The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-12-06
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edperton. ~ Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

A few recently made sales of the new
crop, quoted elsewhere, gives assurance
that choice selections of this crop will
be wanted at prices that must appear
very satisfactory to growers. The buy
ing movement, however, has not yet
reached much headway in the older
growing sections. Outside of the Amer
lean Cigar Co., who have been in the
field for several weeks in other sections,
not many of the heavy operators in Wis
consin leaf have been drawn into the
deal. It is no secret among the buyers
generally that the prices named are
higher than they feel justified in paying
for the average crop and should they
continue to hold to this view anything
like a general movement will not ensue.
The big trust however, could use at least
half the present crop without exceeding
the amount of tobacco handled in other
years, and with the buyers they have at
their command could easily secure it by
holding up the price already set. There
are some indications present that they
propose to do so. In view Of the pre-
vaiiing market conditions there is no
doubt whatever, but if the 1901 crop
approached the quality of other years
there would be the biggest buying cam
paign on the state has ever witnessed
and no portion of it would remain un-
sold at this date.
***
The N. Y. Tob. Leaf has had it's say
concerning the 1901 Wisconsin crop,
which it estimates as follows:
According to assessors returns, this
years tobacco acreage exceeded that OF
last year by 1882 acres. This, however,
does not give the correct idea of the sit
uation, for it must be remembered that
in this part of the state many hundred
acres Of land that had been prepared
were not actually planted. This was due
to the drouth. The two principal to-
bacco- producing counties in the southern
section, Dane and Rock show falling
off compared with last year; while the
western and northern counties, Craw
ford, Richland, Vernon and Dunn, all
show marked increase. The unusually
severe five weeks drouth which began
towards the end of June cut down the
yield in the southern counties by at least
30 per- cent. In. Vernon county the
droutE was not so severe, and tobacco
grown Ghere is of about the average size.
In Vernon, Richland, Crawford and
Dunn counties the yield will be about
five cases to the acre. In Rock, Dane,
Columbia and the adjoining counties the
production will be about 311a cases per
acre. The total yield of the state is es-
timated at about 1851 900 boxes, as against
10000 last year. Of the crop probably
$4,000 cases will be of export grades,
10000 filters, $4,000 BIS, and 5000 cases
of binders. The latter part of the grow
ing season was fairly favorable; the cur
ing season was especially so. The dam
age from hail, wind, worms and grass
hoppers is below the average. In Vernon,
Crawford, Richland and Dunn counties
about 75 per cent of the crop has been
bought at prices ranging from Ito Il cts.
Most of this buying took place several
weeks ago and was carried on princi-
pally by agents of the American Cigar
Co. At about this time last year prices
ruled at from to 10 cents for the better |
grades and cents for filters, with an av-
erage of s and cents in the bundle. |
Export goods at that time were being |
bought at from to cents. Little pur-
chasing is being done at present, buyers |
reporting that farmers are holding their |
crops at prices altogether too high. |
With the advent of casing weather, |
doubtless purchasing will be renewed.
Xxx
The Ohio Leaf Tobacco Packers AS
sociation has issued the following sug-
gestions regarding stripping and pack
ing the present crop, putting good deal |
of stress upon the use of water in cas-
ing:
Whereas, The packers of this associa-
ton have in the past years been at an
immense loss because the farmers do not |
strip and handle their tobacco properly,
and
Whereas, This is matter that GER
tainly should be considered by the rails
ers and dealers in leaf tobacco, there
fore, be it
Resolved, That the Ohio Leaf Tobacco
PacKers ASSOCIATION appeal to the farm
ers to assort and strip their tobacco in
the following manner:
Take the tobacco down in proper case,
and strip and put on bulk, and after lay
ing on bulk for a length of, time, it should
then be thoroughly shaken, and packed
straight and properly in dry standard
cases, leaving space of one inch at each
end. The watering or steaming of to-
Oacco in the sheds in order to put it into
case, is pernicious practice, and causes
thousands and thousands of dollars loss
% the dealers Or owners during the,
sweat, and therefore must be absolutely
avoided. In stripping the tobacco, it
should be separated into three grades,
wrappers, short wrappers
md filters, all trash to be thrown out,
md it is largely to the advantage of the
armer to pack the long wrappers and
short wrappers separately, as thereby
he buyer is enabled to form an idea as
o the average length of the crop, which
las much to do with the price.