The Newtown bee., 1904-12-23
A TOBACCO "DAMP" WANTED.

Farmers and local business men are waiting anxiouSly for tobacco damp. Practically all but Schoverling's ware house have been obliged to close down for want of tobacco. A hard rain or damp spell would boom business local ly and help things throughout the Housatonic valley. The situation is we'll covered in a letter by W. K. An drOsS, prominent tobacco grower of the Connecticut valley, in the East Hartford Gazette. MT AndrOSS says: "Everybody is clamOrOus for rain. More particularly is this desirable on the part of the farmers who are look ing anxiously for damp. Not since the 21st of October has there been any appreciable rainfall sufficient to properly dampen tobacco. But con- paratively little was taken down pre- vious to that, which has practically all been sorted, leaving the farmers idle for. long time. Not only this, but causing much inconvenience, as in all probability twill have to be strip ped in much colder weather, besides delaying when the crop changes hands, weight, as the longer tobacco hangs on the poles the less it weighs. This has been found to be the case repeatedly. The only assurance we can give the farmers on this point, is, that we are one day nearer to it. Sales have been few the past few weeks, for the reason that tobacco was in no condition for examination, and again there is not much unsold to examine any way. What there has been disposed of has brought as good prices as the early sold crops. The chances are still undimin- iShed for those who from choice or other reasons are still holding the goods, to get the same or higher prices than those ruling earlier. Satisfactory reports continue to come in as to the weight, quality and the proportion of wrappers in the crop. Very little sweat is found, and what there is is confined to the late cut tobacco. Very little rust is in evidence, the sOundnesS unparalleled and color satisfactory. | One grower reports taking an extra ton, weighed in the bundle, and assort- ing it and re-baling it found the shrinkage in sorting, less than 50 pounds, a remarkably small per cent. There was no sweat or rust to throw out. In this process tobacco will sOme- times shrink from eight to 10 per cent. The case quoted is only 24 per cent. The result of this almost unprecedent- ed dry spell will be to cause more help to be wanted when ''damp" does come, and to shorten the season for packing. A good January thaw, with a rolling fog,is needed about this time. when the elongation on the farmers faces will disappear. We hear of but few crops being delivered as yet, but parts of crops, where buying was in the bundle, have been called in. Nc kicking or adverse reports have been made so far. Indeed, the confidence established early in the season, by all parties, remains intact at present. AS near as we can judge, former reports, as to the amount taken down, have been overestimated, upwards of one. half the crop still remains hanging, which means some cold fingers before it is all stripped. Those who have stripped and sorted some, report the proportion of wrappers to be about three-fourths, with not enough thicl top leaves to tie up with; this is ; flattering account, if true"
 A HANDSOME LITTLE BOOKLET FREE
 c. E. Riddiford is giving out to his jewelry patrons handsome little booklet entitled "The Vogue of the Locket.' It is commonly asserted that the most uncertain and capriclous things under the sun are the three W's-Wind, Weather and Women However true or untrue this may be-
 there is no gainsaying the fact that Vogue we'll deserves a place in the same class. A thing, as you know, may Sv><o nd rp0 011f 0r rrpI pN fo ~