The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-09-21

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

: NOTE BOOK SKETCHES =
!. :.
The present week will practically COM
plete the harvest of the tobacco crop IN
all sections of the state save few tail
enders who never keep in sight of the
procession. The oldest growers cannot re-
call year when the weather conditions
were more favorable for securing the crop
from start to finish, nor time when the
tobacco went into the curing barns in
such perfect condition. There has been
neither storms or heavy winds to mar or
break leaf since the first cutting COM
menced, while grasshoppers and worms
have been far less troublesome than
usual. For soundness of leaf no crop
ever grown in the state equals 1t. So
universally large is the growth that the
percentage of the filler grades must be
considerably below that of other seasons
The weather conditions SO especially
fitted for the harvest have proven like
wise suitable to a rapid and early curing
of the hanging leaf seldom witnessed in
the state. The early harvested portion
of the crop is already cured down to the
midrib. The warm days of early Sep
tember have brought along the curing
process so rapidly that the entire crop
bids fair to be entirely cured in advance
- II orl no FOR
removal from the poles long before either
the growers are prepared to strip or the
packers are ready to start warehouse
handling. Unless growers prefer to wait
for the stalks to freeze before stripping,
as some prefer to do, there will be some
early records broken this season on the
taking down of hanging tobacco. Ware.
house handling need not wait until after
the holidays and good deal of Christ
mas money may be derived from the to-
bacco crop this season.
***
That the demand for low grade cigar
leaf, such as is consumed by the scrap"
manufacturers, will lead to perma nent
trade is generally conceded. While it is
hardly probable that present prices will
long prevail, the combination smoking
and chewing trade has become so well
established that the business is upon as
safe basis as that of the other branches
of tobacco manufacturing. An indica-
tion that Wisconsin will be drawn upon
for fair supply of this class of goods is
found in the determination of a well
known Bagley concern of Detroit to
establish large stemming plant at
GAINESVILLE for the preparation of the
stock for their factory. M. E. Greene &
Sons have commenced the foundation
for large building adjoining their pres
ent warehouse which will be equipped
| with dryers and other machinery for the
handling of this class of work. The
building is to be constructed of cement
blocks and will in every way be hand
some and permanent affair. The Bagley
concern were large purchasers of the low
grades last season, a good portion of
| which was handled by the Greenes, who
| who are now preparing to equip the irst
| complete stemming plant established IN
| this state.
***
We are indebted to the New England
Grower for the following hints regarding
| the care of tobacco seed: The tobacco
J seed heads after cutting should be hung
| up in dry place where there is free
| circulation of air. 1t is important that
the seed be thoroughly dried out as
| quickly as possible, and, for this reason,
| care should be taken to give the seed
heads the best possible opportunity for
| drying. The best means for securing
this condition is by hanging them in an
attic where windows can be opened on
bright days to admit free circulation of
air, which will carry off the moisture
contained in the pods. Much of the
| seed which is not cared for properly
/
weakened to such an extent that it ger
inmates but slowly when sowed in the
seed bed in the spring. This weak seed
| produces unhealthy plants which are not
able to make satisfactory progress dur
| ing the growing season. AS soon as the
seed has thoroughly dried out it should
| be shelled all of the small, irregular and
| immature pods should be discarded and
| only the large, healthy and we'll devel-
oped pods saved for use. This care will
| take but short time and will be of
great service in getting rid of the poor
and undesirable seed. AS soon as the
selected pods have been shelled, the
| small and light seed can be blown out
with a seed separator, and the cleaned
seed stored in glass jars for the winter.