The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-05-12
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

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The report of the tobacco investiga-
tions in Wisconsin in '03 and '04 is made
subject of Bulletin No. 124 just issued
from the State Agricultural Experiment
Station by Prof. E. P. Sandsten who has
had the matter in charge. Five lines of
work were taken up and carried on for
two seasons: The improvement of seed,
experiments with commercial fertilizers,
q study of the effects of fertilizers upon
the burning qualities of the leaf, test
OF the value, of cover crops, and the
adaptabiiity of Wisconsin soil for shade
grown tobacco. It can hardly be ex-
pected that results obtained from two
seasons experiments would be entirely
satisfactory. They must of necessity be
extended over larger time to arrive at
conclusions of value. In the matter of
improving the uniformity of seed, how
ever, Prof. Sandsten says: 'The reports
received from growers last fall were very
gratifying and the expectations enter
tanned in regard to the seed by the
writer fully realized" The experiment
of originating new varieties of tobacco
was also carried out. Twenty-Five varie-.
ties were grown and crosses effected be-
tween the different varieties and seed
saved for planting the. coming year. This
work is undertaken with the idea of pro-
ducing, if possible by pure breeding and
selection, new varieties that will further
improve the quality and increase the
yield, but no conclusions as to the ideal
variety have yet been reached. The fer
tilizer experiment. also requires more
time, and the study is carried on to find
the right kind of plant food. Prof. Sand
sten has apparently just got we'll started
in his work. and if the legislature, votes
the appropriation asked for by the de-
partment, there is every reason to believe
results will be reached that will be of
value to the tobacco industry of the
state.
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The seventh annual convention of the
National Cigar Leaf Association held
at Lancaster, Pa, last week proved
very successful meeting of representa-
tives of the trade. 1t adopted resolu-
tions pledging the association as opposed
to any reduction of duty on Philippine
tobacco, and reafirmed its position as
fasoring uniform specific daty on all
imported leaf. The writer has always
questioned the wisdom of the latter
declaration which is clearly in the inter
ests of the importers, but as the associa-
tion has never been able to get congress
to look favorably on the proposition, no
harm has yet come to the trade from the
adoption of resolution that has never
been pushed. The convention also de-
clared that "importers should be liable
for their samples of old tobacco for a
period of six months, unless it can be
proven by inspectors that damages oc-
Cured after inspection" This action
simply places the burden of proof upon
the inspectors, as tickets have always
borne the inscription mot liable for
damages after date of inspection" Pres.
Blur in his address said of Cuban re-
ciprocity and Philippine tariff reduction:
$50 far as the tobacco trade is concern
ed, the tendency thus far manifested has
borne out fully the predictions made by
the officers of this association, when the
treaty was under consideration in con-
.gress. The very large proportionate re-
duction in the duty on cigars, as COM
pared with that on leaf tobacco, has
greatly stimulated imports of cigars,
while our receipts of leaf tobacco have
materially declined. The whole purpose
of the Philippine tariff reduction agita-
tion as applied to tobacco resolves itself
into plan, not to give back to the Fill
pinos prosperity in the tobacco busi-
ness that has been taken from them by
the United States, but to provide mar
ket here for an increased production by
the breaking of our tariff barrier. In
other words, the United States is to offer
the Philippine Islands premium to go
into the tobacco business on a larger
scale, and the domestic tobacco trade is
to suffer the conseq uence. We very nat
urally object"
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Tobacco dealers who make a practice
of buying tobacco green in the fields up
on contract for future delivery will be
interested in decision of the Appellate
court of New York in case brought by
NJ. Rothfuss of Corning against Joseph
Mayors Sons. The case is an old one,
the tobacco having been bought four
years ago and litigation started imme-
diately on delivery. The representatives
of Joseph Mayors Sons had contracted
in the field for considerable quantity
of tobacco from the Big Flats district to
be delivered at the cars by the grower.
On delivery, however, the tobacco was
rejected on the ground that it was
"green, unripe and not in merchantable
condition" At the same timethe May
ers took action against the farmers to
recover damages claimed to sustained
I. Ros1 "a 10 1okk {~,l ln1s f6oi