C34—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 18,1981
LANCASTER Pennsylvania,
home of the Pennsylvania Dutch,
coal muies and steel nulls, gave
birth also to a tobacco specialty,
Pennsylvania seedleaf
Today, this distinctive leaf, once
used as cigar filler but in recent
years largely in chewing tobacco,
is grown almost exclusively in
Lancaster County. And at least
half is cultivated by Anush far
mers, descendants of those who
settled in Lancaster’s rolling hills
300 years ago.
This and more is detailed m an
illustrated pamphlet, “Penn
sylvania and Tobacco,” published
by The Tobacco Institute, a
Washington-based trade
association representing the major
U.S. cigarette manufacturers The
booklet is one of a senes on the
history, culture and economic
importance of America’s first
export product.
Tobacco in the Keystone State
predated the arnval of the Amish
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However, early attempts in the
17th century under Dutch, Swedish
and English rule to grow export
tobacco failed, because the
emigres were working the wrong
areas with the wrong seeds and the
European market was over
supplied by other colonies
The ensuing years, from
Philadelphia’s emergence as a
tobacco manufacturing center and
port to a York County farmer’s
experiment which started the
seedleaf industry, are detailed in
The Institute’s colorful account.
Today, the booklet notes, some
2500 tobacco farms clustered in
Lancaster and spilling into
surrounding counties produce
more than 22 million pounds of
heavy-bodied, dark Pennsylvania
seedleaf. With a value of $l5
million in 1979, the Keystone
State’s tobacco crop ranked 13th in
the nation
2400 Dairy Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17601
Booklet traces tobacco history
Tobacco, which largely defies
mechanization, is still mostly
worked by hand as it was a century
ago, according to the booklet
While some farmers in the early
1970’s switched to less labor
intensive crops to cut costs, the
Amish, with their large families
and doctrine of hard work, are
staying with tobacco.
But the sturdy and practical old
world farmers and their families
“Why
Commonwealth National
cares as much about
promoting YOUR business
as we do our own.”
“At Commonwealth National we
know that good business for farmers
means good business for us. That’s
why our Agri-Loan Department must
see you through the rough times as
well as the smooth. It takes people like
us to do that—people who understand
farmers. Three of our four lending of
ficers, in fact, grew up on farms. We
know that farming is a big business as
well as a difficult business which often
requires big investments.
Pennsylvania’s largest agri-lender.
“Today, Commonwealth Na
tional has more funds committed to
agricultural business development than
any other bank in Pennsylvania. In just
10 years our agricultural loan portfolio
has gfown from $ll million to almost
$63 million. So it makes good sense for
us to do everything we can to insure
that the agricultural economy of Cen
tral Pennsylvania is strong . . . and that
you stay in business.
“Our concern for your success, as
you can see, goes far beyond providing
you with operating funds. We offer
guidance and counsel on everything
from more efficient means of ordering
agrichemicals to new markets for your
products. We may ever oe able to give
you advice on holding off on a major
capital expenditure until the time is
right. If you’re looking for our help on
the financial side of farming, just give
us a call. We’ll be happy to drive out
and talk things over.
are only one part ot tobacco’s
continuing story in Pennsylvania.
The Keystone State leads the
nation in cigar making, producing
one-third of all U.S cigars.
According to the 24-page booklet,
cirgarettes sold in the state add
more than $259 million yearly m
state tax revenues to the general
fund, as well as some $ll5 million
to the U.S. Treasury The more
than 95,000 retail outlets that sold
almost $1.2 billion worth of tobacco
products m 1979 provide jobs and
additional tax revenues for the
state, as do the tobacco
wholesalers who distribute
products woith more than three-'
quarters ol a billion dollars.
Copies ot "Pennsylvania and
Tobacco ’ are available tree ot
charge tiom The Tobacco In
stitute, 1875 I Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C 20006.
Bob Bucher \ P
Agri-Loan Department
Product promotions throughout
the year.
“Meanwhile, we’ll help insure
you’ll have a successful farm business
by continuing to develop strong mar
kets for your products. One of the
ways we plan to do this is to celebrate
May as ‘Egg Month’ by sponsoring
‘Brunch at the Bank’. It will feature a
giant five-foot omelet that the public
will be invited to eat outside our offices
at 28 Penn Square starting at noon,
Friday, May 1. Omelet cookbooks will
help produce more interest in the tastier
uses of eggs. And later on in the
month, omelet-making demonstrations
will be held at four of our offices.
“Commonwealth National plans
to continue with different farm prod
uct promotions such as this throughout
the year.
“But above all, remember, you
can call us at 717-291-3036 and ask for
Agri-Loan information anytime.”
A
Commonwealth
National Bank
The bank business builds on
28 Penn Square, Lancaster