The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-17

the leaf as large and as heavy
as 1T should be, or would have been, the
crop is in remarkably good condition,
notwithstanding this deficiency. The
growers say that the effect on the crop
from this cause-lack of moisture-will
be a reduction in the weight of the leaf,
making the body lighter; but happily il
will not affect its curing into the
golden" and 'lemon-yellow" wrappers,
which command the higher prices. At
all the farms visited there was an under
lcurrent of satisfaction felt, rather than
expressed, as the curing advances, and
with it an assurance of profitable ruc-
cess, if the prices meet expectation.
Person was the first county visited
and the home of Col John s. Cunningham,
who enjoys the reputation of being the
largest tobacco grower in the world, was
the Mecca of this pilgrimage. His farms
cover several thousand acres in this
State and nearly as much more in Vir-
ginia. He takes great pride in his
farms, following the old method of set
ting his tobacco in new ground or
rested land, and securing a fine growth
each year. Col. Cunningham is president
of the North Carolina Tobacco Growers
Association, and to him came the dis
tinction of receiving a gold medal for
fine yellow tobacco at the great Inter
national Exposition held at Paris, France,
in 1900. Person is blest with soil and
climate that meets all the requirements
for the production of the fine yellow and
rich Mahogany wrappers which are so
much sought by the finer trade. The
county produces about 100000 pounds
of leaf annually, and is capable of pro-
ducing three or four times as much
without drain upon the lands. This fea-
ture of the subject is sure to invite the
investment of capital and bring an influx
of prosperous farmers, who will find
great profit in the production of the fine
tobaccos, for which the county is SO
famous. Col. Cunningham is setting a
fine example to the farmers of his coun-
ty by his methods of farming; in diversi-
flying his crops and in an economical
rotation of them. Besides his extensive
tobacco crop, which is the largest he
has ever grown, he grows large crops
of corn, wheat. oats. clover. peas and
the grasses. He grows his own supplies
and lives at home. His lands are among
the best of tobacco producing fields, and |
his equipment of barns, packing and sort
ing houses is complete. There are many |
others engaged il growing tobacco in
Person, and with success. but none on so
large a scale as Col Cunningham.
Edgecombe and Nash were the next |
counties visited. Mr.. E. L. Daughtridge. |
OF Edgecombe, one of the largest and
most successful of the general farmers
of that county, took great pleasure in
showing the writer the fine farms ada
cent to his own, near Rocky Mount The |
first one shown was that of Mr. r. H. |
Kicks, the pioneer tobacco grower of the |
eastern fields. His farm is beautifully
located, and his fields from the veranda
of his home, spread in all directions and
IN varying hues of green until the more
sombre shades of towering pine close the |
vision against the distant sky. The fore |
ground is checkered with corn, cotton, |
tobacco, peanuts, peas millet and fruit |
trees, He is original in many of his |
methods; does not follow in beaten paths. |
but, cuts out new roads for him. He has |
just invented and put into use on his |
farm a new cart, which at once saves
time and lessons the labor necessary
for getting the leaf from the fiehls. He
may have it patented to protect himself |
but does not hesitate to allow his neigh |
bors to use the idea In his practical |
way he said Gust after the war
neighbor built a rolling chair for a
manned comrade. so that he could get |
about and superintend his work. When
an enterprising Yankee saw it he drew a /
sketch of its parts, had it patented, and
came down shortly after forbidding the /
good mans making any more; so | am
thinking of having this cart patented. as
may want to build more of them for
myself"
MT. Kicks crop is fine, despite the dry /
season; little lighter in weight than
ne hoped for, but curing into golden
wrappers under his guidance, the promise
VI rlcher golden harvest later.
Inc farm of Mr.. James w. Mason-a
drummer who does farming as well-near
oiu battleboro. with its 80 acres in fine
.opacco IS an inspiring. sight; and so of
MI w. e. Jeffries farm, and many
othersN IN the neighborhood.
These counties combine great advan-
tages in that tobacco and cotton
corn and peanuts, grow side bv side. az.
forwing the farmer choice in nrons
which some of the other counties do not
possess. 49,
The counties of Beaufort and Pitt were
hSAl NiSitSu anu Inc methods in Dractioo
there are about the same as those in
Edgecombe and Nash. There are many
fine fields in both Beaufort and pitt tbe
most notable of the latter being that of
Capt. ]. j. Laughinghouse. He has tho
largest single. body of tobacco seen on
the journey, seventy acres in one body
another of sixty and another of about the
same size. Unfortunately he was visit
ed by hail and wind storm which per-
forated much of his fine leaf and blew
off many leaves. Still he is hopeful of
a fairly good crop. Capt. Laughinghouse
is a strong believer in the turkey as
helper in worming his crop. Last year he
raised about six hundred of these noble
birds, which in their younger days did
valuable service in the tobacco fields, and
later went to market. This year his tur
Key crop will be about five hundred. He
regards them as Indispensable His sue
cess mas been such as to warrant the
value of his opinion He is a strong be-
llever in tobacco, and does not grow
pound OF cotton. His farms are clean and
his packing houses are already filled with