The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-24
TOBACCO REVIVAL.
Farmers Interested in the
Industry.
California Promises to Become the
Greatest Tobacco Growing State
i'm the Union.

j. D. Culp of San Felipe, San Benito
County, is at the Lick House. Mr.. Culp
is the pioneer tobacco-grower of Cali
fornia and the most extensive producer of
the weed on the Pacific Coast. He origin
ated the tobaccO-planting industry in this
State in 1858.
In an interview with CALL reporter
last evening MIR. Clup said: II have fifty
acres of my ranch in San Benito County
planted in Havana tobacco this year, and
have already sold my crop of 60. 600 pounds
at the rate of so cents a pound. am the
only man in California who has made
tobacco-gr0wing regular business. 1t is
a more profitable crop to-day than fruit,
and there is n o reason why other ranchers
should not engage in the same pursuit. l
did not make success of the business at
first, but while l was experimenting with
Havana tobacco l grew other and cheaper
grades, which l manufactured into smok-
ing-to baccO.
II am now formulating a plan to lay
before the farmers and ranchers of the
State the details of nv success, with a
view toward making California become
in few short years the greatest to-
bacco-grOwing State in the Union.
After the war, when | commenced to
make success in growing pure Havana
tobacco, the wholesale dealers antagon-
lied the industry. 1 was growing large
quantities OF tobacco in Santa Clara
County. and as a result fifty or sixty cigar
factor sprang into existence. The large
dealers realized that the State would soon
be overwhelmed with small ma ufac-
turers, and the growers were compelled to
sell their crops in the Eastern markets.
Now at this late day the wholesale dealers
acknowledge that for years we have been
growing right here in California the finest
Havana tobacco in America.
During the last ten years nearly all of
the tobacco product OF this State has been
shipped TO New York, for there has been
no general market here. What tobacco
we have sold in San Francisco has had to
be purchased by manufacturers on the
quiet. so strong has been the opposition to
the homegrown product.
Tobacco can be grown in California for
less than one-half the expense than in any
other State in the Union. In Connecticut
the planters pay 500 an acre for fertiliZ-
ing, while here none is required. Re-
Gently the tobacco section of the Southern
States has been visited by a most de-
structive hailstOrm, something which we
do not have here. In the matter of profit
to the rancher there is nothing like it
growing in California soil. Tobacco in
this State will produce 1900 pounds to the
acre at cost Of only $50 an acre. and the
product WI readily sell for % to 80 cents
pound. There is no reason why the en-.
tire State should not go into the business.
1T has been said that the Havana tobac-
co grown oE the coast is too strong for the
general market. but l have overcome this
difficulty and l can now regulate my crop
to any degree of mildness desired. In this
State we raise second crop, the sales of
which will pay all the expenses Of produc-
ing both crops. We are not troubled with
the tobacco worm here. and we have no
heavy rains to pack the ground and retard
growth. As for weeds they do not trouble
US, and on my ffty-acre field / doubt if
you could find hundred weeds in all.
''As l have stated am about to bring
before the State agricultural societies and
the ranchers everywhere the facts con-
corning this great industry. and l expect
to see California become the banDer State
for bacco-growing inside of the next five
voarc