The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-28
Determined ID PLANT
BIG CROP OF TOBACCO
Writer in PROGRESSIVE Farmer Tx
presses Surprise Because of Need
For Smaller Crop.
BoDY's STATEMENT
Isand Suitable for Production of Bright
Leaf in Virginia and the Carolinas
SufIicicnt to Make Enough Tobacco
In One Year to Last Ten.

Knowing your real interest ia the
welfare OF the farmer. l am sending
you herewith a circular letter that
has been issued by the Tobacco Assoc
ciation OF the United States. During
my long experience In tho tobacco
business I have never seen "a time
when farmers were more determined
to plant a big crop of tobacco than
they now are preparing to plant, and
in my whole experience / have never
seen q time when there WAS less 10
induce the planting Of u large crop.
1 have thought OF repairing an ar
tfcie for publication dealing with this
subject, but the enclosed letter COW
ors the situation SO thoroughly that /
am sending It to you and | hope you
will give II your attention.
After careful consideration by the
board of directors of the Tobacco
Association OF the United States 1t was
determined to issue the following
statement regarding the situation Of
bright tobacco, with respect TO the
planting for 1915:
land suitable for the production
' OF bright tobacco in Virginia. North
Caroiina and South Carolina is sutii-
cient, of used to make enough tobacco
! in one year for the demands for ten
years
twenty-five years ago the toba Geo
produced in eastern North Carolina
and South Carolina was very small
amount indeed In 1914 these two
sections produced over 100, 100000
pounds, against about 10000, 600
pounds produced In the old Belt sec
tion OF Virginia and North Carolina.
she wing most distinctly how this new
TERRITORY has increased
Tobacco and cotton are the money
crops of this part of the country. The
Old Belt section is not adapted TO
cotton and. therefore, 1t appears that
the cotton section has made the in
crease in the production of bright to-
hacco that must produce serious con-
sequences If continued.
Eastern North Carolina and South
Earofina produced in
$40 T5.eea. GOO pounds
isl1-~- 4s.0Qe 900 pounds
iel2-- 9a.oea.o09 pounds
laIs-~iis, 900. 900 pounds
Is14--Iso. ooG. 600 pounds
-'Old Belt Virginia and North Caro-
. lima produced in
taie----ioo. 600. 900 pounds
l9il--l4s. 900. geo pounds
1efa--t4s, 900. 900 pounds
fsI3-2o0, 0eo. 900 pounds
1si4--fss,N 600. 600 pounds
ut liz thought that less than 2e0.-
+aoe, 900 pounds II annually used, aud
| for the two years over 30o,ooo.ooO
pounds have been produced, about
] 0o. 600. 900 pounds more than IL used.
1.-The following will show how this
ever production has reduced prices:
South Carolina
IN 1919 averaged si3.77
IN la14 averaged 9,Ss
Eastern North Carolina
in 1919 averaged 1855
in 1914 averaged 2.3e
/ Ola Belt North Carolina
in 1918 averaged t7.72
in 1914 averaged l.as
Old Belt Virginia
in 1919 averaged 1876
in 1914 averaged 9.s3
while about the same quality OF
tobacco was made both years. the 1871
crop only brought two-thirds as much
= the 1919 crop. showing conclus!vely
what over-production will bring about.
.with many demands cut off by the
European war. and with surplus o.!
over so 900, 900 pounds added from
| the 1914 crop, the situation absolutely
demands that decided decrease in the
planting for 1915 shall take place.
.sThe Old BELT cannot raise any
money crop but tobacco, and therefore
| the crop should he curtailed in the
cotton sections, where tho Increase
| has been so pronounced. n eonser-
native planting In the eastern North
ICarolina and South Carolina section
Will give the farmer an opportunity
| and an interest to raise full crops
| for home sustenance. and as the high
prfce OF every article OF food Is likely
Ito continue, 1t does seem reasonable
! that every effort on the part OF the
farmer should be made TO raise food
crops BY SO doing and making de-
cfded cut in the acreage OF tobacco.
&4fe price Of tobacco will be remunera-
Hive and will hiring about general
demolition OF prosperity in the COM
munities on which depends the sue
. cess Of the farmers for their welfare
..Finally, it is firm opinion OF those
who have given the matter thought.
That another large crop of tobacco
land a large crop can only be raised
| IN eastern North Carolian and South
.Carolina) will be calamity upon
every one connected with the trade.
and especially upon the farmer who
|nrcduces It, and the remedy lies only
| in d very considerable degree decreas-
ifnx the planting this year. %. l..
Joyner, OF Greenviile. y. c. in Pro-
xressive Farmer.
~ s,ss nann nrnruIrn