The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-10-23

A prominent leaf dealer who has re
Gently made tour of the various cigar
leaf growing sections Of the country has
the following to say regarding conditions:
"While a great deal has been said
about the extensive buying of the new
crop in Wisconsin, do not believe that
the transactions actually consummated
are as large as the trade has been given
to believe or as appears on the surface,
for, while there has been a number OF
buyers in the fields, it has required more
riding than ever before to secure the
early leafy crops, and many OF the grow
ers who have some of this class of to-
bacco left are demanding figures that
are prohibitive. They really do not
know what they should ask, and ia the
meantime they prefer to hold on to their
crops. The prices paid by the halt doz-
en- large concerns and the fifteen small
operators that have taken part in the
buying movement are really higher than
conditions warrant, and they must be
favored by the very best business cir
cumstances if they are to come out with
profit From and 2 cents to Ill and
cents per pound have been paid right
along, more crops being. taken at 10 and
than otherwise, but conservative por-
tion at higher prices. believe that fully
10000 acres have been contracted for,
which is less than one third of the total
crop, but this is believed to represent
fully eighty per cent. of the early, bright,
leafy tobacco.
$50 far as / have been able to ascer-
tain there is little or no early contract
ing being done ia Ohio, and hope there
will not be any salea until the tobacco is
stripped and in the bundle. A big por-
ton of this crop was harvested late, and
much of this was nipped by frost; and
owing to the drouth that prevailed dur
ing the growing season, the quantity of
Ohio cigar tobaccos available for the
market will be smaller than for many
years past. The percentage Of real good.
serviceable tobacco will be very small,
as the growth Of this crop was retarded
by unfavorable weather conditions.
"In Pennsylvania, with the exception
of one large manufacturing concern and
few local buyers who have made an at
tempt to secure early contracts for new
tobacco land only partly succeeded), the
conservative element holds aloof from
buying, helped directly by she attitude
OF the farmers, a majority of whom are
not willing to sell unless they can get
prices that the most venturesone packer
would hesitate to pay.
New York State and New England
tobaccos of this years crop have not
been bought extensively, which believe
is good thing for both packers and
growers, for the experience of the past
has demonstrated that il is best for both
TO wait until the commodity in which
they trade has reached stage IN which
it's value may be ascertained by inspec-
ton and examination instead of selling
and buying it while it has yet to undergo
numerous processes, in any one OF which
there is a big chance of it's going wrong,
and while the quantity of damaged goods
included is an unknown quantity. So
far as New England tobaccos are con
cerned, the packers have not invested 10
this years crop.
Taking the situation far and wide,
there is sentiment among the leaf deal
ers that with the exception Of one or two
types of tobacco. there is enough old to-
bacco to keep things going for while,
but that the quantity Of real fine tobac-
co is comparatively limited.