The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-01-26
A GRAVE DANGER
Confronting the Bright Tobacco Section
of the East--Over Production Will
Demoralize the Interests of the
Grower and the Manufacturer.

IA a AN "a IAN
Grower and the Manufacturer.
For five years this paper has watched
closely the spread of bright tobacco
growing in the Eastern part of this
State and in the Northeastern section
of South Carolina. The extension of
the industry has been gradual but GER
tain, and the results of tobacco grow
ing compared with cotton raising
have been so favorable that within the
| past twelve months there has been
more activity along this line than dur
ing any three years previous We
have watched the progress of the in
dustry without sounding any note OF
alarm, thinking that the culture of the
weed would be confined to this State,
and perhaps a small area in South Car
DINA. But this last cotton crop was
such a miserable failure SO far as price
was concerned that many planters in
all sections of the South are looking to
the tobacco crop for relief.
So far as the Journal Is personally
concerned the extension of the to-
baccO industry means more subscribers
for us, but putting aside all selfish con
siderations we see in the over prOduc-
ton of tobacco a grave mistake to the
L q lIllIlS vi IL OOOOA4
We cannot illustrate what we mean
better than to refer to cotton growing
as a case in pO Mt. So long as the out
put was 5000. 900 bales annually or
less the price was well sustained and
the cotton planter made some money,
but so soon as the production went be-
yOnd 5000, 900 bales, as it did this year,
the price quickly went below the cost
of production. The product of East
ern tobacco last year was something
like JAG, 600, 900 pounds, and the aver
age price less than II cents per pound.
According 70 statistics it cost 81 cents
per pound to grow tobacco, leaving
less than 3 cents per pound profit on
the entire crop, Suppose this crop Is
| increased to 200, 900, 600 pounds per
year, and where will the price stand?
The general average will fall in direct
proportion and we will find the aver
age to be less than 7 cents per pound,
which is fully one cent per pound be
low the cost of production. These are
figures which argue the case for us, and
cannot be disputed.
But this is not all. In the older to-
baccO sections the planters are already
| prepared to manage tobacco crops.
They have their barns, their nipple
menrs of culture, and the experience
which is absolutely necessary. In the
new sections, where the farmers con
template tobacco growing, this is all
different. They have their barns to
build, which are expensive, and they
are compelled to employ experienced
labor, which also costs. These make a
heavy outlay to begin with. By the
time they have learned to manage to
| bacco growing themselves, and gotten
| ready to make money, after heavy out
laws, the chances are that prices will
come down below the production, and
| it is easy to see the dilemma n which
| the planter will be placed.
We candidly say to those who con
template going into tobacco growing
in new sections: go Slow 1t is risky.
If O 40 engage in tobacco growing,
plant sparingly, and try to make the
best that your land will produce. But
if you must quit cotton growing, see
if YOU cannot find some other crop
| that is surer to pay than tobacco. a
| general stampede to tobacco growing
in the South is certain to lower prices,
and thew need not fall much more to
get below the cost of production
Winston tobacco Journal.