The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1907-03-08

thanks of the entire community for
his action in these matters. Local
"'blind tigers will also engage the
attention of the mayor: he has offered
a reward of twenty-five dollars for
each arrest with sufficient evidence
10 convict.
Leon and jefferson counties are be
coming infested with the tobacco fe-
yer that has made Gadsden county
one Of the most prosperous in the
state. Mr.. Julius Hirschberg and his
partner. Mr. Rosenberg. who operate
the big FL ProredO Cigar Factory in
Tallahassee. have been planting tobac-
CO in Leon county. for several years.
Their jackson plantation, about ten
miles west of Tallahassee. is in point
of equipment and management. one
of the model tobacco farms. Last year
they had nearly fifty acres of shade
tobacco.
Following their lead last year a
number OF Tallahassee men began
planting tobacco in Leon County;
among them Senator J. W. Hender-
son. Mr. George w. Saxon. president
Of the Capital City bank. Mr.. Julius
Ball. of the BloNham hotel. and a
number of others not SO we'll known.
Arrangements are being made for a
much larger acreage this season. Mr..
George T. McNess, tobacco inspector
from the United States department of
agriculture. and Mr.. Robert W. Rowe,
United States tobacco expert. are here
now TO give instructions and 10 ar
range for government supervision of
this years crop.
CAPTAIN Rose. state chemist. in his
reporr for this year takes a roseate
view of the tobacco industry. not for
this section alone. but for all Florida.
He says: The rapid development OF
the tobacco industry of the state in
the counties OF Gadsden. Leon and
Pasco has become generally known
very recently Few of our own peo-
ole were aware of the large investments
and extensive businss of growing
the finer grades OF cigar tobacco. both
wrappers and filters in Florida
For years the business has been
the principal one OF Gadsden county
where some four thousand acres oil
shielded Sumatra leaf are grown. and
also large acreage of Havana seed
leaf grown in the open air.
The quality of this tobacco, both
filler and wrapper is equal to the best
imported and commands as high price
as the best Cuban tobacco.
There are five millions Of dollars
invested Il tobacco growing in the
counties of Gadsden. Leon and PascO
Probably no agricultural pursuit has
paid larger dividends on the amount
of capital and labor invest
ed than has the the cigar
tobacco industry of Florida. The bus
mess is rapidly expanding. While al
present confined 10 a few localities
there is no reason. climatic or other
wise. why the same success should not
be had in every county OF the state
There are equally well adapted soils
in all the counties of the state. where
the same careful and intelligent crl
ture and fertilization will produce 10
bacco of equal value. The advance in
scientific knowledge OF the selection
l of seed-correct methods OF culture
and fertilization-has been great dur
ing the past few years. The demand
for competent trained men for all az
ricultural pursuits. and particularly
for the growing of fine grades OF tooac
CO, is large, while the supply is linn
tied. IL is now recognized that more
depends upon the proper selection OF
seed. methods of fertilizing and cul
ture, 70 grow a desirable cigar tooac