The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-08-31
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES



so rapidly of late that the bulk of it is
now ready for the sheds and growers
lind themselves almost swamped to prop
erly care for the harvest. The scarcity
of labor, too, is proving drawback and
even though extravagant prices are Of
fered for help many are unable to secure
it. The crop going into the sheds is so
large and heavy that more time is re-
quired in the harvest than usual, and as
greater curing capacity is required many
growers find they must make provisions
for enlarging their sheds before it can
all be secured, thus adding something
more to the delay. At least 70 per cent
ought to be harvested this week, and yet
in view of the above conditions it cannot
be accomplished. While the growers are
straining every effort, working long
hours and pressing every hand into the
fields, the problem is still before them
how to save an extraordinary fine crop.
Good weather is most needed now SO
that every day can count and every load
safely housed means good many plump
dollars to them. 1t is generally conceded
that never was a sounder crop harvested
no worms, but few grasshoppers holes
and very little torn or storm broken
leaves thus far. No wonder the grower
sits upon the top round of the ladder
and refuses to come down when buyers
inquire the price of such crop.
TX
Henry Allen Cooper, after the prod
ding he has received for his vote on the
Philippine tariff bill, issues circular
defending his position, but it is poor
excuse at best. From statistics quoted
by him it is admitted that $4,000 acres
are devoted to tobacco in the islands.
This acreage is nearly as much as all the
cigar leaf states produce in this country.
It is at least twice that of Wisconsin,
and We produce something near half.
Remove the duty and permit American
capital to develop the industry and how
long do you imagine it would take for the
islands to monopolize the binder market
of this country? The Wisconsin farmer
could not long remain in the business in
competition with the cheap labor of the
far East. If Mr.. Cooper's position was
right, how is it that the other Wisconsin
congressman couldn't see the same light,
instead of remaining true to their con-
sstituents? But these men were not
under obligations to repay the favors OF
Philippine junket! Mr.. Cooper says
''the alarm of our tobacco interests is
absolutely groundless." Oh! But the
entire tobacco industry-from grower to
| manufacturer and the allied trades
! union we're united in protesting against
| the passage of the bill. Does that sig
| Nifty anything? Twas strong enough to
satisfy the senate they had better not
| pass the measure and it was smothered
! in committee. No, Mr.. Cooper, your de-
| Tense is no good.
| *x*
| We are indebted to Prof. Kerr of the
Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg
Pa, for the following information con-
corning the cureng of the tobacco CROP
| Every farmer is familiar with the great
| danger to which tobacco is subject in
| the shed during the three or four weeks
of curing. through the agency of what is
| commonly known as "pole sweat and
| ''pole burn" but which is IN reality
neither sweat nor burn, but is the work
| of bacterium affecting the body of the
| leaf and thriving only under favorable
| conditions of temperature and moisture,
| the latter due to the too slow evapora-
| tion of the moisture Of the stalk, either
because of the crowded condition in the
shed Or the humidity of the atmosphere,
or both together, hot, rainy and murky
| weather being particularly favorable to
J the development of this bacterlum, and
it is not unusual for an entire crop to be
l ! l<u Ms
in forty eight hours. There are, strictly
| curing First, the stalk dies that is
the metabolic life processes in the cells
| cease on about the fourth day after cut
ting Second, the grading, drying and
development in the leaf of its character
istic properties through the agency of
| engines or ferments requiring three or
four weeks. During this time the tobac
co plant loses almost entirely it's large
bulk of water, which in the crop of
single acre aggregates tons. Perfect
| curing depends upon the proper evap
Grafton of this large quantity of water,
| and while this is taking place the farmer
should be on the lookout for two evils,
both of which can in measure be pre-
vented. The first of these is that the
| leaf may dry too quickly and the fer
mentative processes be Interrupted, and
thus the quality of the leaf becomes IN
| ferior from commercial standpoint.
The second is, the leaf may dry too slow
| ly and in it's wet condition become an
| inviting culture for the bacteria of pole
| sweat, molds. etc. This is much the
| greater danger, and particularly so this
season, as the weather has been wet and
| the leaf is very succulent, and as larger
| acreage is cultivated than usual the ten
dency is to crowd the crop into the
available shedding The following sug
gestions may be found helpfal: Prepare
the crop for the shed by first ''scatfold-
| ing in the field, thus Mastering the
process of drying and evaporating and
reducing the bulk of the stalk SO as to
admit of free circulation between the
stalks when hung in the shed. Even
when housed it is best to hang only tenn
porary, say, seven to ten inches apart.
In week or ten days it can be hung
permanently AS a rule, doors should
be closed during damp weather and at
night and opened on clear days. Should.