135 



marks relative to this peculiar tobacco region maybe worth giving more 

 at length : 



Gadsden: The GaclscTeu " \Yrapper-leaf " was al-s^ays iu high repute, aud extensively 

 used ill the mauufactnre of cigars, being in size, fineness, and texture fully equal to 

 the best Cuba, and far superior to the Connectieut seed-leaf. Where the variety known 

 as the Cuba-filler has been tried, it has succeeded finely iu this county, possessing that 

 delicate and peculiar aroma so highly prized in the Havana cigars. We need but the 

 capital to manufacture our tobacco iuto cigars (thus aifording us a home-market for 

 the raw material) to make the cultivation of it the most profitable crop that is grown. 

 It is a singular fact, but nevertheless true, that of all the counties of the State, many 

 of them abounding in the very finest soil, Gadsden is the only one that has succeeded 

 in making the Cuba tobacco a staple market-crop. Prior to I860 it rivaled in net re- 

 turns the great staple cotton, aud from the indications of the present year, it is about 

 to resume its former status among the agricultural productions of this county. 

 Whether this success is attributable to any peculiarity in the elements of the soil I am 

 not able to determine, but this fact is worthy of note, that, except immediately on the 

 banks of the Apalachicola Kiver, which forms the western boundary of the county, 

 there is an entire absence of the rotten limestone, which so largely pervades the other 

 sections of the State. I will only add that for the imuiigrant, or new settler of limited 

 means, there is no crop so well suited to his condition as the Cuba tobacco. To pro- 

 duce a given result there is a less area of land required than is demanded for the pro- 

 duction of any other field-crop. The cultivation, housing, and preparation for market 

 is^ simple, and the labor so light that it may be participated in by every member of the 

 family, male and female, over six years of age. The growth of the plant is so rapid, 

 and its arrival at maturity so quick, that it need never interfere with any of the pro- 

 vision crops, and but slightly with a moderate cotton crop. In illustration, and con- 

 firmatory of the above statement, I give the experience of a citizen of this county who 



known to me as a truthful and reliable man. In 1872 he cleared one acre of good pine- 

 land, and after breaking it up aud applying $8 worth of commercial fertilizers in the 

 hills, planted it iu Cuba tobacco. The crop was sent to New, York, and the net returns of 

 sale amounted to !j;320.90. In 1873 he added another acre, making two acres, and planted 

 it again in tobacco. The crop of two acres was sold in New York, and netted $760. 

 The two acres in tobacco did not interfere with the making of an abundant supply of 

 provisions and the usual amount of cotton for market. What this resident has done 

 any able-bodied, industrious immigrant may do, especially should he be so fortunate as 

 to be blessed with a house full of children. Our pine-lauds, of the quality producing 

 the above results, may now be bought at from !^1 to $3 per acre, upou accommodating 

 terms of payment, and are rapidly becoming the most popular farming-lauds in the 

 county. 



The Southwestern States do not grow tobacco as a market-crop. 

 Tennessee returned, as the crop of 1809, accordmg to the census, 

 21,465,452 pounds. Kiue counties, which contributed more than two- 

 thirds of that quantity, now report about 7 per cent, increase, or 

 15,820,000 pounds, grown on about 20,000 acres, aud worth 6 cents per 

 pound. 



The following extracts are presented : 



Sumner : The census of 1870 gives the crop of 1869 as 909,568 pounds. Since then at 

 least two-thirds of that portion of the county that produced tobacco has been cut off, 

 making us much less prominent in its growth. Wealdcy : The crop of 1873 was moder- 

 ately good, but badly worm-eaten. Cotton-planting has to a great degree superseded 

 tobacco-culture, and, consequently, what we do make does not receive the attention it 

 did in years past. Smith : It is only because the tobacco-lands in the county are the 

 most fertile in the world that they continue to jield the quantity and quality they do. 

 Tobacco-growers here are noted for making no improvements of any kind, neither in 

 horses, barns, fences, nor stock. Robertson : About one-fifth of the crop of 1873 is fine 

 tobacco, and four-fifths inferior quality. The crop was seriously damaged by worms 

 and drought. More of the crop planted' on thin land than usual, owing to the wet May 

 and June. The farmers got behind with their work, and could not manure the land 

 or cultivate the crop as usual. fVihon : Rather an inferior crop ; full one half lugs 

 and inferior leaf. Dyer : Quality good. Cotton has almost entirely superseded to- 

 bacco for the want of reliable labor. Jackson : Comparative quality equal to, if not 

 better, than last year, where it was set out in time and properlv cultivated, but not so 

 good where it was planted late, because it had to be harvested 'before it was fully ma- 

 tured. Obion : Medium. Our county has nearly abandoned the raising of tob acco 

 For the last few years our farmers' have given much of their attention to cotton. 

 Moufgomerj/ ; Good body ; more worm-eaten than usual. 

 5 A 



