Henderson Daily Dispatch

CURING OF TOBACCO
IS WELL ADVANCED

Leaf Mostly Turning Out Good Quality, According to Reports

HOPEFUL FOR PRICES

Jamieson Says Averages in Georgia Should Be No Crushing of Hopes Here, Where Quality of Leaf Is Better

Curing of tobacco is well under way all over Vance county, and reports that have been received are that the weed is turning out in better than fair quality, with good prospects of a considerable improvement over last year.

A month ago nearly the whole county was in the grip of a serious drought and earlier hopes of a good yield this year were being dashed hourly as the heat of the summer sun was prematurely turning leaves yellow and wilt was beginning to appear. Then came generous rains, which have since been conveniently interspersed with dry, hot weather and with conditions approaching the ideal for maturing a tobacco crop.

A feeling of despair has been turned into one of hope, and all indications point to a good crop and a much larger one than last year, when Vance county and this section almost had a crop failure, due to dry weather. Curing is well advanced nearly everywhere in the county, and now a few more rains will complete the maturity of the 1933 crop. It is believed most of it could be harvested now before unfavorable weather could do any very material damages, unless there should be excessive rains.

Higher prices being paid for tobacco on the Georgia markets, where the season opened last Tuesday, have also boosted the general optimism for a good fall season for the farmer. First reports were that Georgia's early sales averaged from 13 to 15 cents, and, while there was some dissatisfaction there, growers in most markets were reported to be pleased with the improvement over 1932 price levels.

Farmers of the bright leaf belt have no reason to be depressed over prices paid on the opening of the Georgia markets, according to Andrew Jamieson, president and manager of the W. A. Adams Company, Inc., of Oxford, large leaf dealers. He received a telegram Wednesday from associates in Valdosta, Ga., which advised that the market average was 12 1-2 cents, and the quality of the tobacco offered for market was only fair. The lower grades were selling at a price much higher than in recent years, while better grades were selling at a price about the same as was paid last year, it said.

"There is no comparison between the quality of tobacco grown in Georgia and that grown in the Carolinas and Virginia," Mr. Jamieson said. "I have been dealing in foreign countries, shipping tobacco to many markets, and have been advised by some of our customers in years past that there is no reason for them to pay high prices for Georgia tobacco when they can grow tobacco of practically the same quality and color at home. In our case, however, we can grow tobacco in competition with the world markets, on account of the good quality and fine flavor of tobacco produced in this section, and there is no ground for the belief that the prices here will be low."

The Oxford tobacconist, who is a close observer of the market, cited figures to show that there has always been a considerably higher average price paid for tobacco where it is graded, cured carefully and tied, than in Georgia, where tobacco is not well graded, not tied and is marketed in bulk. He pointed also to the fact that the tobacco being offered on the Georgia market at present is mostly first primings.

"The market price in the Middle Belt has averaged from three to nine cents per pound more than in the Georgia belt," Mr. Jamieson said, and referred to the records to substantiate his remarks.