Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-18
THE TOBACCO CROP.
1T WILL DE VERY LARGE THIS
YEAR.
LETTERS FROM VIRGINIA COUNTIES
There Is Greater Acreage and
The Quality Not So Good.

The Quality Not So Good.
Last season was veritable cornucopla
for the tobacco grower Of Virginia.
The crop was very good, though there
was. as always. some bad tobacco In II.
But the farmers brought their yield to
the market and received splendid prices
for it all. The good tobacco brought
prices such as not for years. They were
excellent. But aside from this. many a
farmer brought his poor, his worthless,
! tobacco to Richmond, and received, to
his wide-eyed establishment, better prices
than he had gotten for his best the year
before. why this was. no one seems quite
sure Of But this is true, that
the farmers in the tobacco-raising sec
tions are better off this year as result
Of last seasons business than they have
been for many years. One commission
merchant in Richmond declared some
time ago, upon returning from flying
trip to one of these counties, that he
could have easily borrowed $4,000 in one
nelghborhood, where. for several years
before, he had been advancing money for
the farmers to pay their hands with.
A BIT OF HUMAN NATURE.
It is a bit Of human nature for every
body to want to do just what some one
else has tried first and made money at.
Knowing this, a great many people are
curious to see what effect the past sea-
sons record will have on this. The
question has been asked many times:
Twill not nearly every farmer In the
tobacco-raising districts who plant regu-
larry, plant this year much more, and
those who have before been indifferent,
plant also?"
In sympathy with these curious folks,
the Dispatch, towards the last of August
addressed inquiries to the commissioners
Of revenue In forty counties Of Virginia.
These gentlemen were invited to state
"the number of acres the farmers in
their district had this year set out In
tobacco. also the number Of acres set out
in tobacco last year; also. to give con-
servative expression as to the probable
yield this year as compared with 1891"
A goodly number of replies were re-
ceived in due time, and several, which
are representative, are given here.
THE LETTERS.
Mr.. G.. T. Cardwcll, Clay's Mill, Hall
fax county, Va, writes: II will state mat
II is almost impossible TO give the num-
Der Of acres cultivated in tobacco in my
district as there are so many farmers
who do not measure or step-off their
grounds. The acreage is an average one.
l believe there would have been a larger
acreage this year but for the scarcity of
labor. The crop is about the same as last
In h1lf narh0nS larger
pounds. The leaf is large and coarse.
owing to the continued rains, which nave
grown it with too much sap to cure well.
From the way 1t is curing 1t will fall far
behind last years in quality of br1ghts,
both wrappers and cutters. l Will make
rough estimate Of the acreage planted
this year-7.OOO with about the same In
1897. The wet weather is continuing into
September, which Is injurious TO the to-
bacco's ripening as well as cusing."
Mr. L. s. Pollard. Aylett, King William
county: There is very little tobacco cul-
tivated in this section. but what there is,
from all l can learn, is very promising
this year. l am unable to give the num-
Der Of acres in cultivation.
MUCH LARGER YIELD.
Mr.. w. L. Clark, Farmville, Va. writes:
'T would say that the acreage set in to-
bacco this year is about the same as last,
probably little increase, but owing TO
the extraordinarily fine seasons, the yield
will be much heavier, probably 20 to .
per cent"
This succinct letter comes from Mr..
w. A. Ransome, Elk Hill, Goochland,
Va: at is very hard to say about how
many acres are planted in tobacco in this
county. As near as / can get at 1t, 1t is
as follows: Byrd District, 1,S5 acres:
= II; IL
District. 1914 acres The crop Is about
as good as last year; the acreage about
one fifth more than last year"
Mr.. j. w. Baker, Mansfield, Louisa !
county, says 81 would say that the farm |
ers in my district have about LIS acres !
more than last year. If the season con-
tinues good, the yield this year will be
something like one fourth more than last |
year The crop this year cannot be fine
one as to quality. It is worm-eaten, and |
the worst fiea-bitten l ever saw for |
good season."
Mr.. c. r. Irving, OF Amelia Courthouse, |
writes II would say that the acreage |
of 1898 Is greater than in 1897. and the |
crop is reported as the best grown in he |
county for many years. Much of 1t Is |
now cut and in the barns"
MORE ACREAGE.
Mr.. A. J. Richardson, Fredericks Hall, |
Louisa county, replies: There is about |
10 per cent. more acreage this year than |
last, but the quantity and quality is ahead |
by about 20 per cent. Filters are good, |
not very bright nor very dark The sea- |
son has been fine"
Mr.. John s. Spencer, writing from |
Greenesville county, where cotton and pea
nuts are largely grown, gives the names |
Of six prominent farmers who have set |
out tobacco this year, who did not last |
year. Ali Of those who usually raise
tobacco have planted this year also.
CAPTAIN "COON" SCOTT.
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