The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-21
Advantages in the East for
Growing Bright Tobacco.
SOME WORDS OF WISDOM
We Need Larger Hem, Market. The Need
Of Developing the Wonderful Natural Re-
sources Of the South. immigration
Is What 8 Wanted.


his address by saying:
Il am gratified to see the interest
manifested in our association. The con-
sideration of important matters, by wise
and experienced men is always produc-
tive of much good, and will prove TO De
of great benefit to all concerned. Great
results cannot be achieved at once. and
we must be satisfied to advance step by
step"
MEN who are resolved to find way
for themselves. will always find oppor-
tunities enough and if they do not lay
ready to their hands they will make
them.
some one asked Opie by what Won
derful process he mixed his colors. 1
mix them with my brains. sir was his
reply. 1t is the same with the farmer;
he must work with his brains and not
say that all of his crop failures are due
to freshets and droughts and too much
grass
Continuing, Col Cunningham spoke as
follows:
Some years ago l visited Wilson and
Rocky Mount and I remember to have
said to some of nv friends with whom
| examined their farms. that | thought
the lands of that section were we'll
suited to the growth of fine yellow to-
bacco. and time has shown that there is
no better tobacco grown than that by the
farmers OF Eastern North Carolina. Be-
cause of this tobacco markets have
sprung up in almost every county.
"In the Piedmont belt. in which live,
the bright yellow tobacco was grown al
most exclusively for many years, but it's
growth has gradually extended into other
parts of North Carolina and is now cul-
tivated to some extent by farmers in
other States.
You will do well not to make the
mistake which so many of the people in
my section made. There was time
when yellow tobacco sold for twenty-five
dollars, per hundred pounds. and fire.
quently farmer would average this sum
for his entire crop and often times more.
There were some who acted wisely and
saved their money, while others amid
the excitement abandoned the wise policy
of raising their supplies at home, and
bought what they needed from the North
lands in a high state of cultivation,
were economical and saved their money,
are in good circumstances today. But on
the other hand those who adopted the
one crop system. depended upon COM
mercial fertilizers, and neglected their
lands, are today lamenting their condi
tion and grieving over their lost oppor-
tunities. The people of Eastern North
hxyt hoir
and avoid repeating the mistake of their
friends in the old tobacco belt
1.-The tobacco acreage in the Piedmont
belt is decreasing and necessarily so. l
know of counties where the best tobac-
co lands are found and where the people
fourished and prospered as never be-
fore. where the farmers are now COM
PEELED to cultivate less tobacco. be-
cause they have cut down their forests,
and this because a tobacco farm re-
quires a quantity of wood for fuel and for
curing tobacco. The majority did not
take the proper care of their lands and
wasted their timber. and now they are
not in a position to plant as largely as
they formerly did. Because of this there
are many who are leaving the old to-
bacco counties for the opportunities af-
forded in the Eastern counties are far
more favorable to them to support their
families and to make money.
Those who propose to change their
present method of farming and who wish
to engage in the cultivation of tobacco,
had best make up their minds to move
slowly, because there is no crop SO much
subject to heavy losses as the tobacco
crop.
c1y,
make fine yellow tobacco, and 1 desire to
impress upon you some cardinal points,
which will be worthy of your careful con-
sideration and study. These are: First,
the burning of plant beds; second, the
preparation of the SOIL third, manuring;
fourth, planting; fifth, cultivation; sixth,
printing; seventh, topping.
I'm line with these, let me call your
attention to some necessities Worming
and suckering apply to all tobacco, and
this work is absolutely necessary to be
thoroughly done. to make a good crop.
Ihe TOBACCO plant thrives best in deep
well prepared soil and the land should
be made rich with farm pen manure and
fertilizer. 1t is best to fallow old land
deep, in the fall or early winter. that
the frost may pulverize it. Good prepara-
tobacco
planter should not stop until the land
is in proper condition. The selection of
coed seed is of the greatest Importance.
The variety must be suited to the type
which the planter intends to raise, and
also the careful selection of the soil.
prefer for filters. cutters and yellow wrap
pers, the white stem Oronoko, the Elan
agan and the long leaf Gooch. There are
two modes for raising plants. in hot beds
or in the open air.
1.-THE tobacco and trucking interest has
made rapid strides in the past few years,
and the Eastern part of the State, which
has languished for short period, owing
to the low prices of cotton. is fast be-
coming the garden spot for trucking, and
the best section for growing bright yell
low tobacco in all the world. Her to-
bacco markets have steadily grown and
in few years Wilson. Goldsboro and
Rocky Mount will sell as much tobacco
as Danville. Winston and Durham.
The business men of these enterpris-
ing cities, should study the methods OF