The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-10-09


shortening the crop. Hence it was the
early fields that have been most sought
by the buyers, and the asking price of
growers very generally paid. 1t was
natural therefore, that there has been
less haggling over terms than usual, for
competition was sharp and if buyers
wanted the crop they must close quickly
or lose it altogether. Some sections are
already pretty we'll cleaned of the early
crop.
*x#
But if the tail goes with the hide, and
| it is believed that very large proper
tion OF the crop contains some portion of
tail ends, packers will find that good
serviceable binders will have cost pretty
we'll up year hence when they are
ready for the manufacturers tables.
They can scarcely hope to be able to sell
them at price that old leaf fof the 'O6 or
'07 crop can be purchased at in the open
market today. This being true it is
hard for local packers to figure out
where any chance for profits might come
| in by investing in the new crop at the
going figures.
In the Gardner Hunt trial at Clarks-
vile, Tenn, evidence was introduced to
show that the Planters Protective Asso
i iciation is $500 corporation. with an an
nual income to the stockholders OF be-
tween 100000 and 100000. Testimony
| to this effect was introduced by G. T.
| Warfield an experienced tobacco man of
| that city, who is thoroughly familiar
with the situation. He stated that there
were AZ stockholders, and that the in
come went to them. Under the charter
| the corporation derives one per cent from
| the gross receipts of the sales of tobacco
and also gets the types" and trash
The Association claims to have handled
"a 900 hogsheads of the 1905 crop, 10000
hogsheads of the crop of 1906, and 10000
hogsheads Of the 1907 crop. Mr.. War-
/ field made his estimates on the 1906
crop, estimating that the one per cent
| would amount to about $4,000 or more,s
/ the receipts from the TYPES" to about
| S24,O0O and from the "trash" about $40
600, making grand totalof about Sl15,
| 600 income from the 1906 crop, and
| something over so per cent. more than
| this for the 1907 crop when finally dis
posed Of Western Tobacco Journal
Do you remember how one Col. Fort,
q silver tongued orator from the Dark
| Belt, came through Wisconsin year
ago telling the tobacco growers what
wonderful things Equity pooling had ac-
complished in the south and even de-
| Tending the outrages of the night riders?
COL Fort, it appears is one of the organ
izers Of the Association that is cleaning
up an income worth while, as the above
figures indicate. These promoters of
farmers organizations, somehow, nearly
always find way Of helping themselves
to nice fat salaried positions. Pure, un-
selfish motives prompts but few men to
devote their efforts to earnest appeals to
the people is quite evident. The 90 cent
a case which the managers of the Equity
tobacco pool in this state receive for
selling is an income not to be sneezed at.
~
Some interesting comments on the
Italian tobacco monopoly and the gener-
al tobacco situation in Italy have been
made to the Department of Commerce
and Labor by Vice Consul Cutting, Jr.
at Milan. He says the monopoly since
it's creation in 1883, has been notably
successful from financial standpoint (
: although the per capita consumption OF
tobacco remains lower in Italy than III
any other European nation. The gross
receipts of the monopoly were S36. .300,O GOO
in 1897 -98. The policy of the govern
ment is ito encourage the growing OF
their supply at home, especially since
the price of Kentucky leaf has advanced
in later years. The government is do
ing it's best to educate the farmer and to
remove part of the expense and risk
from his shoulders. Phe inspectors ap-
pointed to count the plants and leaves
for purposes of taxation are also charged
with the supervision of the process OF
cultivation They instruct the peasant
when, where and how to plant, at what
intervals. with how much manure. They
watch the crops develop, tell him how to
pick and when, give him directions for
storing and drying Their advice is fol-
lowed. 1t must be, for they represent
the only purchaser of the product. Ed
ucation is supplemented by financial as
sistance. The government has devised
| a system of contract, which runs for i've
years and which has become popular 10
number of districts. The state rents
the land at fixed rate from the owner
and on it puts the necessary buildings
i lstorahousas etc The state also buys
all the manure. The peasant contracts
to grow tobacco for five years on Ger
tain (increasing) number of acres. He
> paws all the expenses of cultivation ex-
lcept manure, and does all the work. un-
der the direction of the state inspector.
At the end he and the state make an
equal division of the crop, each retaining
half This solution is worthy OF atten-
"A 49,, - tasc.s,ts, he state di-