising were
given a fair trial in that section of
| the state 1t would be shown to be not
only possible but a highly profitable crop.
| Experiments have been made In the past
| in other sections of the state, but either
| through a bad selection Of ground or in-
adequate attention the results have been
generally unsatisfactory. He determined
| to give tobacco 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 the cambridge Democrat 1t
ha TTuAtta A hnf il -
| finest grown in Cuba A pound of seed,
which costs $40, is sufficient TO plant more
| than fifteen acres. That which Mr.. Wilcox
obtained was no more carefully selected
! than other seed of tue same character, of
which there is probably plenty on hand for
prospective planters. He prepared the
ground with care, making up special fer
| ttlizer for it. DR.. O'Neill, who manages
| the plantation, supervised all the arrange
| ments for the planting. and devoted con-
| siderable time to aching the growth OF
| the plants and studying their development.
When curing time came an expert was
brought from Florida to superintend the
| work. As result of all this Mr..
Wilcox Is able to place on the market a
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 sell the tobacco or place
two or three skillful cigarmakers on the
plantation and have them make 1t up aud
| place their product on the market. He is a
| firm believer in home industries and will
probably adopt this plan as tending to still
further encourage tobacco growing in that
| portion 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, He will also
put up a sawmill soon to cut timber for
| several new buildings be will erect sspe-
cially for tobacco curing. He will secure a
new supply OF seed for the greater part Of
| the next crop, but will make quite extern
| sive experiments with his seed frsm this
| years crop in order to ascertain if it deteri-
crates in value, and If 50 to what extent
MIR. Ives, DR.. Smith, Mr.. A. P. Lawton
| and others along the South Bound have
also experimental with tobacco, on
smaller scale, with satisfactory results, and
| next year will likewise extend their oper-
etions. Other planters in the vicinity have
announced their intention of planting
| tobacco also, and as a result there will
doubtless be several hundred acres devoted
to its culture thereabout next year.
Savannah is naturally greatly interested
| In the success OF the new crop. This city il
the market to which all tobacco raised along
the South Bound Will find its way. If its
| culture assumes large dimensions, as now
seems probable, this city will be greatly ben
| Gifted as well as the planters.