The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-08-23
FlR. MCFIESS RESIGNS
CONVENT POSITION
Ne WiM Manage the IntsroSts q the
AneFican SnmAtsa Tobacco
Co. an Florida.
(The Tobacco Lear Bureau, l4l5
q ST.

AAhc AODdcCO 1eal Dhreau, l4li
G.. St.
WASHINGTON, August 6. George T.
McNess, who for several years hai
been in charge Of the tobacco investi
cations of the Bureau Of Soils of the
Department of Agriculture. has ten.
dered his resignation, to take effect or
August Is, to accept the position OF
vice president and general manager OF
the American Sumatra Co., of Leon
county, Fla. This company have lust
been organized under the laws of Flor
ida, with capital Of 500, 900, to grow.
pack and sell Florida shade tobacco.
The officers are l.. G. Yaeger, presi-
dent; George 7. McNess, vice-president
and general manager, and George b.
Perkins, secretary and treasurer.
Mr.. McNess is succeeded in the De-
partment by A. ID. Shamel, and IL is 10
be hoped that the work that has been
30 successfully conducted in the past
: for the benefit of the tobacco growers
viii be continued by the Department
along similar lines. Tbe introduction
of bulk fermentation in Ohio and the
growing of Cuban Seed Leaf Tobacco
for filler purposes In Texas and Ala
bama are among the notable results OBJ
tanned by the Department under Mr..
McNess supervision, and have been ac-
knOWledged by tobacco growers and
packers as of the highest Importance to
the industry.
Mr.. Shamel is already well known to
the tobacco trade through his work in
connection with the tObacco-breeding
experiments conducted by the Bureau
Of Plant Industry. While his expert
ence has been along lines somewhat
different from those pursued by Mr..
McNess, he will nevertheless have as a
corps Of assistants number of pfacti-
cal tobacco men, and it is to be hoped
that the Department, while developing
the scientific aspect of its tobacco work,
will not neglect the industrial side of
the subject which is of such immediate
Importance alike to growers, packers
and manufacturers.
Mr.. McNess has just returned to
Washington from Florida, where, in
connection with the organization of his
company, he has recently made q care
ful survey of the entire tobacco field |
IA speaking of the outlook, he said to
the Tobacco Leafs correspondent
''The heavy demand of the trade for
this type of tobacco has far exceeded |
the present supply, and to my mind of |
fers field for enterprise superior to |
that Of any tobacco region in the coun-
try. The crop grown this season in /
Florida is an excellent one, both as to |
quality and yield, and it is estimated /
that the State will produce not less |
than 1000 bales this year The pio-
neers in this field are now receiving the
reward of many years of unreQuited la
Dor and experiment, and think no one
will begrudge them the splendid returns
for their efforts
''The management of large tobacco
plantation in Florida demands ability |
and skill besides the outlay of consider
able capital, but although the cost Of
production is large when compared with
that of un-grown tobacco in other re-
gions, yet the prices obtained show a
handsome profit on the investment. 1t
10 conservatively figured that the cost
Of equipping plantation and growing
the crop the first year, according to the
best practice in Florida, is about 81. 900
per acre; but when we take into con-
sideratiOn the fact that the Florida
growers have this year received eighty
i've cents per pound for their leaf in
The bundle, with an average yield of
], 900 pounds per acre, il can be seen
that the returns for the first year nearly
repay the entire investment. Il
In no other part of the country has (
The application Of scientific principles to
tobacco growing, especially in the mat ,
Ter of fertilization, produced more sat
sfactory results than in Florida. 1t ID I
on the tobacco lands of that
State and Southern Georgia to produce /
exactly the conditions most suitable for {
he growing Of this crop, and this is es- !
Decially true Of many large areas OF
arm lands heretofore devoted to other
.rops. It has long been the impression c
hat the best tobacco in this region can
'nly be produced on virgin soil. but '
PRACTICAL experience has demonstrated c
be conditions on newly cleared land,
lue largely TO the abundance of leaf s
mold, can be duplicated by growing e
.rOps Of legnmes and turning them un- 2
Ter for the purpose Of adding humus to &
he soil
II consider the prospects Of tobacco 8
'rowers of Florida and Georgia as ex- s
eedingly bright, and the best evidence a
{ my faith in the industry In that sec q
ION e the fact that have resigned q
cry eongenial Official position to en- d
ark In the enterprise. Isincerely hope \
he Bureau will continue its practical N
york, and ! know that under Mr.. a
hamel Il viii receive most intelligent B
ERECTION. ] can only bespeak for my nj
1cceasor the same cordial appreciation 81