The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-02-11


correspondence OF The Progressive Farmer.
From what 1 can hear and what !
see through the press, there will be
a rush from cotton to tobacco this
year. I want to warn the tobacco
grower of the danger there is in
planting a large crop this year.
What shall say is based principally
Oh
| MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
My first crop of tobacco was raised
in 1884. 1 live in the western por-
tion of Wake, in a splendid bright
tobacco belt. In 1884 a brother and
myself planted small crop and
realized about 1926 per acre, with no
expense except a small fertilizer bill.
We used 300 pounds fertilizer per
acre then. In connection with this fer
tilizer we used some horse stable
manure.
In 1885 we hired 12-year-o boy
and planted little larger crop and
realized 5000 per acre with no ex-
pense except the hire of the boy for
about five months and few days in
housing, and our fertilizer-we used
that year 400 pounds per acre.
was the first to plant in this Sec
ton. I was very much elated over
my success in these two years, and
commenced buying more fertilizers
and planting larger crops l thought
surely l would soon get rich. Ny
neighbors became enthused and
barns began going up in every direc.
ton.
In 1885 bought more fertilizers
and planted more tobacco and made
a miserable fnilure-hardly enough
clear to pay my fertilizer bill. Since
that time 1 have experienced several
years with about the same results.
1 have known of several instances
where good farmers on good tobacco
land did not realize enough from
crop to pay for fertilizers that
grew it.
Prices on low grades of tobacco of
crop of 1901 were as high or higher
than ever knew before. The reason
is very clear: an unusually short
crop, from which we ought to learn
q lesson. 1 want to emphasize the
danger of planting big crops of to-
bsooo and give just few of the
many reasons why it is 80 dangerous
WHY LARGE CROPS ARE DANGEROUS.
In the first place, the demand is
not hard so supply. A very small
area will supply a number of peo
pie. l remember when a farmer
could raise enough in the fence COR
ners of the lane TO supply hi. whole
family.
Ii has, of all crops know, the mar
rowest channel through which to go
to reach success. A little too much
rain or too dry, or wind storm, or
hail, or frost, or flea beetle, or damp,
foggy weather: all damage it, and
some of them completely ruin it
believe If we could get the statistics
we would find more farmers have
been completely bro ken up by raising
tobacco than by raising cotton, in
proportion to the number engaged in
the culture of each.
THE ONLY PROFIT IN TOBACCO.
According to my experience, the
only clear money there is in tobacco
is in small crops we'll cultivated and
nicely handled.
1 think no one should plant more
than 1000 plants or two acres, TO the
horse. Raise plenty to eat at home
and some to spare. By so doing the
farmer will find himself always on
the safe side. / want to say to my
brother small farmer: Do not envy
your neighbor who plants largely of
He may for time make
mis- thousands, but before long he
will go under and you will still be
winning.
want to say here TO beginners in
5he culture of tobacco, Do not be led
!stray by the sunny tales of new be
yinners in new sections. see but
little in the papers from old planters
n old sections. A. T. OLIVE.
Wake Co., N. G.