A. lie abundant fields 



Although tobacco cultivation in South Carolina 

 was popular during the colonial period and up to 

 the Civil War, its popularity suffered a temporary 

 setback after the War. It regained its momentum 

 just before the turn of the century and tobacco 

 production in the state has boomed ever since. 



South Carolina tobacco, officially called Type 

 13, grows in the coastal plain or Pee Dee section 

 of the state. A variety of flue-cured, or Bright 

 tobacco, it is the only type cultivated in the state. 

 Not too long ago though, Turkish, or aromatic 

 tobacco was grown in the northwestern. Piedmont 

 area of South Carolina. 



Across a good part of the countryside numerous 

 farms grow Bright tobacco for flue-curing. The 

 quantity produced is abundant: 133,632,578 pounds 

 in 1971, grown on 63,000 acres on some 25,000 

 farms, 90 percent of which are under six acres. 



riming to curing 



Mechanization has as yet hardly touched the 

 fields of flue-cured tobacco. The cultural routine, 

 as it has been since colonial days, is dependent 

 on patient labor, skilled eyes and hands. Each 

 farmer will put in anywhere from 300 to 400 hours 

 of labor to produce an acre of tobacco— from prep- 

 aration of seed beds to harvest to market. 



Tobacco cultivation begins in early spring. The 

 tiny seeds are planted in "beds" and covered until 

 seedlings are ready to be transplanted in fields 

 which are meticulously fertilized and well cared 

 for. 



The process is a long and time consuming one. 



