South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-22
AGRICULTURE and STOCK-RALSLNG
URGE CAUTION IN
TOBACCO GROWING
Department Says
"PIunging" Farmers Should
Go Slow on Project.

"Plunging' in tobacco growing to
the neglect or other crops Is not
justified by the present tobacco stu
alton. which the department OF ag-
riculture, in n statement Issued to-
day. describes as dis In ter
ritory where tobacco is new crop.
recently introduced 20 replace cot
ton under boll-weevH conditions, as
in portions OF South Carolina and
Georgia, the best interests OF the
farmers, the statement says. appear
TO lie i'm the development of a safe
and well-diversifed system OF farm
ing rather than 10 plunge from the
uncertainty Of cotton production into
the possibly greater uncertainty OF
tobacco production under existing
conditions. While it is impossible.
the statement declares. TO arrive at
the quantity of tobacco Europe will
be prepared to purchase during the
next year or two. II seems likely
that any considerable increase over
the 1913 crop in the flue-cured sec
ton would be followed by a decline
in market prices.
The largest crop of tobacco the
country has ever produced is being
marketed, and while prevailing
some OF the leading types, such alb
normal prices are said TO be due
primarily TO war conditions. The
department points out that the cOun-
try has grown three large crops of
tobacco in succession, with no de-
cided shortage in production Of any
of the leading types.
AS compared with pre-war figures,
exports OF leaf tobacco were some
what above normal i'm 1916, much
below normal in 1917. and still
slightly below the average i'm 1918,
average exports for these three
years being approximately 100000
600 pounds as against an average
Of 416,OOO.0OO pounds for the three
years ending with 1918.
The quantity of leaf tobacco an
nualIy consumed in domestic manu-
facture during the last three years
shows an increase of about 1OO,-
100000 over the preceding period
due largely TO a decided progres-
sive increase in the manufacture OF
cigarets. However. present indica-
tions are that no more tobacco was
consumed in domestic manufacture
in 1918 than in the preceding year.
Stocks OF leaf tobacco in the hands
of dealers and manufacturers as OF
Jan. are reported as about 1,23o'-
OOO. 900 pounds for all types. con-
siderable increase over the figures
OF previous years. With a 1918 crop
estimated at 100000, 600 pounds. a
domestic consumption. Of about TO-
100000 pounds, leaving large sur
plus over prewar export require
ments. and with stocks of leaf to-
bacco in the hands OF dealers and
manufacturers above the normal IL
seems obvious. says the department
that ordinarily there would be a
tendency toward lower prices. Tn
fortunately there appears to be nc
means available at this time for ar
irving at the European requirements
for leaf tobacco and its products
the next year. Cigar leaf, prac-
tically all of which goes into do
nestle consumption, has declined
sharply in price since the signing OF
the armistice. and the market for
this type has been inactive. The fiue-
cured type. somewhat more than
half of which is normally exported
and Burley. which ordinarily is moi
an export type have been selling al
abnormally high prices.
The situation with reference &c
fue-cured tobacco is of special i'm
portance in view OF the eXtraor-
dinarily large crop OF last year anc
the possibility OF a further large IN
crease in the crop this year. par
ticularlv in eastern North Carolina
and in South Carolina and Georgia
where cotton is the chief competint
crop. The situation would seem L
be one calling for the exercise o.
caution by farmers. particularly OF
the part of those who have not pre-
viously grown the crop and woule
need TO provide new curing barns
land other equipment.