The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-09-10
To the Tobacco Growers of Virginia and
tho CorO1inaS.

one year. EGo.
To the Tobacco Growers of Virginia and
the Carolinas:
|. The prospect for a large crop of tobac-
co, and fine crop too, is bright one,
but the outlook for good prices is, in
deed, a gloomy one. 1t would seem tit
time, therefore, for the tobacco growers
Of this country to take some action, If
possible. whereby they may protect
themselves against such prices as are
now being paid, and such as may be ex-
pected. With the proper concert OF ac-
ton of the land owners and farmers OF
the bright tobacco belt, the writer be-
lieves the present crop may be made
more remunerative than any for the last
fifteen years. The object of this commu-
nication is to suggest plan, and what
the writer believes to be the only course
to be followed that will bring the far
mers a reasonable reward for his year S
labOrs.
Before submitting the plan let us see
what governs the price OF tobacco. Why
does tobacco sell low? Why do we
sometimes realize less than the cost OF
production? 1t is but natural for aall
purchasers to buy at as low price as
possible. The great tobacco companies,
| then. are not to be censured. During
the last two years they have proven
their willingness to pay good prices.
| Supply and demand control the price OF
| all products Regardless OF the number
| OF buyers, tobacco will always sell well
if the demand is greater than the supply.
| From 1891 to 1900 more tobacco was
made than the trade demanded. During
| that time prices gradually came down
| until the last five years OF that period,
leaf tobacco, as q whole, sold on the
markets for less than the cost OF produc-
| ton. As a result of this state of affairs,
only the strong and most careful were
| able to keep their heads above water.
| Thousands not only got behind with
their accounts, but their teams, build
ings and farm implements generally be-
came worn out and dilapidated. In the
meantime hundreds of farmers became
Indifferent about planting large crops OF
| tobacco, and giving more time and at
| tention to other crops. the acreage OF to-
bacco was considerably reduced. This
| fact, together with a few unusually
short crops brought about by prOviden-
tial causes, created a great scarcity OF
| tobacco. Prices at once advanced, and
| for the last two crops, the farmer has re-
ceived fairly good prices.
| But why are prices low now, and why
is the prospect not good for the present
crop to sell well? The 1902 crop on
being marketed proved to be heavy
| One-heavier than it was thirst thought
to be. The 1903 crop promises to be an
| extraordinary good one, and as heavy,
possibly, as the 1902 one Judgingfrom
| the past can we, then. hope for good
prices? Is it not plain that the amount
we get from this crop is dependent upon
the quantity produced? What, then, is
| the remedy?
| The suggestion has often been made
| that farmers ought to reduce the acre
age If it could be done, this course
would eventually have the desired effect
| but it would not furnish immediate re-
lief, nor is it practicable. We want a
plan that will enable us to get somethine
out OF this crop. Like other people, farm
ers are Jealous, and each one afraid his
| neighbOr will not act in good faith. The
largest crops are always planted when
it is generally believed that small ones
| will be. Since, then, the suggestion is
impracticable, some other resort must
be made if we realize any profit from this
splendid growing crop. In my judg-
ment the only hope, and the only RENE
! dy, is for the tobacco growers and land
owners to take some definite action at
once to reduce the supply of tobacco
not by planting fewer acres, but by not
planting any at all next year. Let your
land rest and your timber grow for a
| year, and you will get as much for the
present crop as it will bring with a 1904
crop added to 1T.
This is my plan, and the only practical
BILE one. 1t has been submitted to a
number of leading farmers, and has been
met with no objection. Some may argue
that they cannot live and run their bus
mess for twelve months without selling
their tobacco. The answer is that any
man who raised a crop of grain this year,
| though it be a small one, can live until
May or June. By that time, if no tobac-
co seed has been sOwn, tobacco dealers
! will be anxious to pay for your tobacco,
| and good prices too. Should no tobacco
be planted in 1904, immediate relief will
come to all tobacco growers and good
prices obtained for several years to come.
Should such plan be adopted. the trade
| generally would be helped, and tobacco
in every shape would begin to move
Leaf dealers, spectators and every man
having tobacco ON hand could unload at
a profit and thus be prepared to enter
| the market again.
| Now, what shall we do? Shall we con-
tinue to wear out our lands, our teams,
our tools. our lives burn up our wood
and get nothing above a bare living?
Shall we go back to the ruinous prices
received for tobacco for several years
prior to 1901, Or shall we take some
steps for our mutual benefit? 1t is be-
lieved that the plan suggested is the key
to the whole situation, and the only
practicable course to pursue. Let the
farmers take up this matter, discuss it
among themselves and through the
papers. AGRICOLA.