The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-09-06
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edqerton. Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.
Reports that reach us from the Yer
non county district are to the effect that
the buying of the new tobacco crop has
developed into very lively campaign. in
which the matter of price, that is gener-
ally the controlling element, apparently
has been lost sight of. Heretofore, the
local dealers in that section have had
the situation we'll in hand and when
outside buyers came onto their preserve
they were compelled to not only travel
pretty lively, but to pay outside figures
for what tobacco they took out of the
county. This year the American Cigar
Co. dropped in with small army OF
buyers and without being limited as to
price, they proved a competitor that
gave the movement the character OF
horse race at once. A pace was set that
put new price on Wisconsin uncured
tobacco that must prove abundantly
satisfying to the growers who alone are
the benefciaries. AS near as we are
able to estimate it something more than
1000 acres have already been contracted
for to date at an average price OF better
than II cents for bundle delivery. OF
this amount more than three-quarters is
credited to the American Co. and almost
the entire balance to the local dealers of
that county Half hundred represen-
tatives of old experienced tobacco firms
stand back amazed at the proceedings
and were unanimous in the expression
that they cannot become competitors IN
the chase after tobacco crop when so
little can be told of it's merits while
sta 1ding in the fields in an uncured
state and much of it yet unmatured.
Xxx
nshe assessors returns for Vernon Co.
gives the acreage devoted to tobacco
this year at 5213 acres, as against 1856
acres in 1900, an increase Of nearly 60
per cent. 1t is quite probable, however,
that the figures obtained year ago
were underestimated as well-informed
dealer assures the writer that he is posi-
tive above $4,000 cases Of Vernon Co.
leaf were packed last season. He is also
quite positive that the present crop will
ylena fully $4,000 cases The largest
growing town is Franklin, which reports
1883 acres as against 544 in 1900 The
next largest towns report but trifie
over 500 acres each. The prices that
have already been set on the new crop in
Vernon Go. is quite likely to lead to a
Ystill larger increase another season and
eventually this county seems destined to
become one of the largest producers of
tobacco in the state. Heretofore the
fields have generally been small, but the
growers are gradually spreading out,
erecting larger curing sheds and going
into tobacco culture on ia more extensive
scale. The growers are fast becoming
handlers of the crop and
find it exceedingly profitable as we'll.
***
Unless the season rs prolonged a good
ways beyond the usual frost limit, a
portion Of the present tobac-
90 crop will be cutin am unmatured state
or be harvested by Jack Frost. While
the harvesting has been going on for
two or three weeks past, the great bulk
of the fields will not be ready for cutting
before the coming week. This makes
the middle of September as the date of
the heavy work, which is at least three
weeks behind the usual date in this Sec
ton. Considerable tobacco is yet to be
topped and in view of the lateness of the
crop growers can materially hasten the
maturing of the plants by topping low.
It is better to get fewer leaves to the
plant and have them wel2 matured than
to trust the season to mature larger
plant. The tobacco fields have been
making surprising growth under exist
ing conditions the past few weeks and
the crop promises much greater yield
than was expected a short time ago.
Had the usual rains come a month ago
after the breaking of the drouth an av-
erage crop might have been harvested
despite the poor start. AS matters
stand today no crop has ever been pro-
duced in our state with so little moisture.
X.
1t would have been very opportune
time for Wisconsin to have furnished
the market fine crop of tobacco this
something that would have an
swered the demand for a wrapper or a
fine binder leaf even. The market is
especially bare of these grades now and
the 1900 crop is going to be away short
of supplying the needs in this line. The
manufacturers are showing great par
tiaiity towards domestic wrappers of late
wears and thew are gradually meeting