The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-08-18

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

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A heated spell which has continued
almost uninterruptedly since the begin
ming of the month has developed wealth
er conditions producing an unusual
amount of hail storms in the tobacco
growing sections of the state. 1t is
doubtful if ever before has so great an
amount Of damage been done in so short
space of time than during the first
twelve days of August. While these
storms have been limited in extent, they
have been numerous, and in localities
extremely injurious to the growing to-
bacco fields. While in some localities
the plants are so small as to outgrow the
effects of the hail in a measure, it is no
doubt true there will be more tobacco
plowed under as completely ruined than
for many years past. Up to August lst
the state had very generally escaped
these storms and the growers we're be-
ginning to congratulate themselves when
terrific hail and electric disturbances
followed one another in quick succession
and thousands of dollars worth of prop
erty ruined in a few moments by hail.
The result will be that the buying of the
crop will be attended with good deal
of close inspection this year. A good
many growers in the hailed districts
were carrying hail insurance and if the
company has not been completely swamp
ed by the disaster that has overtaken it,
may have their losses partly repaid. We
shall know after this year whether the
experiment of insuring growing tobacco
can live.
***
The buying movement which was un-
expectedly sprung in the Vernon county
section three weeks ago begins to show
signs of working itself out. About all
the growing fields that have escaped
hail and give promise of reaching the
sheds by the middle of September are
under contract and buyers are retiring
to other sections. While it lasted it has
been the warmest campaign ever wit
messed in Wisconsin. The grower who
did not receive eight or ten calls day
from buyers considered himself neglect
ed and the advancing offers fairly took
his breath away and made him question
the sanity of his fellow men at times.
But now that the storm has about
passed there will be- time for sober re-
view of the events of these stirring
times. The only theory that will at all
account for the senseless rush of buyers
to the green fields is that of big short
age of binder stock in the immediate
future. No other reason would warrant
such unbusiness- like methods or justify
the long chances that are being taken in
paying the highest prices of years past.
It has been evident for some time that
the present Wisconsin crop will be short
of the acreage of year ago. An uneven
stand with the prospects that much OF
the small tobacco might not reach ma
turity further cut the supply. Later the
recent disastrous hail storms have cut
out of the reckoning from quarter to a
third of the most promising fields as
ever becoming sound tobacco, so that
viewed from the standpoint of the buyer
the percentage of really good tobacco
seemed less than ever before at this date.
In the opinion of the buyers the situa-
tion warranted the making of early con-
tracts if there ever was time when
they were justified. OF course late
fall may bring along to maturity the
small tobacco that was ignored in the
early account. The weather of late is
extremely favorable for rapid growth
of these fields and some years they even
make the best leaf of the year when
proper curing conditions prevail Later
developments will determine its stand
ing though the chances are not gener-
ally the most fattering.
*.*
Buying of the growing crop, of the
1905 leaf still standing in the fields, is
reported from Wisconsin. This is more
of gamb lie, and of the most reprehensi-
BILE kind, than specializing in futures .
To gamble on the outcome of tobacco
crop year in advance is probably the
boldest risk any adventurous spirit can
take. For it is absolutely impossible to
forsee or predict and guarantee the safe
ty of the curing in the sheds and sweat
in the boxes. no matter how promising
and alluring tobacco crop may appear
in the field. Neither experience nor
science can vouchsafe it's proper out
come in sound and perfect condition a
year in advance. The result depends on
SO many vicissitudes mostly of incalcul-
able atmospheric conditions during the
nearly years period of maturing that
is more than gamblers reckleness to
wage on it. An as often as it has been
done, in nine cases out of ten it has
proven disastrous. But that people
should nevertheless incur such tre-
mendous risk would go to prove on the
bop1 IN ubot docparata straits