The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-09-17
The Tobacco Situation.
BLAKENHALL, KITTRELL. N. c.,
Sa,4o~,lo,. 100.

BLAKENHALL, kITTRELL, n. c., |
September 18th, 1903.
EDITOR GOLD Leaf have recently
read with interest an editorial in the
Richmond Times Dispatch on the tobacco
situation. In this editorial the position
is taken that the low price of tobacco is
caused by the low quality of the leaf
offered. This low quality is ascribed to
the fact that nearly all the tobacco SO
far sold was grown out of the true to-
bacco zone. 1t is claimed that this to-
bacco is deficient in body, in texture, that
it is papery and destitute of many vir-
tues which all good tobacco should have
The editor believes that when tobacco
grown in the true tobacco zone of Vir-
ginia and North Carolina comes into the
market that good prices will be received
for it.
Now, while most thinking people will
dissent from the belief that this is the
whole cause of the trouble or that it is
even the chief cause, there is no doubt
some truth in this statement. Until a
comparatively recent date it was firmly
held that tobacco worthy of the name of
tobacco could not be grown out of the
true tobacco region or zone. This zone
embraces counties in North Carolina and
Virginia. 1t is undoubtedly true that
tobacco grown on the soil of these coun-
ties is superior in every thing except color
to that grown on the sandy lands of the
East and South. Although the world
seems to have been for years oblivious to
the fact of this superiority we know that
it does exist and it may be that the to-
baccO consumer is coming to realize this
fact to an extent sufficient to influence
fIn inf afy TO- h Il,
leaf for use in his products. | hear that
the Trust has issued orders to its buyers
to pay more for the leaf grown in the
true tobacco belt | hear also that the
most successful independent manufacture
ers are those who realize this distinction
and as far as possible use tobacco grown
in the above zone.
Now, if this is true, it is not without
significance. If the old well bodied. well
ripened, well favored leaf is to again be
the vogue instead of the chatter tobacco
grown on the sandy lands of the East
and South, whose only recommendation
is its color, this would mean much for
the grower in the true tobacco zone 1t
might be well for them to consider
varieties OF tobacco, modes of culture
and manuring and as fast as possible de-
velOp those qualities which were once so
highly priced but which seem to have
been quite ignored since King Cigarette
came on the stage. Then who ever heard
Of the old tobacco doing the harm that
the new tobacco now has done Some
insist that this harm lies not in the to-
bacco but in the drugs mixed with it in
| manufacture to aid King Nicotine in fast
ing his slaves with still stronger chain.
Who knows as l said but what this to-
bacco, apparently so mild and enticing
in its looks, may contain other than the
nicotine which aids in demoralizing
Young America? Home leaving is a very
demoralizing thing and it may not be
too wild a flight of fancy to think that
the weed itself may have got democrat
lied by change of habitat
Now, Mr.. Editor, while cannot for a
moment believe that the quality of to-
bacco now being sold is anything like the
| factor in the situation which the Times
| Dispatch claims, still it is doubtless to
| some extent a factor, and call attention
| to the editorial and make the above sug-
gestions hoping that it may be of some
benefit to your friends and mine in this
one of the finest tobacco regions in the
| world o. ". BLACkNALL.