The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-11-27
MORE CARE IN HANDLING CROPS.
Growers Urged to Exercise Better Judg
ment in Stripping and Grading Tobacco.

Growers Urged to Exercise Better Judg-
ment in Stripping and Grading Tobacco.
One directly interested in the prosper
ity of the tobacco industry of the state
asks the Reporter to publish the
following: Taking retrospective
view of the tobacco industry of the
state, the writer is forced to believe that,
there is something radically wrong in the
manipulation of this product. Statistics
show the acreage has nearly doubled in
ten wears, the season of 1903 producing
about 10000 acres. Wisconsin has en-
joyed an enviable position, both for the
quantity produced and the price obtain
ed by the farmer. While the producers
of the state have Jared sumptuously, the
local and foreign leaf dealers have not
Jared so well. The gigantic trusts eIimi-
nate profits of packers to great extent,
Owing to the stringency of the money
markets, the proposition of handling the
crop Of 1903 is hard to grasp. Farmers
will realize the situation more keenly
later in the season. From present indi-
cations so per cent of the present crop
will remain in farmers hands to be cased
and cured. There are various reasons
for the lull and lethargy in the markets.
1t is quite natural to blame the trusts,
and lay much stress on their manipula-
tions of the markets 1t is natural to
howl about overproduction, etc., but to
the careful observer, the paramount
cause for lack of interest in the crop of
1908 is traceable directly to the merits
and dement's of the crop. Both local
and foreign dealers have made a careful
canvass of the situation and agree that
the crop is not meritorious enough to
guarantee paying the prices farmers are
asking. To size the situation up in
nutshell, the state has produced the
largest yield in it's history. The 10000
acres will probably yield 100000 lbs.
Owing to the adverse condition of the
season, 40 per cent of the crop is dam
aged from wind, hail, mud and she'd
burn. 1t is lamentable to note the
amount of tobacco which was caught in
rain storms in harvesting and ruined by
getting muddy. Such tobaccos can
never be utilized except for fertilizing
purposes, and farmers should bear this
in mind in preparing their crops for the
market. Owing to the damp condition
of the crop when harvested, the lack of
sunshine when growing, the loss from
shed burn is appalling. In justice to
the situation it is safe to say there will
be $4,000 cases of good, desirable Wis
consin binders this season. If farmers
will exercise good judgment and care
fully select out all damaged goods the
sound portion will ultimately demand
reasonably good prices.
WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT.
Packers of leaf tobacco in this state
have been shamefully imposed upon in
the last few years, and as direct result
have seen their prospective profits van
ish like the morning dew. Farmers are
too careless and too penurious in pre-
pairing the crop for market. This was
demonstrated in 1900 and repeated in
1902 Both seasons the crop grew
spready, thin, light weight goods. In
many instances, farmers, in their anxiety
to get weight, ruined the texture of the
crop by taking down in too high case.
Some farmers have adopted the nefari-
Gus practice of sprinkling snow on their
tobacco as they take it down and letting
it lay and draw moisture before bundl-
ing. Dealers have had more or less
trouble with musty goods in the crops of
1900 and 1902. From the packers rec
ord it is shown that this damage is con-
fined to crop lots, and in many instances
very SoriOuS. LII quIto lew INSTANCES
packers have obtained positive proof
that such crops had been sprinkled with
snow and water by the farmers. Such
farmers are black listed and will have
,he pleasure of holding their goods until
cured. The entire filler portion of the
crops of 1900 and 1902 was failure in
he hands of the dealers. This is trace
,ble to the rash carlessness of the farm
n in the use of artificial moisture and
he practice of shingling the bales.
Packers, in the last three years, have
ustained total loss of the filler portion
ggregating at least S500,OO0. Farmers,
~ their lack of interest, and unfairness
q preparing their filters for the market
viii probably find slow sale for this pro-
uct at any price.