The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-03
LEAF FARMERS
Continued from Page One)

mat the Border belt crop is gen
orally good, although not quite a.
good as it was last year." the AS
scciated Press reported.
The federal-state reporting serv
ice said that Border belt grower:
are not expected to produce quite
as much tobacco as they did las
year.
The entire Border belt crop las
year weighted in at 282, DOC, 00(
pounds, and the estimate for the
1947 crop has been set at 233, 900,
600, Rollins said, Or 40 million
pounds less than last years.
Which figures show that a size
able sum of money will be miss
ing, from the take home pay thi!
year, as compared to last, unIes'
the always in practicable compa
MES buy the tobacco we'll above
Federal sterilization figures, Off
Gals predict.
R. c. Rankin sales supervisor
of Lumberton's big market said;
Curing is late because of ex
cessive dryness in the early sea
son, but rains later helped, ano
as a result of continuous rains the
leaf is drying out to a bright thir
leaf in contrast to the heavy dark
tobacco of last season. The area
expects a reduction of about II
per cent poundage, possibly
more" he said.
"The market sold 719, 992 on OPP
ening day last year, and expects
a full house for the opening Thurs
day. however sales are expected
to slow during the first two weeks
because the leaf will not be ready
for markell according to Rankin.
Although the quality of the leaf
is reported fair by supervisor c.
B. Townsend of Fair Bluff, eve
do not expect the first few days
sales to be very heavy, because
of the delayed growing and har-
vesting season." he said. Fair
Bluff has four tobacco ware
houses.
Nine million pounds ere sold
there last year, he said.
At Fayetteville, three modern
warehouses were repeatedly ex-
pecting bumper loads on opening
day. A special added feature of
the Fayetteville market this year
will be the new $1,000 square feet
of floor space afforded as a re
drying plant for the tobacco.
Although Fayetteville faced
some difficulties last year in oper-
alton, this trouble has been ironed
out, according to the Offices of
the Chamber Of Commerce, and
the redrying plant is expected o
induce more trade to that area.
At nearby Tabor City the crop
looks good, according to John Bar
low, sales supervisor who said
THAT approximately 40 per cent of
the crop has been gathered, and
the floors in the warehouses there
are expected to be filled for open
ing Thursday. However restricted
selling time is expected to hold
the first days sales to half mil
lion pounds. he said.
Whiteville, with three new ware
houses, making a total Of nine re-
ports ''possibly the best quality in
years." in the words of Walter H.
Paramore, sales supervisor.
Paramore predicts that the to-
bacco stockpile is not diversified
this year; there is an increased
demand for the flue-cured quality
at home and abroad; an increase
in the incomes of consumers and
the government support price, lib
eral as based on parity.
These factors, he says will bring
the years 'take" up to as good as
or better than last years in Co.
lumbus county.
There are 81 warehouses in Co.
lumbus county; nine in Whiteville,
four at Tabor City, Four in Chad
bourn; four at Fair Bluff. :
At Chadbourn Lacy Tate of the
WaccamaW Bank and Trust COM
pany. also a farmer, reports that
the outlook for this selling season
is good.
The quality is medium, accord
ing to Tate, and the poundage is
expected to be off some from last
year, but "all in all, the planters
are optimistic" Tate said.
From Clarkton, predictions of
slow sales to start were made by
warehousemen who predicted,
however that a fair quality leaf
would keep the average prices at
least in line with government par
tiles.
The market, however, expects a
brisk opening sale Thursday.
In Fairmont, Charles B. Stat
ford said that rains have tended
to keep the weight of this years
leaf light, and that it is hard 70
predict what the poundage is to
be, however, he said that this
years first sales will probably
"equal last years." The tobacco
center has four new warehouses
this year to make a total of IS.
Stafford, optimistic about price
levels being maintained at least
on a level with last years, ad-
mitted that the farmer-the man
Who actusl'v produces the crop
is somewhat cautious about the
outcome of his investment.
FLIGHT RECORD SET
II WORK. Arp 2-lI Pl-An