Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-15
TOBACCO SITUATION IN
MIDDLE WEST STATES
Crops of Burley Goods Very Near to
Normal-Not So in
Virginia.
THE LATE FALL HELPED OUT
Frosts Held or and All Plants Were
Cut-Usual Quantity of Burley Is
Housed-Brights in Virginia Cut
Short.

ChOISs
notwithstanding extremely adverse
circumstances at planting time In
prac; wally every important tobacco
producing centre, the tobacco crop of
the United States for 1914 will be ap-
proximntely as large as that OF last
year. says tho Cincinnati Enquirer
This is n conclusion which is reached
after careful tabulation of the sta
Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana by En-
quirer correspondents. and through
official sources in the other producing
sections.
But for the drought which prevailed
throughout Kentucky. Ohio, Indiana
and Tennessee, and extended into West
Virginia and part of Virginia and
the Carolinas. the largest tobacco crop
in the history of the country would
undoubtedly have been recorded this
year. Preparations had been made for
an enormous acreage. particularly in
kentucky and Virginia. but all this
was rendered impossible because of
the unusually hot. dry weather during
May and June. which not only pre-
vented the proper transplanting OF the
young plants, but which burned up
and some after they had been set out
in tho field. Tennessee and the Caro-
linas had likewise prepared for n big
increase in the tobacco area, but sim
liar conditions also prevented tho con-
summation of this Up in Wisconsin
the farmers had raised moro than the
usual quota of plant beds. but in this
section, too, the increased acreage was
not to be, for early IN the season there
were heavy rains. which deluged the
fields and literally drowned the young
plants before they could get n fair
start.
FAVORABLE AUTUMN WEATHER
HELPED OUT SOME
Up 10 the first Of September the ave-
rage tobacco grower In tho sections
mentioned was thoroughly discouraged
with the outlook, for the tobacco fields
had made very poor progress during
the long. dry summer But with Sep
TENDER there came period of weather
seldom experienced in the great to-
bacco belt. bright. warm days and cool,
balmY nights, which afforded Just the
necessary amount Of moisture required
by the tobacco plants to make the
best possible growth.
Everywhere the fields of tobacco
began to show wonderful improve
ment. and during the entire month
of September the growth was wonder
full. Fields which had shown a very
poor stand earlier In the season began
to come TO life, and sturdy plants shot
mp practically over night. Although
the growth was rapid, 1t was not so
much at the sacrifice of quality as
might have been expected, and it is
asserted that the Kentucky crop will
be one of the finest ever housed. The
same favorable weather conditions
which prevailed during September con-
tinued into October. and tho entire to-
bacco crop of tho country was cut
and housed under the best conditions
Imaginable. Tho unusually large size
attained by the plants has more than
made up for the slight deficiency in
acreage, and the yield per acre will
probably be heavier than in ten years
past.
The total tobacco yield of tho United
States. rs compiled by the Enquirer
is SSe.S54,250 pounds. grown on an
area approXinating 942.01G acres. Last
year the total production amounted to
SS3,5G4 500 pounds raised on area
of. ] ,0oS, 906 acres. Thus n decrease Of
only e50,250 pounds is indicated In this
years harvest while the area har-
vested fell off 66.S91 acres. or more
than per cent as compared with last
year This showing may be consid-
cred remarkable in view of tho very
| adverse conditions at planting time.
The official government estimate OF the
tobacco crop for the past three years
was as follows: 1913. 953.734, 900
pounds; 1912, 962,S55.O0O pounds; 1911.
905, 09. 900 pounds.
1t will be observed that the average
was brought up in the West and in
the cigar wrapper producing sections.
The Virginia and Carolina fields fell
off in pounds. and in bulk, and this
optimistic review of tho Cincinnati
paper must be taken as a whole and
not especially applicable to tho Vir-
ginia situation.
DanVille Tobacco Market.
DANVILLE. VA, November 1.-The guam
tity and character OF the receipts this week
differ but little from the previous week
and Notwithstanding the weather has been
harsh. sales have lasted till we'll into the
Afternoon each day. There has been good
deal of tobacco sold this week that has been
received by rail-. much of which is no doubt
from nearby small markets. There have
been comparatively few wagons in this week.
and altogether the breaks have been quite
common. Several OF the large corporations.
who heretofore appeared more or less In
different buyers. have during the past week
shown more interest, and are taking hold
prices have had a stifening tendency, Good