The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-10-10
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edcerton. Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOB SKETCHES.

NOTE BOOB SKETCHES.
The movement in the new crop has
already reached such proportions that
the great bulk of it seems likely to be
contracted for while yet on the poles,
and at prices, too, showing better aver
age than any crop of recent years has
been marketed. When it is remembered
that the crop is the largest in acreage
and heaviest in yield that has yet been
produced in the state, it can easily be
figured out that the growers are soon to
receive the largest amount of money ever
paid out for Wisconsin tobacco crop.
The distributing of from three to four
million dollars about the tobacco grow
ing sections in few months will GER
tainly place the farmers in possession of
vast sum of ready money. The early
movement of the crop also ensures long
season of tobacco handling at the pack
ing points This means work for an un-
usual amount of help in the warehouses
and business in these towns will conse-
quently flourish. The prosperity derived
from the tobacco business for the pack
ing points is we'll known and appreci-
ated and the bright prospect for the
coming season is one of great anticipa-
ton.
Xxx
A Washington dispatch says the COM
missioner of internal revenue has just
made an important decision concerning
the cash prize distributions that are
being widely advertised by some of the
large manufacturers of tobacco is vio-
lation of the anti-lottery law and must
be discontinued. The ruling is rather a
technical one and the distinction from a
moral standpoint hardly discernible,
even though it comes with authority.
The Postoffice Department has ruled
that guessing contests similar to those
involving the number Of cigars produced
in a certain period are not lotteries for
the reason that good judgment and a
certain amount of information are neces-
sary to enable any person to approx
mate the correct answer. 1t might also
be held that the contest which has just
been adversely ruled upon by the Com
missioner is not a lottery because the re-
suit is not dependent upon chance, but
upon the industry of the collector of the
certificates or upon the number of cigars
he may be able to dispose of, but the
Internal Revenue Bureau draws the line
very closely in such matters and has,
therefore, ruled out the certificates de-
scribed.
The y. S. Tobacco Journal notes the
big increase in August production of ci-
gars and argues that there is no suffi-
cient reason for the present dullness of
the leaf market. The unsettled condi-
tion of trade in these times of combina-
tions and absorptions is due to rather a
measure of caution that the leaf trade
sooner or later overcomes. This paper
thinks they are unnecessarily alarmed
and adds this assurance: If the increase
in the production of cigars should keep
on in the same proportion then the out
put of our cigar industry for the fiscal
year 1923 would reach the almost fab
ulous figure of eight thousand millions!
In these prospects there is surely nothing
to depress either our cigar industry Or
the leaf trade; quite the contrary. There
is nothing that could and should cheer
up the trade and industry more than the
prospect of adding another thousand mil
lions to our cigar production during the
current year.
Broad leaf growers in Connecticut
have for several years used simple de-
vice for stripping the leaf. Two hooks,
each made of three pieces, are fastened
at convenient place and height. The
hooks are so placed that the slat on
which the plants are tied exactly fits in
to them. Leaves are then readily strip
ped, both hands being used to strip the
leaves at the same time. AS an assis-
tance in the pressing of bundles directly
after stripping, box for pressing and
tying leaf is being used that is great
convenience. Both the stripping hooks
and pressing box are being used this
season by Mr.. Herman Ude of Sufield,
CT. He says that with them four men
will do the work of six. The pressing
boxes are mounted on four legs, the in
side of the box the exact size the bundle
is to be and the cover fitting rather loose
and setting down in the box about three
inches. A heavy stick as lever, hinged
at one end, to which the cover is attach
ed, is pressed down and hooked. OF
course paper and twine are placed in the
box before laying in the stripped leaves.
While the leaves are being pressed in
position, one side may be opened out on
hinges and the bundles tied. If two
boxes are at hand, one may be used for
light colors, the other for dark. Mr.. Ude
estimates an acre of tobacco may be
stripped thus for S5. A great advantage
also is that the leaves are but seldom
torn. This in itself is very consider
able saving. Spread out the bundle on