The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-26

THE OLD WAY AND THE NEW
FIELD AND FACTORY TOGETHER
Richmond, va, April 20.

Richmond, Va, April 20.
Much is written about tobacco,
loosely and promiscuodsly, without
data. system, foundation or guide.
Cotton has it's local, economical,
State and Federal and foreign
statisticians, its agricultural bu-
reaus. enterprises, etc, all interested
| in accommodating accurate informa-
ton as to the daily and periodical
past, present and probable or assumed
| future of the cotton crop and prices,
/ Tobacco really has, no such devotees
| and advantages, in fact. We clothe our
| selves with the one staple and we com
fort ourselves with the Other-indeed,
| with both. Cotton and tobacco are
| twin staples of twin sisters, Virginia
and North Carolina, and we have not
time and space here to compare its pro
duets in value or importance in profits,
or in employment given to our people
| from the farm to the consumer, but
will simply say tobacco is the money
| crop of the cultivator. In South Caro-
lima we see tobacco superceding cotton
as such. IN five years tobacco is
| spreading ten-milion pound plant
ing from nothing. which now repre-
sents an income to the planter alone,
| comparatively of a few counties, OF
/ 81, $4,000 The gain is a great one
no less from the money derived from
| the product than in the much-desired
/ diversity of agriculture and other add
| ed employment Of the people.
/ Tobacco gives occupation to many
the year round. lit requires intelligent
attention as long as it is on the farm,
at the warehouse, in the factory or the
store 1t Is a fascinating crop to the
progressive and intelligent producer,
as well as to the subsequent handlers
Of tobacco. Who is it that does not de-
light in watching the development of
the plant patch, the process of plant
ing. the guarding, the worming, suck
| ering. printing, topping, cutting, cur
| ing Of the plant-each one receiving
individual attention? With what en-
thusiasm does the tobacco planter pre-
pare in proper order and grades his
crop OF tobacco for market. and rarely
fails to accompany it himself and often
| takes part of the family, either his
wife, daughter, boy or tenant. There
is a fascination Of seeing the tobacco
Of which they handled every leaf often
| sold on the floor, and yet with all this
!
/ be is bestowed on the tobacco crop or
| Virginia and North Carolina.
/ The prices paid for fine bright to-
| baeco especially justifies a much more
/ careful, scientific and intelligent ex-
/ penditure Of labor and means; and not
/ until every plant in the field Of to-
bacco is regarded as of as much inn
| portance as the florist and horticultu-
i \
/ which he sells separately. viii the to
bacco crop have been more successful
! ly marketed. Selection and analysis
Of lands both are most important to
| start with, and there are many aids in
/ this direction. There is no better help
| in the world than that which is insti-
I tuted for and ever ready to assist the
/ farmer, than the Raleigh(N. CO Agric1ll-
| tural Station aud Bureau Under its
| guidance the North Carolina tobacco
crop should and can and probably viii,
i if lit has not already done SO, assume
the leadership Of bright tobacco cu,-
/ ture. in praise and profits, among all
] the tobaccos of the world, for none are
more universally recognized on it's
noted stimulating, soothing and social
| merits, so to speak. than the Golden
~
| Virginia must yield this palm of de-
| served praise and of public verdict to
| her sister State, when quality and color
is weighed in the balance against
quantity and manufacturing indus
tries.
The field and the factory in this era
| and decade are coming closer together
than ever before. The crop manufac-
tured at home is an immense saving OF
! profits in costs and freights and
| charges, and is of immense advantage
| to advertising the States, towns and
| cities where manufactured We need
but look to Durham and Winston and
| StatesYille TO see what the manufac-
| turing Of the raw material has done
for these tobacco centers and the sur.
i rounding country, that others may be
| stimulated 70 follow such examples
| The many small factories, though
| crushed ont by monopoly to a great
| extent, are still destined to survive and
| flourish They may and can each take
| up the raw material at the barn door
| if necessary, and send out the tobacco
| in all its finished forms to the worlds
i consumers.
The peculiar character of the mild
| bright tobacco of Virginia and North
| Carolina adapted to the diversified
soils Of these States, is destined to re-
main the staple of our States If Jealous
ly guarded and zealously cultivated
and il we are wise enough to be pro,
gressiSe, The hand and hoe must keer
pace with and not ignore the pace OF
science aud new system and modern
appliances OF agriculture, which is also
| q progressive art The husbandman
must be chemist. reader and agrieultu-
rist, and know the demands Of the mar.
kets OF the world and how most adyan-
tageously TO meet them
It IS too We'll known that tobacco Of
some sort, is one the substitute for Tho
other, according to profitableness anl
precedent, restrictions Of trade OF Ia,
regulations.
It is only the finest tobaccos. how
ever that viii compete successfully
with the wo' dis products. that asii
| boar the highest taxes still, that vii
be wanted because Of its scarcity. ant
It's eNeeIleneo in all parts Of the worlt
Il is hefgTcEc quality aud not duan
itE alone thai makes the crop prolita
bic. There mas not been day in tween
ty years, when there was not surpiu
of common tobacco at some accessi
bic point in America or Europe, and !
our planters heap upon the world