The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-03-01

FIGURES SHOWING PROFITS.
Carolina.

Up to few years ago 1t vas thought
that cotton was the only crop that could
be proitabiy grown as money crop N
this State, but the experiments with
tobacco in the eastern part of the State
has completely exploded that idea in
that section. The statement can be
safely made without fear Of being dis
puted that no crop in the South has
ever proven so profitable, all things con-
sidered, as tobacco in the Eastern sec
| tion of South Carolina. If you doubt
this statement ask the people Of Oar
lington, Florence, Marion, Sumter,
Marlboro and other counties in this
State where tobacco is grown. y few
years ago experiments were made with
such wonderful results that South
Carolina now grows millions Of pounds
of tobacco of the finest leaf. Tobacco
growing in these sections has changed
the condition of the people TO wonder
full degree. Before the adven OF to-
bacco the plantations wero mortgagec,
and in many cases to their full value,
and the farmers, as rule. owed more
than they were able to pay All busl-
ness with the planters was done on the
credit system, with all the evils which
that system means in the South. But
tobacco came as harbinger Of better
days, and from its mystic leaves fell
the shekles which have made the once
impoverished planters independent.
In dealing with the question OF
money making from tobacco culture, 1t
is the aim Of the writer to quote exam
pies showing the amount OF tobacco
grown to the acre, and also the price
for which it sold. To better understand
such figures it is we'll to Inquire at the
outset as to the actual cost Of produc-
ing and curing tobacco per acre. Some
years ago the writer asked the question
of twenty leading tobacco growers, as
to the probable cost per acre, and the
average cost was paced at $50 % per
acre. Some estimates were as high as
s4S. 90, others fell considerably below
$4,000. 4 noted club of tobacco Men
in the central part Of North Carolina
made study of this question through
number of years, and they placed the
average at $500 per acre. To show
how profitable tobacco has become we
beg leave to give the names and post
.oBee addressess.of leading planters IN
different sections, SO that the reader
may verify every statement we make.
Twelve years age not pound OF to-
bacco was grown in the State for ship
ment, while the crop planted this year,
it is estimated will yield fifteen million
pounds.
The average yield per acre in South
Carolina is from 900 to l 200 pounds,
while in the colder sections OF Virginia
and North Carolina the average is be-
low 600 pounds per acre. As in east
ern North Carolina, so here the coming
of tobacco has changed the conditions
Of the people, placed them on an lnde'
pendent footing and enabled them to
buy for cash instead of doing business
on the credit system.
One Of the most remarkable examples
is that Of Capt. Paul Whittle, Of River
dale, in Florence county. On 30 acres
of tobacco be made clean profit 81, 400,
besides raising an abundance Of home
supplies. Capt Whittle is from Mas
sachusetts. He came to South Carolina
several years ago, and during the last
FIVE years has made small fortune
growing the yellow weed.
F. NJ. Rogers, Jr., Of Florence, was
one Of the first planters to experiment
in tobacco. On one crop he averaged
yield of 1,0e5 pounds per acre, and sold
the crop on an average Of "a cents per
pound. Mr.. Rogers has grown two
crops of tobacco, which have netted
him clear profit Of $1,000.
S. A Gregg, Of Flore1c' gives an IN
teresting statement, showing the com
parative profits in cotton, corn and to-
bacco, which is herewith produced:
ll6 acres of cotton, 52,0lS
pounds at 81 c.........::S 2,44'.4O