Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
BUILD UPOUR MARKET
Colonel Gregory on The LaborS Of tho
Bright Tobacco Culture Committee.
FINE LANDS AROUND RICHMOND.
Need Cooperation and Patience to
Bring About the Results Desired
by the Trade Decentralization of
Information and Seed.

Colonel n. A. Gregory. secretary OF the
Bright Tobacco Culture Committee, OF
the Tobacco Trade Of Richmond, has
written the following very able and in
teresting letter regarding his work and
his observations in the surrounding coun-
ties, which tend to show what the Dis
patch has been erGeavoring to point out
that there are as fine bright-tobacco lands
around this city as there are anywhere
on the continent:
To L. T. Crump, Chairman Bright-To-
bacco Culture Committee:
The time for sowing seed having ex-
pired, and having filled all the appoint
ments requested by farmers in the coun-
ties around the city, l beg leave to sub
NIT the following report Where the
task of inducing the farmers to under
take and TO instruct them in tobaccol
culture was begun it was really too late
to do much effective work this season.
All the men In the old tobacco sections
had gotten homes. and the farmers here
had made their arrangements for other
crops, and with labor ignorant OF to-
bacco culture.
tARMERS Al Cl&AREMONI.
Ny first appointment was at Clare
mont by Messrs. Stone 81 Dillard, and
Mr.. Hopper where L met and talked
TO a very enthusiastic meeting OF farm
ers and businessmen, who, after being
assured that they had the finest Of bright
tobacco land, became much interested
In tobacco culture, and the prospect or
having a money crop. Seed were dis
Z. aiaaY- of
farmers and businessmen in and around
she place. Most encouraging reports
OF the progress made have since come
from this section. The colony OF north
ern settlers located here are chiefly small
farmers, who till carefully. and when
once they catch on" to tobacco culture,
they will make great success OF IL IL
| is the first effort on the part Of northern
| people, coming South, TO attempt Its cul-
tivatlon. and TO be shown the profits
Of this crop.
Several thousand acres OF land have
been sold here TO northerners since the
agitation Of tobacco culture.
FINE BRIGHT TOBACCO LANDS.
l had TO accompany me two expert to-
bacco men and successful farmers, VINO
went over and examined carefully the
| lands Of this section. and they pronounced
| them as fine for bright tobacco as they
had ever seen in tho best sections or
North and South Carolina or Virginia
l went next TO 81. Stel ems cnurcn' IN
King and Queen, at the solicitation OF
Mrs. IT. ". Fleet. 70 was tho coolest
weather OF the season. but we had
good turnout OF representative farmers
and seed were distributed TO nearly every
one present The lands here seem particu-
/ 80 ia finest class OF ma
hogany and English shipping tobacco.
| The knobs viii produce lemon wrappers
! and cutters There is every growth or
ideal bright tobacco land.
CAPTAIN Walker at Walkerton, on the
Mattaponi river made an appointment LOT
me, where / met a goOdly number or farin-
ers. and the same interest was manifested.
The lands here are Of about the same
character as those around ST. Stephen s..
GOOD LANDS IN CHESTERFIELD.
Mr.. W. Ii. Walker, secretary OF the
Farmers Club at Drewry's Blun' next
sent an invitation on behalf OF his cIuo'
| l had quite an interested audience mere
and distributed seed TO several OF Ns
members. This is very fine tobacco
section. and there are no better lands TO
be found than those in Chesterfield.
Waverly was the next point reached
through an invitation from Colonel Holt.
| had a good audience here, and met some
| Of the best farmers Of this section. Many
of them asked for seed 70 make the sX-
pertinent this season. The lands mere
struck me as being the best l had seen
| for white tobacco.
Mr.. w. II. Giddings made two appoint
ments for me at Chesterfield Courthouse,
but each time. unfortunately. L received
| his notice too late.
seed have been asked for and sent 10
individual farmers in some ten or Twelve
counties around Richmond.
Before this work was begun colony OF
| farmers from North Carolina had loca ts1
| In Dinwlddie ! have sent seed to other
| farmers in that section. Quite quantity
| of tobacco will be put in there this season
| and being experienced tobacco men, they
will doubtless make a success or H. ana
that will serve as an example to farmers
| in all the districts around
SHOULD BE LOOKED AFTER.
| 1t seems a manifest duty and obligation
on the part OF our committee ana inc
| Tobacco Trade to see that these FARMERS
who have been induced TO try the expert
ment should be looked after ana adElssu
with during the season, and especially
curing time, so as TO prevent failures' anu
| consequent encouragement.
1t is gratifying to learn from many
| sources that the agitation Of this matter
has gathered force and continued to grow
| since the first meeting was held.
The labors and expenses OF the com
| mittee would seems 10 be amply repdlu
| in bringing TO light and emphasizing the
| fact that Richmond Is located in one OF
the finest bright-tobacco belts In the
world. 1t can be but short time before
the attention of tobacco farmers VIII De
directed here, and our own farmers De
made to see the lost opportunities OF the
past fifteen or twenty years.
PROSECUTE THE WORK!
Should this work be prosecuted as II
deserves to be. II would not be an ex-
travagant estimate 20 say that IRON nVe
to ten thousand acres would be planted
In tobacco In the counties around Rich
mond another year.
When the retail trade OF our city have
studied and have come to learn the value
OF a loose bright-tobacco market. as 90
the trades-people OF the city OF Danville'
for instance, then they can but become
intensely interested In our work. 1t is
stated that small towns like Rocky Mount
and Wilson. n. c.. viii pay out to farm
ers this season over a million dollars
each.
CIRCUMSTANCE ADVERSE
Never was loose-tobacco market at
tempted to be established under more
adverse circumstances than the one In
Richmond. Having long been an estao-
lished hogshead market, the trade has
never been agreed as TO Its accessibility
but II would seem that city like Rich
mond, with all its time-honored prestige
In tobacco, Is large enough and broad
enough for all lines OF trade In this COM
modify. Dark loose leaf houses have been
run here almost from time immemorlal.