The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-11-23
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

Buyers familiar with the conditions of
the growing districts assert that the l9O6
crop is already more closely bought up
than at any time in recent years at this
date. The amount of tobacco to be
bought in the bundle is by some estimat-
ed at less than per cent of the crop.
This is something unusual, for in other
years when the crop was thought to be
we'll secured close to 10 per cent was al
ways found to be laying back in the
hands of class of growers who are
packers and spectators in their tobacco.
A most singular part of this condition is
that SO large crop should be so closely
lifted under a vigorous protest OF the
growers themselves. For some weeks
the farmers would not name any price
on their crops maintaining that they
had nothing to sell until their tobacco
was cured and in the bundle. They ad-
vanced good reasons for not wishing to
contract for their crops in the fields and
many of them would not even stop to
talk with buyers who approached them.
Yet in spite of their protests and dis
chalmers their objections we're gradually
overcome, contracts were signed up and
the crop has slipped away from their
control. The explanation of these con-
ditions Of course lies in the attractive
prices which the buyers were able to
dangle before the eyes of the growers.
They were more dazzling than our to-
bacco growers ever before realized, and
when they stopped to figure out what
their crop would bring them in dollars
and cents the argument was too strong
to resist. The wonder of it all is that
the growers were so easily persuaded.
Xxx
Another reason why the tobacco grow
ers have been the recipients of such
splendid prices this season, possibly, is
suggested in the following quotation
from an eastern exchange: ''Ncw, If the
dealers in the East could recognize the
fact that the buying of tobacco IN the
country is in itself profession, and
would employ only experienced and in
telligent buyers, instead of hiring any
old hand who happened to live in the
neighborhood, tobacco would have been
bought much cheaper this year. Some
of these new buyers, who were put out
by the score this year, happening to see
a buggy ahead of them on the road
would go to the ne.rest telephone sta
tion and inform tn 5ir chief This country
is full of buyers, pl les are being boost
ed, and you must give me higher limit
Three or four good old trained buyers
would have bought more than forty OF
these 'transients. We must have good
men to sell our tobacco. Why should
we employ poor men for buyers? Is not
one as important as the other?" On the
other hand the farmer can hardly be ex-
pected to look after the interests of the
tobacco merchant who sends inexperi-
enced buyers racing over the country
districts at busy time of year.
*x*
The general tobacco situation in the
lower Connecticut valley is about as fol-
lows: IS per cent of the leaf has been
taken down and sorting begun. The grow
ers are waiting for one more damp to
finish stripping. The crop is a phenom-
email one as regards soundness, fneness,
and quality; there is very little evidence
of pole sweat this year, and packers of
rubbish will be short this season as
there is very little waste. There have
been no sales to speak of in the Broad
leaf, which is much the largest per cent
of the crop in this locality. What sales
there have been made are on the out
skirts of the Broadleaf district proper, at
prices ranging from 20 to 22 cents in the
bundle. The growers manifest a dispo-
sition to hold for 80 cents assorted, and
would refuse anything less at present.
Many new warehouses have been built
the past season and several are in the
process of construction. 1t is the inten-
tion to fill these. The crop will probably
not be as heavy as last year as the
growth is somewhat smaller, though 10
manufacturer of more desirable SIZE
It is the general belief that buying will
not begin much before January 1st, al
though it is less risky crop than that
of 1905. The leaf is generally lighter in
color and the percentage of fine wrap
pers will be larger Havana is largely
bought up, prices ranging from Is to 28
cents in the bundle, "a or % cents being
the average. The work of sorting will
be less than usual. Many growers assert
that they will not sell less than scents,
based on the wants and prices of last
year. They will probably get it. Only
few lots of 1905 are still in growers
hands. These were held because offers
did not reach them of over Csc, though
some of them were paid from 30 TO 33c
through. Sorting among the farmers
will generally begin about December lst.
Warehouses expect to open earlier this
year, probably about January lst. The
dealers disposition is to buy Havana in
the bundle, Broadleaf assorted. The
shrinkage is less this year, which may be
the cause Of turning out more available
goods than did the previous crop In spite
of the somewhat lighter growth, though
some maintain the 1906 growth to be
coral to the 1905. w. F. ANDRoss.
~
Indications point to large attendance
at the Tobacco Growers and Dealers,
convention to be held at Madison, Dec.
9th and 9Th. The industry was never in
more fourishing condition and there is
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