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The Tobacco Leaf |
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Evaluations of Accomplishments |
STORY OF THE QUILT SQUARE, TOBACCO LEAF: BY NORRINGTON
EXTENSION HOMEMAKERS CLUB FOR HARNETT COUNTY HISTORICAL QUILT, 1989 "Tobacco Leaf" -Harnett's Cash Crop The
United States Census of 1880 showed only 32 acres of land planted in
tobacco in Harnett County, averaging 300 lbs. per acre. At present the
State of North Carolina has been named "Tobaccoland". I In
1989, it produced more than any other state. On
Harnett's 8, 1.365 acres the average yield in pounds per acre is 1,996
pounds. The total pounds produced on this acreage is 16,696,540 pounds
that sold for $1.68 per pound. Hence, the income into Harnett from all
tobacco sold from all farms was $28,050,187.00 in 1989. The
Bright Leaf, which Harnett grows, as well as the state's Coastal Plains
and Central Piedmont, is known to the trade as "Va." The
tobacco, Bright Leaf, in the field is green, and when cured, it becomes
golden brown. Up until the first few years curing was done in a fog wood
barn, and fired with wooden logs. More recently the log wood barns have
been replaced by bulk barns, that burn fuel oil or propane gas while
curing. Darker tobacco, called burley, is grown in the mountains, and
requires no curing by heat, only air drying. Tobacco
is a year round visitor attraction in North Carolina. Tours during
working hours are conducted for visitors at cigarette manufacturing
plants in the state such as those in Durham, Winston Salem, and in a new
factory outside Charlotte, called Tobaccoville. When
the sales of tobacco are made in numerous warehouses in the tobacco
growing sections of the state, the tobacco auctioneers' chants can be
heard from August until October. There are four belts where tobacco is
sold: (1) Border, in towns near the state's borders, (2) Eastern,
primarily in Tarboro, Wilson and Greenville, (3) Middle, in Sanford,
Fuquay-Varina, and Durham, (4) Old Belt, in Roxboro, North Carolina and
Danville, Virginia. Willie
Campbell was the last black farmer to plant large acres of tobacco in
Harnett County. The
sandy soils of the county are particularly favorable for tobacco growth.
The
only auction market in Harnett County is in Dunn at both warehouses
-Lee-Planters and Tews. Written by: Grace
Black, Member The Norrington Extension Homemakers Club Statistics: 1880
U.S. Census Harnett County Cooperative Extension Service Quilt Square: Row
4, Number 22 Embroidery and
Applique by: Grace Black, member Norrington Extension Homemakers Club and: Bea Bell for Norrington Extension Homemakers Club |
