New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-22
CUBA HAS A RIVAL.
TOBACCO is BECOMING AN IMPORTANT CROP ~
MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.
Northampton correspondence Of The Boston Jour-
nal.
One of the finest crops of tobacco harvested in
the Connecticut Valley since the paliny days Of
tobacco raising just before the war, is now being
cut by Hatfield and North Hatfield farmers IN The
meadows north Of this city. Every raiser OF the
weed is wearing broad smile as he thinks of his
prospective big income. and many are building
tiers The yield Of the broad, succulent leaves is
something enormous this year. for every condition
has been entirely favorable 10 a rapid and IuXuTl-
ant growth The rains have been frequent and not
attended by high wind. nor coming in such fools
Worms caused almost no damage, and the raw
enous army worm. which has done so much injury
TO other crops absolutely refused TO taste the to-
bacco leaves; they did not use the weed one
hailstorm Uhe great nature enemy OF tobacco has
only limited area in the central rart OF HathelI
causing comparatively insgniiicant loss as II
The heat of the last two weeks has forced the
s Sre b fEng al tn the help they get 10 cut the Blk
yield and get It under cover before anything can
Connecticut Valley tobacco was once counted the
best In the country. and II st holds good rank
good demand is proved by the TACT that Two nat
crop this week FOR 20 cents a pound in the bale.
This is considered a remarkably good price as
buyers have been offering only ~ ana - ceJ'S, ana
year ago they would not give oyer cents.
Rather than sell at these hgures me 9iiners nave
held their tobacco, and many have three years
crops stored up waiting rise In prices, Al are are.
earnestly hoping for MckineyS clectOn, ana IN Inc
event of a Republican victory and the triumph OF
sound money. they reckon on the quick disposal or
all the crops they have been holding. together with
the extra large yield of 1896 The rise I'm price paid
this week is attributed to the falling off OF the
supply of Havana leaf on account or the cuban
The farmers have been counting on the IN
fiuence of the Cuban troubles TO create demand
for their old crops and II looks as II their eXpeca-
tons TO be realized.
A few OF the staple have been planted hy
the Northampton farmers in the meadow. but the
North Hatfield, Whately, South Deerfeld and Deer
field. In Hatfield there is an aggregate OF 35 acres
The acreage in North Hatfield Is over 2G1. II IS a
very conservative estimate TO say that 1000 acres
will be harvested In the valley this summer. This
Is practically the only crop invested in by the farm
ers A few try corn and onions the latter being
quite profitable, and all raise enough hay and fod-
der for their stock; but the great money-making
crop Is tobacco. ride through the valley reveals
big fields stretching away in long rows Of the weed
on either side, and all are now resoundng daily
with the swish Of the tobacco knife. Men, boys.
and In some women are hurrying the har-
vest The plants are extra heavy and very tall, In
some cases measuring over five feet.
OF course the crop is not success, even II II Is
safely harvested There is yet TO come the drying
and curing In which latter process Is involved the
crucial sweat" That safely passed and the to-
bacco properly cured. II will be deal of potential
is used because even after successful harvest and
curing the farmer has 10 seek paying market Tor
his product and unless he finds II must hold ms
crop over until buyers are willing to pay what ne
wants for IT, He may plant ana harVeat one TWO
or even three more crops before this one Is real
ICED on Such Is tobacco raising ana us vagaries
In the Connecticut Valley.