The Rice belt journal., 1904-01-22
SELL 1904 CROP.
FLORIDA PARTY CONTRACTS FOR
TOBACCO.
TO GROW SOME UNDER SHADE.
Purpose is to Make a Fine Wrapper,
the Filler Reiaa Ali Ri9ht-Ad-
vantagss to Growers.

Houston, Texas, Jan. 1S.-StraWs
may tell which way the gentle breeze
blows and if they lend only little
the zephyr is very light, and should
it represent sentiment it would mean
that there is a slight inclination of 1t
in the dirtcetion indicated. But il the
mighty oak, one of the giants of the
forest, bends low to the rush of the
wind, it is known that there is a great
storm raging, which, if the aiiegory
be continued, means power of senti-
ment that speaks volumes if it repre-
sents the business element of the COM
munity. This illustration is used in
connection with the visit here yester-
day of Mr.. l.. J. McFarlin, manager of
the Florida, Havana and Sumatra Com
pany, one of the largest tobacco con-
Germs in the whole country, and Mr..
Gently with the agricultural depart
ment of the general government. Mr..
McFarlin's headquarters is in Quincy,
Fla, where the company has been do
ing big work in its line and has been
remarkably successful in connection
with it's interests in the East. He is
in this section on the strength of infor
nation through Mr.. Shelters expert
knowledge along the desired ends. This
visit means great things for the Ma
cogdoches country, unless all signs
fail. In responding to questions Mr..
McFarlin said:
From experiments made in Texas
ard upon the merits we find in same,
we have concluded to put UP a few
acres OF shade to grow tobacco similar
to that grown in Florida, for the pur-
pose of growing fine wrapper. The fill
ing we consider is good, and so salts
fed are we that we intend to contract
with farmers for it where their land
is of the kind that we think will pro-
duce a saleable article. We think that
the fact that good tobacco can be pro-
duced in certain sections both filler
and wrapper is beyond question. We
are indebted to Mr.. L. H. Shelter for
his countcesy and we will leave our
experiment under his supervision" ,~
The valued point in Mr.. McFarliS'
few words come out in the fsyeat'n
his firm will contract beforTd. set that
is planted, if the land = tie the seed
complied with, MISREPRESENTATION is
the tobacco they ii farmers for all
words, the FARM will grow, in other
the uncerth Tmers can know, barring
this crqp T. inty of the season, what
plant ~ will bring them before they
he =. the seed If the farmer thinks
th can do better with his crop than by
the contract. he doesn't have to make
a contract, though he will have to run
more risk without. it. This offer may
cause thousands and thousands of dol
lars in contracts and must be taken
to mean two primal points in favor OF
Texas: One is that Texas, by this large
concern, has been practically decided
to have the right sort of land, and the
other is that any amount of capital il
the hands of experts is willing tc
| come to Texas and get into the tobac
| CO business. Furthermore, this gives
! in the tobacco market of America, g
commercial value to the Texas prod
uct. 1t takes it out Of the experiment
| al stage in which it has even of late
/ been classed by writer's and others ir
! handling it as an investment Thi!
company is known to be one of the
| largest concerns, in a financial ant
| practical sense, west of New York
| and what it indorses by it's participa
tion may be stamped as gilt edge.