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OCALA TOBACCO CONVENTION.Some Salient Features.The meeting opened wiih about 125 delegates, and Col. W. 1). Chipley was chosen temporary chairman, lie recited his own and President Duval’s efforts in inducing the planters of Middle and West Florida to grow tobacco instead of cotton. He referred to Professor Moodie as the pioneer tobacco grower of the State and to President Duval, of the F. C. P. R. R., as the man who brought skilled instructor into the State to teach the natives how to plant and cure it and with it had come success, for in 1896 the tobacco crop of Gadsden county had sold for over $500,000—more money by twenty per cent than Marion had ever received tor her oranges m any one year.He hoped such a spirit would be infused among Marion’s farmers that in case of another freeze she would have a staple to fall back on that would withstand frost and not be as perishable as oranges.Dr. 0. Clute, of the State Agricultural College, then made an able ad-dress on “Tobacco Culture in Florida.”He spoke of the desirable qualities in tobacco, which were taste, aroma, combustion, texture and color. Our soil and climate made these qualities in the highest degree. He then showed by undisputed evidence that Florida had grown leaf tobacco of the highest grade and by comparison with the best of Cuba—so said the tobacco committee at the Cincinnati exposition in 1888.The North Carolina experiment bulletin 122 said Florida wrappers had no superior, and Mr. Estes, the Wis consin expert, said our best tobacco has no equal.A test was made of cigars of the Ft. Meade tobacco and the best Cuban smokers mixed up and given to experts, and they could not tell which was which.We have the climate and soil. We have grown fine tobacco, and can do so again—all that is needed is intelligence and skill and the industry will be remunerative. Florida has land enough suitable for growing to supply the world. We also have plenty of desirable labor.He touched on the question of curing the leaf when grown, and spoke of the difficulties that had been in the way, but which time would overcome. Much of the tobacco grown in the past was of poor quality, but so had it been in Cuba. The best is always at the top in price and result. This is what we must labor for. Some men had succeeded, others could. Central sweating houses were requisite where much tobacco was grown, but these would come with the industry.This time was Florida’s opportunity, and it should be improved, it was one of the plainest, yet most impressive and instructive addresses delivered.Professor Moodie, president of the State Association, followed, and spoke learnedly and eloquently on “Rock Bottom Facts, geographically considered in tobacco growing. He told all about climate, soil and rock influenceson plants, and especially on tobacco growing. His admirable address will shortly be published by the State Experiment Station, and all who desire a copy can secure the same by applying for it. It will contain a mine of wealth on this important subject.Gadsden county had a strong delegation in Messrs. W. M. Corry, H. Curtis, L. L. Gee. Mr. Corry and Mr. Curtis both read prepared papers, while the former took the lead in a discussion for higher tariff duties on imported Cuba tobacco, claiming that cigar manufacturers of Tampa and Key West made annually $1,000, -000 at the expense of the tobacco growers of this country. The matter was discussed at length, but the following resolution introduced by Mr. Henry Curtis finally prevailed:Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that a uniform rate of duty be imposed on all tobacco imported into the United Slates at $1.50 a pound, regardless of grade and quality, and a committee of five representative growers be appointed to present the claims of this body before the house committee on ways and means, and such committee shall appoint a hearing when they take up the tobacco schedule.Of Mr. Corry’s talk before the convention the Times-Union contained the following account:Mr. Corry, of the Owl Tobacco Company, Quincy, gave a short history of the company’s farm near Quincy. He said his people came to Quincy, in Gadsden county, nine years ago, after satisfying themselves that all the conditions were favorable for growing tobacco. They purchased 17,000 acres of land, established nine plantations, over each of which they placed a superintendent and an assistant, provided dwellings, barns and implements of culture. The barns numbered 146, and in size were 40x108 feet. They had 85 miles of wire fence and 140 miles of wood fence. They had four large warehouses in Quincy, in which they did all the sweating, curing, assorting and boxing.For five months in the year they employed 1,200 persons and gave the year around work to 500 persons, whose salaries and those of the other employes of the company in Quincy aggregated $150,000 yearly.They cultivated last year nine hundred acres in tobacco, which produced 2,500 bales, besides 1,500 acres in corn and 300 in peas, peanuts and sweet potatoes. They produced 17,-000 bushels of oorn, 1,000 bushels of peas, 1,000 of peanuts and 3,000 tons of hay. Many people said the hay was no good, but it was as good as any grown. The company used no other and found sale for the surplus.The annual crop of Gadsden County tobacco was 4,000 acres, not two per cent of which remained in the farmers’ hands on October 1, 1896, and that was there because it was improperly grown and of poor quality. He said there was no trouble in growing, but the trouble was there ’ enough of it grown in Florida you grow more, you will havej buyers.in grow-: waj^fl1
Newspaper Details
Jacksonville Florida Farmer and Fruit Grower
Jacksonville, Florida, US
Sat, Jan 23, 1897
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
American A.
MA, USA 22 Jan 2025
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