Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-06
MONEY IN TOBACCO CULTURE.
Cuban Cigar Tobacco Affords Profitable
Prospect for the Farmers of the South.

Cuban Cigar Tobacco Affords n Profitable
Prospect for the Farmers of the South.
The farmers in many sections of the
south have very profitable crop
awaiting their attention in Cuban ci
gar tobacco. 1t is one of the most re-
munerative crops that can be grown,
finds ready sale, and possesses advan.
tages over many other crops The in.
surrection in Cuba has almost totally
ruined the tobacco industry there, and
cigar manufacturers are at loss to
know what to do for stock. The tariff
on cigar tobacco, 50 cents pound on
filters, and Sl.s5 on wrappers, alone
guarantees the grower large profit.
There never was more opportune
time for farmers to turn their atten.
ion to cigar tobacco than at the pres
ent. While the war last in Cuba is
the time for the southern farmer
to get the reputation of his tobacco
established. Last year the United
States bought from abroad Sl7,0OO,0O0
worth of cigar tobacco There is nc
necessity for dollar of this money
leaving our country, for the south can
and ought to raise every pound of to.
bacco used in the United States. 1t is
time the farmers were awakening tc
the profit in cigar tobacco and letting
King Cotton alone. The people of
Florida put their whole dependence in
oranges for years, but the freeze killed
the trees, and many of the growers
turned their attention to tobacco, with
the result that last year the tobacco
crop equaled half the value of the
orange crop the year of the freeze,
and it is confidently expected that this
years crop will exceed the value OF the
orange crop mentioned. Hundreds of
farmers are turning their attention to
its culture, and the industry has at
tracted national attention.
The secretary of agriculture spent
week in looking over the tobacco
fields of Florida, and he expressed him.
self as being astounded at the possible.
ties of tobacco culture. Cuban tobacco
thrives on any well-drained sandy or
loamy land with or without clay sub.
soil, and there are thousands upon
! thousands of acres of such land in che
south The tobacco makes in a few
months, does not require much cultiva.
ton and any cotton farmer can grow
il. 1t requires some knowledge when
top, cut and cure, but complete nstruc.
ton in printed form can be obtained
from several sources, and the average
farmer can very quickly learn how
to cure it. Every section of the
United States engaged in growing
cigar tobacco is prosperous, money
plentiful and the farmers happy
Fort Meade Fla.) was dead town tw G
years ago, but the people took up to-
bacco culture, and to-day it is one OF
the liveliest little towns in the state
A colony of 300 Cubans direct from the
famous Vuelta Abajo district of Cuba
have settled there and, are engaged in
growing tobacco as they grow it il
Cuba. Hundreds and hundreds OF acres
are planted to tobacco, and thousand.
of dollars have been invested in lands
Cigar factories will established, anc
an era of prosperity is dawning that
was never dreamed of under the orange
What one section has done others car
do, and every public-spirted farmer il
the south should study the cigar to-
bacco industry. Cor Southern Cult
! VHtnr