The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-05-09
Leaf Tobacco Association.

|
port from the Leaf Tobacco Association
To the Members Of tie Leaf Tobacco 1Sso
chiffon Of Baltimore city.
GENTLEMEN The crop of the Mary
land Tobacco which came to this market
in 1901 amounted to 81 ,43S hogsheads, OF
heavier body, and heavier weight than
usual, so that while the number OF hogs
heads was about 5000 less than in l9oo,
the weight of the tobacco received show
ed little, if any, diminution.
The crop was one OF the poorest grown
| in many wears, being coarse and rough
in texture, and dark, dull and greenish IN
color; bright tobacco unrerrcsented and
when offered brought fancy prices; the
proportion of common grades was large,
and of finer grades quite small.
| The French Government again con-
tracted for the same large quantity as in
1900, viz: About 10000 hogsheads, con-
sequently, prices were strong, and the
market active during the entire season,
the year closing with stock of only 1873
hogsheads in sellers hands. Price rang
ed from "a q Is cents, and, toward the
close of the year, lower grades advanced
fully cent
| The crop of Groundleaves was about
$500 hogsheads, of light character and
| thin leaf, but bright color was almost
entirely lacking; demand was strong, and
we'll maintained and all offerings were
promptly taken at full prices ranging
from q % 10 cents
The receipts of Upper Country Tobacco
were 1850 hogshcads, of which only
abou. $50 hogsheads were fired; these lat
ter sold readily at full prices, while the
air cured did not find much favor, and
| could only be disposed of slowly at mod
| crate prices.
France contracted for 800 hogsheads
and this demand, with that of other regu-
lar consumers, caused the market to open
| considerably higher than the previous
wear: it slowly strengthened as the season
| advanced, and closed at the highest fig
urcs of the year with stock in factors
hands of only 600 hogsheads, all air
cured.
A fine exhibit of Maryland Tobacco
was made at the State Fair at Pimlico in
November last, and received the first
premium.
In December, at the invitation Of Mr..
W. L. Amos, Director of Farmers ms
titutes for Maryland, a committee OF your
Board of Director had conference at the
Carrolton Hotel with representative plan
tiers from the FIVE Southern Maryland
Counties, at which time the evils of neg
ligent or faulty stripping, asserting and
packing were fully discussed. The gentle
] men from the counties appeared fully I'M
pressed with the necessity for an improve
ment, and undertook to present the sub
iect to the farmers meetings in their res
pective counties.
For some time past there have been re-
ports in this market that the French Reggie
was dissatisfied with the asserting and
packing of Maryland Tobacco, and these
reports have been painfully confirmed
this month by its failure to announce a
contract for Maryland. Publication has
now been made by the Reggie of Contracts
for about the usual quantities of Kentucky,
Burley, Virginia and Ohio Tobacco, to be
adiudiciated May 14th, but no mention
whatever is made of Maryland; such an
omission has never before occurred, and 1t
has caused much uneasiness in the trade
and among growers.
We firmly believe that France will
always use a certain quantity OF Mary
land Tobacco, whether purchases are
made by contract, as heretofore, or by
direct orders; but that quantity will pro-
baby be increased or diminished, accord
ing as to whether the assortment and
packing are satisfactory to the Reggie.
1t is therefore vitality important that
every one interested in our great staple
should exert his utmost efforts to bring
about more careful and uniform assort-
ment of the crop, and especially to pre-
vent the mixing of scrap, loose leaves, &C.,
with bundled tobacco.
1t must not be overlooked, however, that
the crop of 1900, which seems to have
brought the French dissatisfaction to a
climax, was one of the poorest marketed in
many years, and that its unripeness, un-
evenness and roughness made satisfac-
tory out-turn improbable. The crop now
coming to market, while not as good as
expected, is a great improvement over that
of 1900, and it is hoped that after ship
ments from it have been received abroad,
the unfavorable impression made by the
old crop will be effaced.
Reclamations paid during the year were
$7O4 80 on 70 hogsheads, from a crop of
81 ,43S, as compared with $957.77 on So
| hogsheads, from a crop of 34.570 last year;
claims being in about the same proper
ton to the size of the crop. Warehouse
No. 1. with IL per cent of the receipts
paid 20 per cent of the claims; this shows
a great improvement over last year, but
there is still need of decided further
| Improvement this year. Warehouse No.
V. with 80! per cent of the receipts paid
81 per cent of the claims, while last year.
with 80 per cent of the receipts it paid
only % per cent of the claims; this is a
move backward, which it is hoped may
be remedied under the new deputy.
| Reclamations from shipments to France
are not included in the above figures, as
none are made, because samples of the
| hogsheads, drawn in France, are not OBJ
tainable; the contractors, however, assert
that the reflections, caused by bad assort-
ment and mixture of scraps in the hogs
heads, were most serious.
Reduced Rates TO Harrisburg.
For the German Baptist Brethren Con
ference at Harrisburg, Pa May 20 to 81
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company will
sell excursion tickets to Harrisburg on
May Is to 81, good to return until June
2, inclusive, from all stations on its line S