The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-06-18
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

The transplanting of the new crop is
now pretty well under way in most sec
tions of the state and the weather con-
ditions have been quite favorable for
this work during the week. The soil
has been so thoroughly saturated by
late frequent rains that it is an easy
matter to secure good stand and an
early roofing as soon as the plants are
transferred to the fields. The cool
weather, too, has been helpful in that
there is but little whiting of the plants
after being removed from the beds.
Some delays have been occasioned by
growers not being able to secure early
plants, but far greater number find
their plant beds coming too rapidly dur
ing the continued wet spell when they
were unable to use the machine trans
planters. Then too there was loss of
plants from rotting during the wet
week, though the progressive growers
were fairly well protected by having
an unusually large area of plant beds
owing to the lateness of the season. At
the present writing we hear very few
complaints of not having plants enough
in sight for the intended acreage,
though the planting season may be ex-
tended into July this year.
-
hnr, 14., 6
the tobacco monopolies of foreign coun-
tries has compiled quite source of in
formation on this subject, recently pub
lished. Every leaf of tobacco grown in
Japan belongs to the emperor. Anyone
can grow the plant, but he must sell to
the government, and no other, and at
price fixed by the buyer. The emperor
in turn sells the product to manufacture
ers, and in this case the selling price is
fixed by the seller. The difference be-
tween the emperor's purchasing price
and his selling price, both of which he
regulates absolutely, is the profit he
takes, and this amounts to something
like five million dollars year. To fix
the price at which the grower must
sell, and then set the price at which
the manufacturer must purchase, and |
either of the end parties, would seem
obe as much as any ordinary trust
magnate would care to do; but the EN-
peror goes beyond this. He limits the
area that can be devoted to tobacco
cultivation, and if he makes mistake
in his calculations of this and allows so
demand will be too abundantly supplied, |
I,< o4c hi fob hxye,
dering the growing stock on a few
plantations destroyed. 1t is impossible
to devise a more simple plan of regu-
lating the supply and demand In ad- |
dition to all this, he puts prohibitive
tariff on tobacco, and thus effectively
shuts out foreign competition. AS a
result the Japanese pay about twice as
much for their tobacco as the residents
of any other country.
Other countries have seized upon the
popularity of tobacco as a source OF
revenue and converted the industry into
a government monopoly; notably France
and Italy France not only controls
the cultivation, importation and sale OF
tobacco, but also controls the manu-
facture. The industry is strictly
maintained government monopoly, from
which the state receives more than
ninety-three million dollars year. The
cultivation of the weed is carried on
under very strict regulations and super
vision by the government bureau main
tanned for that purpose. Every citizen
is allowed to grow in his garden, for
decorative purposes, two tobacco plants.
If he grows more than that, he must
declare his intention, obtain license,
and register the number of plants he
wishes to cultivate. The only one to
whom he may sell his stock is the gov
ernment, which fixes the price to be
paid. AS the home production OF to-
bacco does not equal the demand. being
less than half the amount used IN the
French factories, tobacco leaves and
stems are imported free of duty by the
government; but their Importation by
private firms or individuals is prohibit
ed. Each person is allowed to import
twenty-five pounds Of cigars year,
and no more, but on these he IS requlr-
ed to pay duty Of about four dollars
and half pound. 1t is needless to
say that the quantity imported under
these conditions by individuals is incon-
siderable
In the tobacco business of Italy,
which is also the kings own business,
most of the product used in the govern
ment factories is imported, to large
extent from the United States. In
spite of the fact that the government
imports about fifteen thousand tons of
tobacco more than it grows, the busi-
ness nets the king thirty-five million
dollars year. The cultivation of to-
bacco in Italy is subject to so many
rules and regulations that it is not gen
orally carried on. Permission to cQlti-
vate tobacco must be obtained from the
government, and the cultivation is
under the control of the excise office.
The tobacco thus grown must be either
sold to the government, at an appraised
price, or exported within three years.
Italy is not yet, and will not be for
years, if at all, in a condition to pro-
duce the tobacco required for the mo-
Joy1cv1d fhn