The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-12-06
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES
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y MI BUN one i07Eo
The equity suit of the government
against the American Tobacco Co. has
been on trial in New York for nearly two
weeks and the litigation has only just
started. 1t is estimated that the taking
OF testimony will require several weeks
SO that the public will not know the re-
suit of the trial for some time yet to
come-maybe some time next year. And
then there are higher courts to appeal to
whatever the decision.
*.*
You must buy our tobacco at prices
fixed by the Society of Equity or be
driven out of the state by law which
the growers say they will submit to the
legislature, is the latest ultimatum which
the Burley Growers society have served
on the American Tobacco Co and it's
agents ia the southern field. This is the
final weapon used to bring the company
to terms, as the growers organization
say they have the votes in the legisla-
turs to declare the trust combination
ia restraint of trade. The outcome will
be watched with interest.
~
In his eleventh annual report of the
operations OF the Department of Agri-
culture for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1907, Secretary James Wilson says
the year has been one Of "untoward
conditions requiring all the industry and
skill of the farmers to grow an average
crop. They have struggled not only
with an cratic season, but with scar
city of help in the States and Territor-
ies." He says that the production Of
the farms, all things considered, is we'll
up to the average of the previous five
years in quantity, while its value to the
farmer reaches figure much above that
OF 1905, which by far exceeded any pre-
vious years wealth production on farms.
"The farmer will have more to spend
and to invest than he ever before had
out of his years work." Secretary Will
son estimates the value of the 1907 to-
bacco crop at $67,0O0,O00 or 16 per cent.
ABOVE the average for the last five years.
He says that during the year the export:
of sunmanufactured tobacco from the
United States was valued at S33,OOO,OO0,
and the imports at S26.OO0,OOO. Speak
ing of the work of the Bureau of Plant
Industry in breeding improved varieties
of tobacco Secretary Wilson says: 'All
tobacco work of the Department was, in
accordance with the action of Congress,
taken up by the Bureau of Plant Indus
try the first of last July. One of the
most important results from the past
seasons Investigations has been the in
PRODUCTION of the new varieties of tobac-
60 which the Department has originated.
The Brewer and the Cooley tobaccos
have given increased yields of better
grade of cigar-wrapper tobacco than the
unimproved varieties, and in those Sec
tions where they have been tested many
of the large and successful growers are
planning to use these varieties exclu-
sively next season as the result of the
favorable experience of the past year.
The new and improved types of Suma-
ira varieties of cigar wrapper tobacco
are being adopted by growers in Florida
and the Connecticut Valley for growing
under shade. They rank among the
best varieties of cigar wrapper tobacco
now grown. Other new varieties are be-
ing tested in the various sections of the
tobacco-growing States, some of which
have been found to be valuable. A
nematOde resistant type OF cigar-wrap-
per tobacco has been produced in Flor
ida. In view of the great annual loss
sustained by Southern tobacco growers
from this injury, the production of re-
sistant variety is of the greatest impor
tance to the growers. Considerable
quantities of seed of the various new
varieties of tobacco will be distributed
to interested growers this winter for use
next season. The demand for such seed
in sections where the tobaccos are grown
is already beyond the quantities avail
able for distribution. However, sufic-
lent seed has been saved to give the
growers limited supply, consistent with
the introduction of new and improved
varieties. Improved practical methods
of seed selection and seed separation for
tobacco have been discovered by expert
ments and are proving to be of benefit
anQ pracClcdl Valu0 TO all LOOdCcO grow
ers. At the various experimental fields
where the tobacco work of the Depart
ment is being carried on thousands of
farmers have visited the places and have
secured from observation the benefit de-
rived from this work Improved meth
DDS of preventing damage from pole burn
in the curing sheds have been devised
as result of experiments darried on in
different parts of the country the past
season. Extensive laboratory work has
also been carried on in the matter of the
nicotine content of tobacco. The dem
onstratior work in various parts of the
regions where the different tobacco types
are grown has been continued, with en-
couraging results
***
Encouraging reports come from Cuba
where the planting of the new tobacco
crop is now under way. The seed beds
this year have turned out very good and
have furnished plants enough for trans
planting on almost every farm and even
a aSuDerabundanco as many of the grow