The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-12-20
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES



there is great interest shown in every
item pertaining to conditions governing
the price, etc., etc. The present con-
ditions are so unusual in many, ways
that am induced to write Of them to
your valuable paper, hoping to renew
the memories of the readers who COM
menced taking this paper thirty years
ago when Wisconsin had such struggle
to be known as raising anything worth
recognizing as cigar leaf; when the best
of it was sold as eastern grown stock,
and the balance as 'soggy" Wisconsin.
How many changes have taken place
during these years in raising plants, set
ting by machine, improved cultivation
and methods of handling and sorting.
Fertilizers have been tested, but not
used as extensively as they should be.
Better sheds now adorn the farm, yet
great changes are necessary. New meth
DDS of selling the leaf, to do away with
the middle man, have often been ad-
vised and tried with varying degrees OF
success But the most successful men
during these past years are those who
put their tobacco up in bundles or cases
in irst-class condition and sold it early.
-
There are many raisers in this state
who have sold to the same dealer for
many years, and the deals have always
been highly satisfactory to both. But
today new plan is offered our growers,
i. O., to pool the leaf and have the So
ciety of Equity pack and sell the same.
It appears to be very good plan under
present conditions. Said conditions, a
few of which are-
First. The dealers are SO we'll loaded
up with last years packing that the
prospects are they will heartily endorse
the society's plan to hold the 1907 crop.
Second. When the 1907 crop is through
the sweat and the grower sells the sarne,
it will be sold on it's merits, and all the
dangers eliminated of speculation as to
pt ssible chances of damage in sweat,
s@ssible teslate Of mannfactnrers to pay,
,and great many other sore trials the
dealer in Wisconsin tobacco claims as a
part of Che program he has had to con-
tend with during the past thirty 'Or more
years.
*x*
Another idea has been advanced
worth trial There are some farmers
in the state who will not join our Society
of Esuity. We do not approve of the
methods adopted in the southern states
of burning their sheds, having night
riders whip them in as members or drive
them from thestate. This would hardly
do in Wisconsin. But wiser plan
would be for each member Of the society
to have a large sign on the front of the
shed IS. of E-," SC large that even some
of tine "'blme7 buyers could see it. Then
those not belonging could sell in the
same old way, to whom they could, and
@give it away" If they wished. Let those
farmers who are so backward in adept
ing new ideas stand idly by, but as soon
as shey see the great success attending
the way, they will be only too glad to
get into the shelter built for them by
their worthy, we'll Wishing neighbors.
Don't forget the @sign," brothers.
F*x
Tie Society of Equity can be of great
benefit to the farmers of Wisconsin this
year by advising them to use extraor-
dinary care in taking down and stripping
the 1907 crop. A great many have COM
nenced stripping and have left the fill
ers in the bundle with the better grades,
which is all wrong. A great many deal
ers have signifed their intention of not
buying any of the crops SO bundled, and
most assuredly would give preference to
the crops which have the oilers taken
out Trash should be dropped on the
placed in bundles, never allowing any
hands to be placed ia the center of the
bundle, as shingling has ruined thous-
ands of dollars worth during the past
few years in sweating. The butts of all
filters which were not exposed to the air
caused the goods to must and rot It
has always paid to handle tobacco to
the best of the farmers ability. This
year is certainly no exception to the
rule, for in fact, this crop requires more
care than any crop raised for many
years to be put up in good merchantable
G.
*xx
The testimony being brought out ia |
the governments suit against the tobac-
co trust, which is slowly dragging along
in New York, shows that the American |
Go. was the victim Of the sand bagging |
and hold up game at almost every turn
Of its early existence All shrewd in /
dividual had to do was to capitalize
tobacco concern for big money, make a
bluff of being busy to impress the octo-
puS that it ought to be absorbed alWayasI