The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-08-26
BETTER LEAF TOBACCO
AND 4 BETTER MARKET
What Organization Is Doing For
South Carolina Tobacco
Farmers.

In 1919 a necessity-an embargo
on tobacco during the marketing sea-
son-called forth the organization of
the South Carolina Tobacco Associa
ton. Some good work in a limited
way was done at once by this organi-
zation, but a realization of the fac:
that the great need was two-fold-"a
better tobacco on a better market -
as the present slogan of the assocla-
ton expresses it, the members sought
first of all at the beginning of the 1921
season to build up strong organlza-
ton with a big membership including,
if possible. everybody in the tobacco
belt OF South Carolina who might be
directly or indirectly concerned with
tobacco marketing.
The Extension Service OF Clemson
College was called upon for aid and
Director W. w. Long. knowing the
marketing of crops is as important as
growing them. gladly sent F. l.. Har-
kew, agent in marketing work and l.
r. Lewis. extension agent in market
ing. to Florence, the center OF the TO-
bacco territory, for one month to con-
.on+r.te on the tobacco marketing
rroblem, the first consideration beng
a big active membership. The plan
If attack was to invade the score OF
markets with the associations CEN
trail committeeman and visit person
ally farmers, warehousemen, bankers
chambers of commerce and even ousi-
ness and professional men, and 10
make talks to farmers gathered at
warehouses just before sales, the COM
m;tteemen to solicit members imme-
diately following. In this way the
small membership was Increased to
ever four hundred, and better still,
everybody concerned was educated
rs to conditions and requirements OF
the tobacco market. This has opened
the way for effective work by the as
sociation.
One aim is to improve the grades
of tobacco offered and eliminate the
poorer grades. The South Carolina
tobacco crop sold in 1919 for s1s,5oo'-
10000, or an average of 20 cents per
pound, a very much lower average
than was had for North Carolina and
Virginia tobacco, largely because OF the
inferior grades, bad handling, ETC.
Poor grades serve as a bear on the
market. The great amount OF dog
tal" tobacco now on the market
would, if it were good tobacco, keep
the tobacco people supplied for some
time.
Again, the market demands bright
tobacoo. and South Carolina can pro-
dnce that kind with proper curing
houses and bulking- down houses. The
association will employ paid secre-
tary and other help to give >he mem
hers instructions and aid in these mat
ters. to put out correct Information
as to markets and kinds of tobacco
demanded, and to furnish "legible"
or understandable statistics about to-
bacco.
A recent circular put out among the
members show some of the details
by which the association is promoting
"better tobacco on a better market .
The circular says in brief: Help the
tobacco market: (I by leaving to-
bacco money in local banks to kelp
finance the crop, (2) by not rushing
tobacco on the market, (3) by with
holding from the market entirely IL
prices go below reason, (4) by join
ing the Tobacco Association.
The same circular seeks to "edu-
cate" the tobacco farmer on the care
and handling of tobacco for better
prices by giving such specific instruc-
tions as the following:
l. Gather only ripe tobacco.
2. Keep your tobaccos bright and
bulk down till they bleach.
8. Sort or pick your tobacco and do
not market trash. Market notN''
worth less than 5 cents per pound.