The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-08-24

acreage falls considerably short of what
was anticipated being less than 200
acres for the whole county. 1t was SO
generally believed that the returns would
show at least a 500 acre increase that
most people will suspect that there IS some
thing wrong in the figures. For instance a
year ago the town of Fulton was the
banner growing town in the county re-
porting 975 acres of tobacco. This sea-
som the assessor finds but T55 acres. No
one can scarcely believe there has been
decline in the area of land in this
town devoted to tins crop. The same
discrepancy will be noticed in the fig
ures from the town of Porter another
Large producing township. Neither of
these towns are likely to grow less to-
bacco in 1900 than year ago, while the
tendency everywhere is rather to- in
crease the acreage. The Reporter is in
4dEned rather to the opinion that the as
SCISSORS have done their work of gather
ing statistics too careless. For this rea-
son the table is a disappointment, yet is
the only method of getting even approx
imately near the tobacco statistics of our
county. The census figures taken the
same month may clear up some of these
variations.
Xxx
The problem that has confronted the
tobacco growers of this state since the
harvest'of the new crop began is how to
prevent shed damage to the tobacco that
had been secured Seldom if ever has
the weather been more conducive to
shed burn and pole rot. The extreme
heat that has been with us since the be-
ginning of the month, together with
muggy, humid atmosphere has brought
conditions that has made it very diff
cult to prevent the shed damage spoken
of. Even where the utmost care has
been exercised, and the tobacco hung
with more space between the lath than
usual we fear growers have not alto
gether escaped. Growers should re-
member we have large growth crop
and while the hot rnuggy weather con-
tinues, it will be gneat mistake to at
Tempt to crowd the sheds, if they do
serious losses will result. It is better by
far to go to the expense of building ad-
ditiomal shed room, than to run the risk
of losing the entire crop by sheer care
lessness. The elements have favored the
tobacco farmers this year and they have
a splendid crop to be secured and it
would he calamity now to spoil all by
neglect There never was time when
the growers need to use little head
work greater than few weeks now at
the critical period in curing the crop.
Keep a close watch of your sheds.
*
The proper distance apart to hang the
laths of tobacco In the curing sheds has
been made the subject on which the N.
E. Homestead has collected information
that will be of interest to tobacco grow
ers in general. Several n. E. farmers
thus tell their experience:
Put six fair sized plants of the Havana
variety on lath and place laths 8 in
apart on ground tier, ] in on next tier
and in on those above.-O. w. Sanford,
Westfeld, Mass.
Allow in between for top tier, Z in
for. next and 8 in for lowest. The shed
should be built so as to leave space of
II to Is in between tips of leaves and the
ground. It is a good plan to leave a
space of 2 # at the center through the
entire length of the shed. Also have a |
cupola in roof for ventilation. Never
hang tobacco while wet or damp as |
dampness is fatal to best cure. Hang
all cut during the day; never leave it in |
the field over night. 1t the crop is dry |
when hung and sheds are carefully |
looked after while curing, there is not /
often much danger from sweat. Don't |
be in hurry to take tobacco down, let |
it cure thoroughly. 81. Pierce, En-
field, CT.
1t is undoubtedly true that the thin
ner the plants are hung during the sweat