The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-05-31
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton. Wisconsin.
NOTE ROOR SKETCHES.
Wisconsin.
Edgerton,

Tobacco growers in not using more care
in the curing of their leaf AS general
thing Mr.. jackson has more intelligently
ideas about the tobacco business
than any that has appeared in the city
press on this subject in some time, but
we imagine a good many tobacco grow
ers will take issue with him on some of
statements made even here. For in
stance, he lays all the blame for the
damage in the cure of last seasons crop
to the defective construction of the sheds.
He says:
The leaf is reduced to one third it's
weight in drying. Here is where the
most of our Wisconsin growers are de-
fective in the principle of losing nothing
of the hog but the squeal; the barn, in
most instances, has no roof ventilation
and the moisture does not pass OFT; all
exhulations from the tobacco hang under
the roof, the vapor cannot get out and
the tobacco leaf being of the nature OF
sponge reabsorbs the hanging moisture.
It throws off and reabsorbs according to
barometric conditions. With venti-
lated roof the foul air is disposed OF.
Quite percentage of tobacco is dam
aged and rotted by this foul air. Ii this
defective construction is remedled, the
farmers of Wisconsin will be about
81 100000 ahead each year in the en-
hanced value of their crop. The average
barn turns out about 60 per cent. of good
tobacco and about 40 per cent. poor. A
ventilated barn will turn out ~ per cent.
good tobacco and 20 per cent. poor, with
the 80 per cent. about one cent a pQSnnu,
and sometimes 2 cents higher in price
than the 60 per cent. A five-acre crop
barn costs about $500, or about $1OO a
crop acre, with little more expense,
which will pay big interest on the in
yestment, modern ventilated barn can
be erected. The climate of Wisconsin
has all to do with the fine quality of the
crop raised. Everybody in the east con-
cerned in the tobacco and cigar trade
speaks highly of Wisconsin leaf.
We believe Mr.. jackson will admit that
good many of Wisconsin tobacco grow
ere are already supplied with modern to-
bacco sheds of improved ventilation, and
If his theory is a correct one, these farm
ers ought not to have suffered from the
damage complained of. And here is
where the facts do not substatiate his
reasoning. Growers with the most i'm
proved conveniences for curing were
alike sufferers with the plainest beard
shed farmers. Here is where his fancy
notions about million dollar loss is at
fault. The old experienced growers will
tell you that it was the unusual weather
conditions during the early curing stage
that was mostly responsible for the shed
damage. A climatic condition that
could not be guarded against or pre-
vented by patent sheds or improved
methods known to the farmers, Mr.
Jackson to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. 1t has been years since an exact
duplicate of the critical weather condi-
tions which prevailed when the recently
harvested crop was susceptible to dam
age, and it may be years again before the
crop will suffer the same injury as
year ago.
XX
It is somewhat queer coincidence,
but none the less true, that when the
average editorial writer's of the city
press 60 outside the usual topics dis
cussed and commence to write about to-
bacco they Immediately get into deep
water and founder about with most re-
diculous statements. Even the Mil
waukee Sentinel, which is generally in
telligent on most subjects, gave disser-
tation upon Wisconsin tobacco a few
days ago that has made it the laughing
stock of the tobacco country. Here is
sample paragraph:
Most of the Wisconsin tobacco goes
East. It is more even in quality than
the Eastern tobacco and can be used in
large quantities with less expense. Some
of the most widely known and popular
high grade cigars are made almost ex-
clusively of Wisconsin tobacco.
Imagine the New York importer puff
ing away at clear Havana, reading such
rot without convulsing his sides with
laughter! It is probably true that more
misinformation concerning tobacco is
conveyed to the public by the city press
than any other known method.
***
1t pleased the writer greatly to read
in the GAINESVILLE Gazette a few days ago
an admission that will go good ways
towards putting that paper right with
the tobacco growers of the state when it
printed the following:
Tobacco men are very much pleased
with the 1900 crop and say that there is
but very little damage in it. Some of |
the most conservative packers in the |
state predict that the percentage of dam
age will be smaller than ever before, al |
though it is yet too early to make a |
definite estimate. This shows that the |
statement of go per cent. damage |
which caused such indignation in tobac- |
co circles a few months ago was without |
foundation.
If we remember Alright it was the Ga.