Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-02-19
THE DARK
TOBACCO
SITUATION
Discussed By Prof. W. D. Mich
oils, Of The State Agricul-
tural Station.
SUGGESTS CURTAILMENT NOW
SUGGESTS CURTAILMENT NOW
War Situation Makes Demand
Less Every Year and Unso'd
Stock Accumulates.

sor Nichols, of the State University
Agricultural Station, who visited the
dark tobacco district of the State as a
special representative of the Expert
ment Station last week, in his report
to the station says critical situation
has been caused in that section by the
lack of market for tobacco and sug-
gests that the farmers of Western
Kentucky turn to diversified farming
and produce only light crops. The
report states that there is no single
crop which can replace tobacco in that
section, but that complete change to
growing green crops, COW peas, soy
beans, corn, garden truck, for use in
home and farm, seeds and raising
hogs. Cows and poultry in a greater
quantity will be the best way to meet
the emergency.
Professor Nichols worked in CO.
operation with Professor L. r. Neel,
of the Tennessee Experiment Station
and the two representatives spent
two days studying the situation. They
undertook to look over the condition
and advise concerning the modifica-
ton of the existing emergency at the
lrequest of the Planters Protective
Association.
"a peculiar and distressing situa
ton is faced by the farmers of the
dark tobacco section" the repor
reads. Dark tobacco is the princi
pal source of income in the region anC
has been grown by many farmers t
the neglect of other crops. The great
err part of the tobacco produced in this
district is bought by foreign buyers
and goes to European countries.
"The average price paid under nor
NAL conditions for dark tobacco il
nine cents pound. There has beer
practically no market for tobacco crops
since the opening of the European
war. Less than forty per cent OF thu
1915 crop has been sold and that wal
disposed of at four and half cents ;
pound. Ocean freight rates, which
were formerly $500 per hogshead ar'
now $18 and the insurance has riseI
from $3.50 to &c."
The seriousness of the situation il
Western X entucky, according to Pro
fessor Nichols, is made greater be
cause tobacco has been the principa
: source OF income for so long that tn
production Of other crops has bee
almost excluded. There is no othe
product that can take the place of to
bacco in that section as hemp has i
: the hurley district. Tobacco am
grain have been grown there unit
: the soil is at present very much dc
pIeted and can produce only ligh
! crops. The acreage is thin and lack
5 humus.
The report suggests that an eN
a change be made from raising Tobacco
: and grain and advises that the hes
results may be obtained from givin
attention to the things with which tn
agriculturists of the section are ia
! miiiar. Hogs, farm poultry, and COW
, are suggested as money bringers. Tn
4 market for these is always good
! Small increases in the number 9
/ sows, pigs and shoats raised on tn
! different farms in the district will adj
hundreds of thousands of dollars
the region. A small added incom
I may result from the production {
! poultry and garden vegetables, sue
! as Irish and sweet potatoes, beans an
E sorghum.
n The exchange to the raising of veI
, satile crops should be able to secur
4 for the farmers in the aggregate a
e income sufficient TO go a long wa
n toward piecing out the reduced il
: come resulting from the curailmer
!. of tobacco acreage. II should also il
T crease the production and build u
: the soil.
y THOMAS X. UNDERWOOD.