Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-26
LEAF TOBACCO MARKETS
GETTING IN FULL SWING
Unprecedented Demand for First Of
fcrings Of Crop, and Prices Paid
Highest in Many Years.
GROWERS TO SELL OUT EARLY
Dark Primings Also In High Favor.
Scarcity OF Labor May Cause Con-
siderable Loss in Some Sections.
Farmers Cutting by Moonlight.

Never before in the history Of the
leaf tobacco trade of Virginia and
North Carolina have the markets open
cd up with such bright prospects for
the growers of the weed So far moth
ing but primings. supposed to be the
lowest grade of tobacco, have been
offered in tho warehouses of the vari-
Gus markets. and yet figures that as
tonish the natives and greatly please
the farmers are being paid.
This unprecedented demand for prirn-
ings is not confined 10 the markets
of the bright belt, but the dark prim-
inGs saved from the crops of dark
shipping tobaccos and other heavy va
rieties are bringing fabulous prices.
and the dark markets are opening at
least a month sooner than usual In or
der to give the farmers inc oppor-
tunity to convert these goods into
cash.
From the tobacco growing sections
Of the State come loud complaints OF
the scarcity Of tho necessary labor to
enable the farmers to cut and cure tho
weed as fast as 1t is ready. In some
sections there is great danger OF much
Of the large crop that has been made
being lost or damaged BY delay IN
cutting and housing. 1t is reported
that In some parts OF Halifax and
Pittsylvania Counties farmers arc cut
ting the bright tobacco by moonlight
to save 1t from fi-ing. II being impos-
slble to hire the help necessary to
make thorough cuttings by daylight.
VIEWS OF ACKNOWLEDGE
TOBACCO AUTHORITY
Winston Salem. y. c., acknowledged
authority on the leaf tobacco subject,
says:
practically all tobacco markets arc
now open in North Carolina and some
also in certain sections OF Virginia.
Tobacco will move RAPIDLY until tho
crop is sold. If anything like good
seasons prevail there will be but lit
tie tobacco I'm the hands OF farmers
by Christmas. There is no question
now but that tobacco will sell high
In fact. this year will break all prcvi-
Gus records as to prices. scoring tho
highest average ever known. We can
not blame farmers for selling just
as rapidly they can get it to mar
ket, but they should be as careful!
as possible TO handle 1t we'll"
The reports below give an idea OF
tho present and prospective value OF
this years crop.
Half Million Pounds In DnnvilIc.
DANVILLE. VA. August 25.--About
half Il million pounds of priminGs have
been sold on the market this week.
No stalk cured tobacco, except few
loads of inferior quality. has been
offered yet. Very low grade common
dark primings are bringing from to
cents; common colory, from Q TO l3
cents: medium to good colory. from IA
to is cents; common to good bright.
is to % cents: good TO fine bright.
% to 80 cents; fine to fancy bright.
so TO 35 cents. These quotations are
for priminEs. Those selling at 20
cents and above have sufficient body
color and quality to be useful for
cigarette purposes.
The farmers report that In many
sections the crop is firing very bad
lY in the field. owing to dry weather
There have been occasional rains this
week, but they have been local. La
Dor in the farming districts Is very
scarce. and much tobacco will no doubt
be lost, owing to lack of labor to house
the crop.