The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-05-11
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


has been conducting series OF expert
ments in fermenting tobacco in bulk
following the plan of treatment of leaf
in Cuba and Florida which is described
as follows:
The entire crop from the experimental
field at Poquonock, amounting to about
5000 pounds of all grades of good leaf
and about 1900 pounds of trash tobacco
from the asserting of several crops was
taken to the basement of the labratory
of the experimental station at New Ha-
ven, where a room had been fitted up
for the fermentation. Steam heat was
provided to maintain the room tempera-
ture at from IS to IS degrees F., and
high relative humidity was maintained
by allowing steam to escape into the
room.
A platform about six feet wide and
twelve feet long, with bulkheads at
either end, was provided, the whole be-
ing covered with burlap. The platform
was raised about three or four inches
from the floor. The trash tobacco was
made quite wet by sprinkling with warm
water, and then put into conical
pile in the fermenting room. 1t was al
lowed to remain for twenty-four hours,
by this time ali the water had been alb
sorbed by the tobacco and there was no
sign of water stain. This hot trash was
then used in the construction OF the
bulk, as will be described.
The crop had already been assorted
into six grades, as is ordinarily done IN
Connecticut before the lamentations;
and as the total amount of tobacco was
small, all of these grades had to be put
into the same bulk in order to make it
large enough for the fermentation to de-
velop properly. All the grades except
the first dong wrappers) needed or
dering." The butts were therefore
dipped for about two inches above the
tie into tub Of warm water, shaken out
and then put into cases or into pile IN
warm room for twenty four hours to
draw before being bulked. At the eX-
piration of twenty-four hours there was
no appearance of water, and no water
stains on any of the leaf SO treated.
A LAYER of the hot fermenting trash TO-
bacco about eight inches deep was put
on the platform; the good tobacco was
then put on this in layers, pressed firmly
down by the hands, but without any
other pressure: The bulk was six feet
wide, so each layer required tive laps,
laid down in the way shingles are put on
a roof, but no mark or damage was found
where the butts pressed against the low
er leaves.
Connecticut tobacco is not supposed
to have any desirable filler leaves for do
NEST cigars, but this years experience
has shown that the short top leaves, if
properly fermented, will make fairly
ssood filler and that it will even pay to
pick out such heavy-bodied top leaves
from what is commonly classed as trash
and ferment them for filler goods. Some
of these heavy bodied leaves were
thoroughly fermented with very good re-
suits. Of course the fimsy wrapper
leaves will not make desirable filler
with any method of fermentation.
This work, while thoroughly satisfac
tory SO far as the present style of leaf is
concerned, has demonstrated that the
Connecticut leaf needs to be radically
changed to accord with the present mar
ket requirements. AS the soil and eli
matte conditions are considered adapted
to style of leaf more closely correspond
ing to the best standards, an experiment
has been planned, in further co-opera-
tion with the Connecticut station, in
which the attempt will be made to
change the character of the leaf by a
radical change in the method of planting,
cultivation and after treatment.
***
The first of May will mark a new era
in the tobacco industry of Porto Rico
On that date the new tariff law govern
ing the imports from that island will go
into effect. Heretofore the duty on
Porto Rican tobacco has been so high
that practically none has been imported,
the duty being 25 cents pound on filters
and S1.S5 on wrappers. Under the new
tariff these same goods can be brought
in on payment of 51ac, which will make
the new price delivered duty paid prob
ably about 80 cents pound on filters
against about 65 cents before. The new
crop is now being harvested. The finest
grades compare very favorably with Ha-
vana tobacco. When Porto Rico was
under Spanish rule cigar manufacturers
in Havana used to buy the greater part
of the islands product and take it to
Havana to be used as wrappers, and the
cigars were sold as pure Havana filters
and wrappers. This tobaC co was also
SOiO W oOI Alduy duu Spain W UO ulduC
into cigars and cigarettes by the govern
ment factories. These countries still
continue as good customers of Porto
Rico. Italy also bought freely, but
chiefly of the cheaper grades. The latter
country will, without doubt, continue to
take all of the lower grades. Such to-
bacco is not suitable for the American
trade. The only tobacco grown in this
country that will be at all affected is
Ohio Zimmers, and even here it is not
thought that much harm will be done.
A local dealer who has recently returned
from the island says that there have
been many American buyers in that
market for the purpose of making pur-
chases.
~
There can be no dispute as to the i'm
portance of correct bookkeeping by leaf
dealers, and it may be said to their credit
that with but few expectations they
show disposition to weed out irrespon-
sible manufacturers or leaf dealers: and
that they are ever ready to make ex-
plantations of every transaction which
will assist the government to trace to-