The Florida star., 1900-01-05
SHADE GROWN TOBACCO.
Handsome Returns Can Be Realized From
Growing the sumatra Variety.

since the Dlg freeze OF 1870, Wnlcn
caused the complete temporary destruc-
tion of the orange groves, the Floridian
has tried in many ways to produce crop
that would bring him in an income till
his groves could be restored.
In view of the serious set hack of last
winter 1t has become more than ever
necessary for our farmers to raise money
making crop that will bring in prompt
returns.
Many experiments have been tried,
hut the crop that has come to 1.-The front
and promises better returns than any
other, especially in the northeastern
portion of our territory, is tobacco.
Mr.. Flagler, with his usual liberality
and enterprise, has through his agent
here, Mr.. ). w. Rowley, experimental
for the last three years in tobacco culture,
aud has given away large quantities of
seed and plants and furnished instruc-
ton to all along the east coast who wished
TO undertake tobacco crop. In this way
the path is made easy for all who wish
to take part in this industry
OF course any one who undertakes ID
raise crop entirely new To him is bound
10 make some mistakes and las much TO
learn, but many of the pitfalls can he
avoided and many rough places made
smooth, thanks To the information cheer
fully given both by the Florida East
Coast railroad and the experiment sta
tion, at Lake City.
Owing 10 the length Of time necessary
To cure it, the farmer cannot reasonably
expect to realize on a crop of field grown
filler tobacco in less than eighteen months
from the time of planting, ami while We
confidently believe that there Is fair
percentage of profit in field grown crop,
and il L. an undoubted fact that the
merits of Florida tobacco are being more
and more realized every day. the delay
in getting a return has deferred many
would-be growers from engaging in To-
bacco culture
Recent experiments, however, have
clearly demonstrated the fact that IA most
handsome AMI speedy return can be- real
lied from "A crop of Sumatra tobacco grown
under partial shade.
The demand in all parts Of the United
states is for light spccklcd wrapper.
and il is nothing unusual for cigar manu-
facturerS To pay a. much as - and y per
pound iOr imported light Sumatra wrap
pers, ami there is no limit Ia the demand
for such an article.
Their il every reason to believe that
the Sumatra tobacco is one and the sumc
thing us the old Florida speckicd leaf.
lost sight Of for 50 many years, and one
il strengthened in this belief by the great
lhrlttlnrs> uf this plant when grown ON
:he high pine lands and light hammock
soils ot northeastern Florida under Iur-
tial shade. 1t Is then. both a. to color
and texture. the Ideal >peckird wrapper,
in every rr>pcrt the Impaired
.titicle, AMI such being the ru~c. the OF
lral conclusion j. that there i Il vast field
IF industry opened for uur fdu lrrs and
,nc that should attract many immigrants
tO the south
\ few ii.urr~ will demonstrate more
clearly the advantages offered bv this F.
crop: To shade one acre with h.mhcr, .
nr hath fencing The latter j. au excellent
mrlhodl. viii c'~t from 500 To- $50 Der
acre. This she'd. with little repairing
lt tine u, Ginning ui each YEAR will layI
about ten wears Cheese cloth wili cost
thout $500 Ter acre. but If course j. not .
81 durable. Thr fertilizer required will F.
cost abnnr $40 and the labor al very /
liberal estimate, $50. Sales have been /.
made m = ,'rr pound for the "" and .
II for the No. > wrappers. \ fair yirid F.
would hr Gun pounds Ia tine acrt--thiS j. F.
4 low figure. SupP"-c that a quarter oi
the crop was No. wrapper the pyrc,n- .
,age ought to be- higher where tine tubar- .
co l. grown for a wrapper crop. and that
iH pounds MAS Nn. wrapper. the hal- .
lmrc ol the cr"p wc viii take ~ account
rf, tine figures would he ~ iollowr:
Cost of >hsdiu. one acr. ....-.----- $40 pn .
Cost uI fertilizer. " -- 10 n1
'n>t "f Labor AMI cuIiu. .------- I5Uon
T"ta'. ---- ----.-..- -..--.-----S -Sid5 0O
10 lhr. N". wrapper al - ...--.- Sl5Uuu
Boa lbs. Ne. : wrapper al II --- 3uu 40
Total. -.---------------- s75no,
Net profit pr acre S!>5oo
This crop can be marketed SIX unurIfs