The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-10-23
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

larger than most local packers were ex-
pecting. This is good news, of course,
but it is not apparent that any very large
quantities are moving, as was the case
when the 1900 was first placed on the
market. The conditions are similar in
each instance-that is the market need
ed desirable binder tobacco, but it is
noteworthy that manufacturers are not
laying aside very large stocks at present.
Possibly they are waiting to see if some
substitute cannot be found that is
cheaper before ordering ahead at the
prices asked, and later must meet the
demands of the packers. If the situa-
ton is correctly described, the reason is
disclosed why one of the larger consum-
ers cancelled the arrangements for buy
ing the new crop and in it's stead quietly
purchased number of local packings of
1902 when they could be cinched at rea
sonable figures. This change of FRO
gram ensures them a good supply of
leaf without assuming the chances that
the new crop will be as good leaf year
hence. It looks like a good business
stroke in any event.
*xx
From crop statistics gathered by the
assessors and being compiled, we learn
that Vernon county for the first time
since it became tobacco growing coun-
ty reports more acreage than Rock. The
former returns show there were 7,417
acres of growing tobacco in 1903 as
against 1872 acres in Rock reported.
Dane county, however, has more than
both these counties combined and re-
turns 14.928 acres, or nearly one-half of
all produced in the state. The increase
in the southern growing counties is
small. that of Dane and Rock less than
200 acres each, while the new sections
report considerable additional area de-
voted to tobacco. We shall publish later
a comparative table showing the loca-
ton and area of the tobacco growing dis
tricts of the state.
*A*
Statistics gathered by the industrial
department of the st. Paul Railroad
warrant the statement that tobacco is
fast supplanting corn as a Wisconsin
crop. This year there are nearly $4,000
acres OF tobacco under cultivation, and
the estimated value of the cropis S8,OOO,-
OO0f The growth of the industry is
shown by the fact that the tobacco trust
is now building on the line Of the ST.
Paul Railroad four immense tobacco
warehouses and is enlarging two Others
The new warehouses will be located at
Watertown, Brodhead, Sparta and
Stoughton The capacity of each of
these varies between l 100000 and 2,OOO,-
600 pounds. The principal counties in
which tobacco is raised are Dane, Rock,
Columbia, Crawford, Vernon and Mon
roe. The state of Wisconsin now ranks
fourth in the list of tobacco-growing
states. The tobacco is said to be the
finest brand of the product grown any
where.
During the fiscal year ended June 30
last the Philippine Islands exported
2O63O16 pounds of leaf and 1914, ,498
worth of cigars of which but 224,377
pounds of leaf and but few thousand
dollars worth of cigars were shipped to
the United States. Of course if free
trade should be established between the
United States and the Philippines as our
anti Imperialists demand, the entire crop
of Philippine tobacco and output of it's
cigar industry may be. dumped on our
market, and if finding favor with the
American consumer are likely to be
doubled in quantity by the natives. For
the resources of raising tobacco and
manufacturing cigars in the Philippine
Islands are almost unlimited and our
Department of Agriculture is taking
pains of having tobacco culture in our
Asiatic possessions improved even to the
shade grown process.
~
The n. E. Homestead gives the follow
ing review of the shade grown industry
in New England: Most of the leading
shade grown tobacco. corporations in
Connecticut have raised encouraging
crops this year. While there is not one
which did not have numerous setbacks
during the season, plants in most cases
went into barns in much better shape
than seemed possible early in July. Cure
has been progressing splendidly. Leaves
are coloring desirable cinnamon color,
have good body and no cases of shed
damage have yet been reported. Future
of the crop seems largely problematical.
Everything is going to depend on prices
realized for the 1902 crop, large portion
of which has not been sold Growers
claim they have not been trying to sell,
that their crops have been inproving in
the cases every week. In tla past, they
state, mistake was made by placing too
much of this tobacco on the market be-
fore it was thoroughly ready, and it was
largely to avoid this error that no mark
ed effort has been made to sell. Now,
however, growers are ready to sell at
what they consider fair price, and
there can be no doubt the future of
shade growing in New England largely
depends on developments of the next few
months. AS one of the largest Connec-
ticut growers expressed it to The Home
stead, I'VE can't continue growing Su-
matra simply to store in warehouses"
The U. S. Sumatra Tobacco Growing
Co. of Windsor Locks. Ct has raised a