The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-03-17
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


!: NOTE BOOK SKETCHES ;:
= :.
The annual statement of the Ameri-
can Tobacco Co., made public at the re-
cent stockholders meeting, shows that
the big trust is doing profitable busi-
ness. The net earnings of all the allied
companies, after deducting all charges
and expenses, were S10,O95,565 The to-
tai assets are figured at 273 million and
liabilities s264 million with surplus of
over 80 million dollars.
*x*
The trolley lines which cover a good
share of Lancaster county, Pa, are being
utilized by the tobacco growers quite
extensively in the delivery of their to-
bacco. These lines, which have freight
carrying privilege, pass the doors of
hundreds Of farmers who find them most
convenient in sending their crops to the
warehouses. Their charges too are much
less than it would cost the grower to
cart the tobacco to market.
***
A bill is before the Connecticut legis-
lature requiring that all tobacco sold by
sample in that state shall bear printed
tag showing the name of the state in
which it, was grown. The object of
course is to prevent tobacco that may
have been grown in other localities being
passed as Connecticut leaf. But such
law would PROHIBIT the common practice
of CHASING all New England tobacco as
Connecticut. The proposition is opposed
by good many packers in the eastern
m arkets.
/ believe it makes but little difference
in the final results how your plants are
obtained so. long as they are obtained. l
know that artifcially forced plants are
few days earlier, an important considera-
tion in some cases, but they are more
liable to contract disease. more costly,
and obtained at an expenditure of much
more labor. Also that plants grown in
an open bed, planted at the. same time,
with dry seed, WILL by August, be in
about the same stage of advancement as
most of the tender plants grown under
forced conditions. They are, moreover,
less liable to develop calico and rust,
though as a rule not so desirable for ma
chine setting, where longer and more
spindling plants are necessity. This
'open bed system, the old fashioned
way, as we might call it, though almost
obsolete for few years, is fast coming
back into popularity among some of the
oldest and most successful growers. A
good way to obtain middling early plants
is to remove the covering after the first
wedding when the cold winds have
somewhat subsidized and the frosty nights
are gone and leave it off. This will, of
course, retard the plants somewhat, but
the results will be stronger and better
sprouts, as plants must breathe and they
need plenty of air, condition they are
not always sure of getting; air is as nee
essary to plants as it is to individuals.
The only positive reason for having ex-
ira early plants in this latitude is when
an extra large field is to be set and the
grower wishes to extend the time of set
ting. Plants set from June Is to 20 in
variably do the best and give the best
results. Nature has it's season for pro-
ducing tobacco, as much so i'll Connecti.
cut as elsewhere and her plans must
not be interfered with very much. The
main thing to be desired is to obtain
good, green, stocky plants, with sturdy
roots, apparently free from disease. The
only advantage sprouted seed have over
dry seed is a few days gained sometimes
in the earliness Of the plants. and usual
ly plants better adapted for machine set
ting. Most constant and -unremitting
care must be given the bed after sowing,
especially ifunder glass or cloth. Ere
quent waterings and airing are necessary,
as during the warm days there is danger
of suffocation, and farmers wonder what
makes their plants rot. The plants
grow very rapidly when nearly large
enough to set. The old rule used to be,
when the leaves are as large as a mouse's
ear, go to fitting your land.-[W. A. An
dross, Hartford county, Conn
*x*
Indications point to much valuable
work by the government this year in ex
perimenting on new tobacco soils and
improving seed types. The house of
representatives has appropriated more
than 100000 for experimental work by
the bureau of soils. Our congressman
ought to get busy and see that portion
of the appropriation is devoted to estab-
fishing an experiment station in Wis
consin. The state that produces the
largest amount of cigar leaf is deserving.
OF greater consideration than it has
heretofore received.
***
Much discussion has been created
among manufacturers by the clause in
the Court of Appeals decision in re S.
Falk's Sons, of Key West, against the
American West Indies Trading Co.,
which reads thus: "A trade mark is not
a piece of property that passes from
hand to hand by assignment separate
from the. business of the owner of the
trade mark or the article which it may
serve to distinguish" This seems to in
dicate to the trade that the very com
mon practice of transferring brand by
one manufacturer to another as sale or
by some other form OF value received is
p Ia IL