The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-07-06
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

There is plenty of evidence reaching
US every day that an effort is being made
TO contract the new tobacco crop, almost
before the plants are fairly started in
the fields. Some sales have thus been
effected. Many more efforts have failed,
but buyers are driving the country dis
tricts and more are getting ready to join
the summer campaign. So the indica-
tlons are that new record for early
buying is about to be made. From this
time on growers may expect frequent
visits from gentlemen who inquire about
their crops and after the health of their
families, but all the time have contract
books concealed somewhere about their
clothing. If perchance the conversa-
tion turns about the growing tobacco
crop and the farmer appears in recep-
tive mood, then the secret is out and
business is talked. The complaint SO
far heard from the circuit riders is
that the growers are hard to deal with.
One buyer who spent nearly week in
the country says shilling a pound"
seemed hardly any temptation to the
up to. date farmer he would like to
do business with. Most growers if
asked to put price on their prospective
tobacco, talked Is cents, and he felt as
though his time had been thrown away.
A small army of buyers are waiting in
reserve for things to break loose and a
wild, crazy chase will be precipitated. 1t
is simply question how long it can be
averted.
***
But candidly, what is it all about?
The tobacco grower hasn't anything to
sell yet and won't have for some months
to come. A good many farmers found
to their sorrow that they were caught
mapping year ago and sold too early.
They will hardly care to repeat the ex-
pertinent again this season. All this i'm
portuning of buyers isn't going to change
matters much except to impress upon
the minds of growers that their tobacco
will be too valuable an asset to be parted
with at anything like reasonable fig
Sare. A surer way to block the buying
game could scarcely be adopted than to
keep up this incessant chase in the
country districts. If the buyers could
only be prevailed upon to go fishing
and give the farmers time to raise crop,
there would be some assurance that the
business might be conducted on saner
basis. This securing options on crop
not yet grown is a risky proposition that
sooner or later will end in disaster to
those engaged in it.
~
However, this is the season when every
tobacco grower should keep posted on
what is going on, not only in the local
markets, but the country as we'll. There
are stirring times ahead and it behooves
the farmer to keep up with the process
sion. For years this newspaper has
aimed to give correct information of
what was doing in the Wisconsin field,
and it's reports are recognized as stand
ard authority and quoted by the trade
press of the country But the friends of
The Reporter can extend it's usefulness
by favoring us with latest developments
in their locality, that a complete and
truthful statement may be freshly laid
before our patrons each week. Such re-
ports are gladly welcomed. It is hard
to understand how any person interested
in the production or sale of tobacco in
| the state can afford to be without this
| service, hence we are reminded to close
| with Now is the time to subscribe"
*+~
New evidence of the scarcity of old
leaf in local markets has been uncovered
in the discovery that petty pilfering
from the storage houses at the packing
points is being carried on, evidently by
the "cush" users. One packer finds an
entire case of well cured '03 BIS has been
| distracted The value of the tobacco
stolen amounts to $50 or more and at
once becomes an item worth looking
after. In other houses cases have been
found tampered with, but unless the to-
| bacco was we'll cured none was taken.
| Never before have the users of raw leaf
been obliged to steal their tobacco.
~
| Remarkable statistics on Philippine
| imports and exports of tobacco and its
| manufactures during the calendar year
of 1905, are furnished by the Bureau of
Insular Affairs According TO these Of
| fetal statistics, the Philippine Islands
| imported during 1905, 16,442 pounds of
leaf to the value of 5000 from the
United Kingdom, Belgium, China, the
Netherlands and the British and Dutch
| East Indies, but not pound from the
! United States. This official statement
gives the lie direct to the Hon. E. j..
| Hills assertion that the Manila cigar
manufacturers are dying to buy and work
| our Connecticut leaf. But the same
Manila manufacturers work Sumatra to
a considerable extent on which they
| ha RI 5,7+v of only 03 onntS