The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-08-12
Connecticut Valley Tobacco Market.

The past week has been one of hurry
up to the growing crop of tobacco, an
observer watching the fields during the
week would feel inclined to wonder
whether any other crop raised by the
farmer makes such rapid growth as to-
bacco. [ am inclined to think that the
plants have doubled in size and weight
during the past week. The growth has
been rapid aud in the right direction;
for the plants are large and stocky, and
when the time comes to strip, it may APP
pear that for the past ten years we have
not had crop that would strip off more
pounds of good tobacco than the present
crop promises to yield.
Some will commence cutting within a
week and the usual amount of green to-
bacco may be harvested this year as in
the past. [ noticed one field where the
suckers were in blossom and need to be
broken out very soon. Such tobacco is
about ready to be cut, but | do hope
that with the early set the growers will
allow the crop to become fully ripe be-
fore it is harvested. In my opinion
man with ten acres Of tobacco can better
afford to risk having one acre frosted or
hail-cut by waiting for the crop to be
fully ripe. Nine acres of good ripe to-
bacco should bring as much money as
the ten acres, if the ten acres are cut
five days too early, and the tobacco is a
little green. When the crop is harvested
in a green state the leaf is apt to carry
the green goods appearance after it is
cured and stripped. The chemical action
going on while the leaf is maturing will
make a leaf that will burn much wbiter
than the leaf that was put in green. The
ripe leaf will look like Boston Red"
and will not feel SO silky and soft as
green harvested leaf, but when the two
leaves have been sweated, the ripe leaf
is glossy, soft, silky leaf The cigar
maker who finds such leaf will nod ap-
provingly. He will stretch the leaf out
on the cutting board and express his sat
isfaction. While the leaf that goes into
the case in green condition comes out
green and makes wrapper that will be
colorado" every time. So let your to-
bacco. ripen, and when the workman
opens pad of such goods he will say:
"There are some good Clano wrappers"
Many labor under the mistaken notion
that whatever is put into the case to be
sweat, comes out as it went in, but this
change that takes place during the
sweat is just what determines the true
worth of the goods as wrappers. We need
not think that the tobacco sweats just
to remove the gum, but it's whole condi-
ton seems to be changed, and it comes
out something to be desired, with
strong, aromatic flavor that cannot be
found in the unsweated leaf. Be sure to
give nature chance, and she will return
you something to be proud of, instead of
something YOU have to apologize for and
remark: II think il was little too dry
when packed it or little too damp"
Nature says: eff you wish for good
thing, don't bring your half done work
for me to finish, but fetch me good stock
and will return you good weight and
measure" After having broken off those
suckers let the crop stand for few days
and admire the crop; do not spoil it by
making haste, for haste makes waste
every time.-Cultivator.