The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-05-29
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

NUIh BUM SAhI IOAIO'
The outlook for the growing of anoth-
er tobacco crop is seldom more promis-
ing in it's early stages than at the pres
ent writing. The plant beds have been
making such satisfactory progress that
there is no longer any question as to
their being in readiness at transplantlng
season or in quantities sufficient for all
needs. Plenty of plants will be in readl-
ness for the fields within the next two
weeks, which is certainly as early as the
growers will care to start the planting.
An abundance of rain Of late has put
the soil in excellent condition for plow-
ing, as we'll as saturating it deeply with
moisture. These favorable conditions
all point toward giving the new crop
good start and an early commencement
of the transplanting season.
~
The Department of Agriculture has
recently issued from Washington table
said to give the acreage, yield and value
of last years domestic tobacco crop.
The information would be of some value
if it was only accurate, but if the figures
given of other states fall as far short of
actual facts as those given of the Wis
consin crop, then little credence should
be given them for it is not even approx
49, ~
is given an acreage of 48, 422 acres, yield
ing 64,885, ,4S0 pounds equal to more
than 100000 cases of packed tobacco.
Any one at all familiar with the tobacco
business of Wisconsin is we'll informed
that this estimate is nearly twice too
large. How the department Of agricul-
fture which aims to be reasonably accu-
rate on crop statistics, could fall into
such glaring errors is difficult to under
stand unless the agents who supply the
figures for this state are careless or in
competent. So little value can be at
tached to such statistics that they are
not entitled to be termed instructive or
even interesting. At most they are only
bad guess.
A case recently handed down by the
supreme court defines the rights and
privileges of tenants that will be of in
terest to many tobacco sharemen:
Chief Justice Cassidy quotes that
"the general rule is, that the legal pos
session to the land as well as the title to
the entire crop, is in the owner Of the
soil. The possession of the cropper be-
ing merely that of a servant, and Incl
dent to his right and duty of entering
the close for the purpose of planting,
cultivating and gathering the CROP it is
not the legal possession of the premises
which gives the possessor the title to the
produce. He has no property in his
shares of the crop until the division,
which is made by the owner Of the land.
A cropper has no estate in the land; that
remains in the landlord Consequently
although he has, in some sense, the pos
session Of the crop, it is only the posses
sion of a servant. The landlord must
divide off to the cropper his share-he is
a laborer receiving his pay in share of
the CROP
The work of transplanting tobacco re-
quires the utmost care. CareleSsness
and neglect are certain to tell seriously
on the results of the crop. To avoid
tramping down the beds, while pulling
plants, it is we'll to have low bench, a
trif1e longer than the bed is wide, to
stand upon. This will keep one off the
bed while pulling and wedding. Before
drawing plants, wet the bed thoroughly
unless there has just been heavy rain.
To take them out, use two-tined din
ner fork or pointed stick. Run this
down by the plants and loosen them by
gently prying under them. The plants
should be taken out one at time to
avoid injury to the roots. OILY the larg-
est ones should be taken out at first,
leaving the smaller ones for future plant
ing. Always draw the plant by the
leaves above the bud, never on the stem
or on the heart or bud. Don't pull the
plants one day and set them the next
day as they will grow crooked and never
do we'll. After setting water the plants
unless the field is too large. Watering
should be done late in the day or early
in the morning. The timely hints are
taken from the standard book on tobac-
co by Myrick and Killebrew.
***
While the 1902 operations in shade
grown tobacco in New England have
demonstrated the practicability of grow
ing such a crop, the industry must still
be looked upon as being largely in the
experimental stage. says the Homestead.
This is shown by the fact that compare
lively few of those who grew the crop
last year intend to make any material
increase this summer in their acreage.
The greater portion of the new area be-
ing planted is owned by newly formed
companies. Owing to the heavy expense
of raising the crop and to the fact that
most of last years growers do not feel
inclined, from the results obtained, to
extend their operations, it would seem to
be wise for small growers to wait another
year before attempting to do much with
shade leaf.
*x*