Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-12-05
Georgia May Raise
Big Tobacco Crops
Experts Declare Growers Have Great
Chance In South Georgia

ATLANTA, Dec. 5.-Agricutural
experts here are today pointing to the
wonderful possibilities for making of
money by growing tobacco in Georgia
next year.
1t is not difficult to calculate the
profits to be made from growing to-
bacco when, as these experts show,
it is easy to grow from 500 to 1000
pounds of tobacco per acre in South
Georgia. and then if the growers only
secure as much as the lowest average
price Offered in North Carolina
tobacco state in October, namely 20
cents, and the lowest yield yet re-
ported from that state, namely 500 lbs.
it shows a full $500 an acre ~for to-
bacco. On the other hand if the grow
ers reached the maximum amount re-
ceived the maximum price. then the
profit is very attractive.
1t is shown by reports received here
| from North Carolina for October, that
are being analyized, that the average
price per pound for the month was
in almost every case above 20 cents
and in some cases the average price
paid run as high as SO ga cents per
pound at Pinetops. Wilson, N: c. the
largest market=in North Carolina. av-
eraged over 81 IL cents, while the
next largest at Greenville, S. c. aver
aged over 80 IL cents.
The industrial department. Of the A.
B. & A. railway, which runs through
the rich agricultural section of South
, Georgia is very much interested in the
production of bright tobacco in that
section of the State. and with view
to assisting the growers has made ar
rangemens at its own expense to i'm
port experts to that section.
South Georgia has produced some
of the finest tobacco grown in the
old tobacco belt''. declared w, w.
Croxton, a prominent official OF the
Ia. B & A. Railway, "but last year
due primarily to seasonal conditions
that is, too much rain-and inexperi-
ence in tobacco growing. the farmers
did not produce as good grade of to-
bacco as North Carolina can produce.
nor does it mean that tobacco growing
| in Georgia is failure. AS matter
of fact, Georgia failed to make good
cotton crop this year in many sections
while the corn crop last year was not
particularly good, but this year it is
exceptionally good. The farmers will
have in the growing of tobacco, as in
all other crops. some good years and
some bad years
"To accomplish anything success
| fully we must stick to it until we learn
how to do it-that is particularly true
in growing and curing tobacco. To-
bacco is crop that requires great
deal of experience and a great deal OF
attention. particularly during the per
iod when it is being cured. With con-
slant attention and application we can
grow as good tobacco in Georgia as
anywhere"
The state bureau of markets calls
attention to the fact that there are
good local tobacco markets at Fitz-
gerald, Triton, Douglas, Nichols and
many other points in South Georgia.
Farmers should grow enough to-
bacco in all of the communities where
markets are located to support these
markets and make them profitable,
otherwise the markets will be closed
and it will be exceedingly difficult to
to reopen them" SAID a TOBACCO expert
after looking over the territory. There
has been much said about providing
markets for the farmers in the past.
through the enterprise OF progressive
business men. South Georgia markets
have been provided in all of the to-
bacco growing communities and it APP
pears that it is now up to the farmers
to show their appreciation for these
large investments which have been
made to establish tobacco markets. by
growing enough tobacco to make the
investments profitable and it may be
depended upon that year in and year
out the tobacco industry will be a
success"
The statement is made as TO tobac-
CO growing there may be some poor
years, while on the other hand, there
will be some exceptionally good years.
The point is made that the average will
be satisfactory if the growers do not
attempt to confine their activities to
too short period.