The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-06-27
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOB SKETCHES.
Edgerton

crop. It is so rare that tranSplantlng
closes before the end of June that the
fact is worthy of record. Growers can
not recall another season when the work
was done under more favorable condi-
tions, when both weather and soil were
so nearly perfect to secure so full and
complete stand of living plants in the
fields. The plants take root so quickly
that they scarcely stopped growing in
being transferred from the beds to the
fields. The result has been that there is
scarcely missing plant in the largest
fields and an even start is secured
throughout. The proportion of early set
tobacco is much larger than in former
years, all of which is looking splendid at
this writing. Under ordinary conditions
the early setting of the crop would mean
an earlier harvest than usual, which
seems likely to crowd in on other farm
work at time when extra labor may be
difficult to secure. The full intended
acreage is out in all sections and the
biggest crop ever planted in the state is
now in the fields.
The officers of the National Cigar Leaf
Tobacco association have taken prompt
action to carry into effect the antitrust
resolutions adopted at the Cincinnati
convention few weeks ago, by request
ing the Attorney General to institute
proceedings under the Sherman Anti
trust law against the American Tobacco
Co. and it's kindred corporations. A COM
plant has been, formally entered and the
department of justice has signified it's
willingness to make complete investi-
cation to see if the operations of the big
tobacco trust are in violation of the law.
When interviewed by U. S. Tob Jour
nal correspondent on this subject the
solicitor general said:
"The department has instructed Gen.
Burnett to make a careful inquiry into
the facts in the.case and to report at an
early date. No steps will be taken until
this report is received, and subsequent
action will depend upon the facts devel-
oped by the District Attorney unless
other information comes to the depart
ment from other sources. The depart
ment is somewhat handicapped III carry
ing on these inquiries, by the fact that
it has no special appropriation FOR the
purpose and is obliged to utilize COM
paratively small force to the best posi-
BILE advantage. The staff of lawyers in
the department is scarcely larger than
that maintained by the average large
corporation, and while we have United
States attorneys in each district, as we'll
as marshals and a small secret service
force, the facilities for securing evidence
are decidedly limited. The greatest diff
fculty encountered in such cases is apt
to be the reluctance of witnesses in pos
session Of the essential facts to testify to
them, and unless such testimony can be
procured the Government can make but
little headway. So far as the present
case is concerned the department will
take prompt steps to get at the facts"
TX
The Department of Agriculture
through series Of experiments with
mold in cigars has determined upon a
remedy which it advises manufacturers
to try. In it's report the department says:
Laboratory studies have indicated
that the paste most frequently used in
the manufacture of cigars, namely, trag-
acanth paste, is an excellent medium for
the growth of many molds. Studies of
tragacanth paste from cigar factories
and from pharmacies have shown that
all samples were we'll infected with the
spores of molds, and, in all cases, when
proper conditions of moisture were sup
piled, the paste quickly produced a
heavy crop of molds. Among the molds
appearing on the pastes were present,
almost without exception, those which
were identified as the cause of molding
of the cigars. Attempts to cultivate
these molds on wrapper leaf gave mega
tive results, except when the leaf was
covered with a thin coating of paste. |
This, and much more evidence, which |
cannot be touched in this memorandum, |
seems to indicate that the source of the |
trouble lies in the paste used in fasten-
ing the wrapper. Laboratory expert |
ments here have shown that when, in |
stead of water, the paste was made up |
with a saturated solution of boracic acid,
the molds were unable to grow on this |
paste, and it is suggested that in factor
les troubled in this way test lot of ci-
gars be made in which such paste shall |
be used. Boracic acid is soluble in wat
er in the ratio of l ounce of acid to %
ounces of water. Since the acid is cheap
and readily obtainable, it is suggested
that only the best quality be used. To
saturate the solution it is advisable to
bring the water into which the boracic
acid has been stirred to the boiling
point, and then allow the solution to cool
down. There should remain after cool
ng slight sediment of boracic acid in
,he bottom of the container. This solu-
ion, used instead of water in mixing up
he paste, will, it is hoped, under factory
conditions as we'll as in the laboratory,
suppress these injurious organisms.
Concerning the effect of the boracic acid /
on the smoker and ion employees who
work with it, it may be stated that no