Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-09
BRIGHT TOBACCO OUTLOOK
SEEMS RATHER PUzzL|NC.
Short Crop for South Carolina.
Eastern Carolina Outlook Tn
Ccrtuin-Old Belt Holds Own.

/ Perhaps in no previous year has
the tobacco man OF Virginia and
North Carolina. whether he BE- grow
cr. wa.ehouseman. leaf dealer or
manufacturers been SO much at sea
SO early in the year. This is espe-
cially true throughout the sections
Of the two states. where the bright
leaf is grown and sold.
While the phenomena prices OF
1880 are still ringing in the ears
OF the grower. making the temptation
10 plan; ont larger crop this year
NEXT 10 anhearabic. the seasons so
FAR have teen against him and the
labor problem confronts him. AMI. in
tho face of this the dealers. from the
small sprCulatorS and the warehouse
man. supposed 10 he the farmers
nearest friend, up to the representa-
,ives OF the big exporters and the
smoking tobacco and thc chewing
are warning him that he cannot eN-
pect for the crop of brishis TO b.
grown this year the high prices thar
were paid by them tor last years
product and that in view ot the high
cost Of fertilizers as well rs OF labor
money ON a large" crop than VAS
grown last Year. which was hardly
an average crop.
short Crops In Sonth Carolina.
From all OF the bright leaf sections
cone rcports, Of a cWrta!iment OF
crops that is being forced by the un-
propi;ious seasons. The long con
iinucd cool weather has retarded the
plant beds in South Carolina to such
an extent that no matter how anxious
the farmers may Toe 10 So; out a h;g
crop the tiiaG * now impos Sihlc be-
cause OF the sho"tnesS "f healthy
plants. This does not disturb the
South Carolina farmer TO ANY great
degree for With the present high
prices for cotton he can and viii
easily pui tue land he had intended
for tobacco in cotton and he on the
safe side" There i now no doubt
of short crop OF tobacco through
out the weed growing sections OF the
Palmetto state.
Eastern Carolina Has Had Start.
The Eastern North Carolina section
has also had a bad start in tobacco.
the long drawn out winter. lingering
IN the lap o: spring. has cut short
the plant beds there also. but not 10
such a serious extent as in South
Carolina. II is known, however, that
much land in Eastern North Carolina
that had been prepared for tobacco
viii he put in cotton. and in any
even; the crops ;Eerc VIII not o- as
large as last yeIr unless he weed
grown by farmers who. seGuceI by
;he high prices .! las; year. Viii this
Year make their first Ventur" in the
cultivation g: the weed. This may
/ bring the aggregate az POUNDS MP to
. iilaN % GSSl year UfU l'b. II 10
known that several counties in East
/ ern Virginia IN which bright tobac
: co was never befo:c grown. Will at
Tempt It's pvodu ton this year. al
though late reports az" 10 III. effect
I that the bad season for starting tn.
plants has proven quite setback
10 them.
Situation In the old Heit.
Thc plant question is not so dis
turbins in the old bright belt of Viz
gnia and North Carolina. Il j. true
( that tn. beds are very backward be-
cause OF the bad weather. hu; there
is ample time ye; for their come-out.
and the probability is that there Will
be no shortage OF healthy plants In
hat region. However. the tobacco
des!ers and the tobacco associations
n the Old bel; markets are sending
forth much propAe anda. urging no
increase in acreage this year and in
fact asking that the farmers cnrtail
their tobacco acreage and devote
more tc.ss and more labor 10 food
crops.
~ present the general Indications
axe that thu south Carolina crop Will
hc much below that OF last year. the
Eastern North Carolina crop VIII be
Shurtc: IN some section. but this
shortage VIII probably he made up
by III. men Who wIl for the first
time go into the cultivation OF tn.
weed. aud in the old belt q: both Viz
cin!a and North Carolina As much to-
bacco. probably l!t;!" more. will b-
VIII hang on the seasons and the Ia
Dor problem. The reports below are
interesting.