The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-10-08
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

4 - N0t6 B0ON 0NG SEG0
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Aside from possibly two days when
| the conditions were favorable for pro-
ducing shed burn, the weather so far
this fall has been unusually suitable to
the satisfactory curing of the tobacco
icrop. The leaf is curing down so rap
idly that even the late harvested por-
ton promises to be out of reach of any
danger of fat stems. Then again the
heavy fogs prevailing of late have been
helpful in the curing, as tbe leaf cases
Iup every night tending to give the de-
sired coloring. So as the season pro-
crosses the growers are abundantly
pleased to see their tobacco coming
through the curing process in such ex-
cellent condition.
The steady movement of old leaf,
which has been going on for some
Eweeks past, seems likely to continue
until the country is pretty thoroughly
icleaned of tobacco that might reach
the manufacturer from first hands. No
one could scarcely believe there was SO
much of the 'O7 and '08 crops lying in
growers hands as has been lifted the
past few months, it being generally
supposed that each of these crops had
been as closely gathered up as the av-
erage crop is bought up. And yet
probably not less than 5000 cases of
these goods have been recently pur-
chased, while buyers are still quite
busy hunting out what remnants yet
remain. One thing is certain in max
| ing up the estimates it should be re-
membered that the number of growers
who have become chronic holders of to-
bacco from one season to another is on
the increase. 1t is significant that the
heaviest buyers of old leaf are eastern
/ concerns who are in close touch with
the market needs or future demands.
Surface indications Of revival in the
manufacturing business come under
their observation first and they have
acted on the suggestion.
-
On the Connecticut tobacco corpora
ton plantation near Tariffville, CT,
100000 pounds of tobacco has been
taken down. This is the largest planta-
tion in New England. All the tobacco
| is grown under shade There were 217
acres under cultivation this year. Late
| in July during the severe period of
! drouth neighboring farmers were very
dubious about the outcome of the Con-
necticut corporations crop. With the
| first rains, however, the plants took on
a remarkable growth and it is reported
| that one of the finest crops ever pro-
1 duced under shade was harvested this
year.
| An interesting situation exists in
| the tobacco regions of Florida and
Georgia, according to Ernest Graves,
of cambridge, Ga. Because of an over
production OF shade tobacco in this re-
gion, he says the planters will raise to-
Y
sun without shade. Packers have
bought the shade tobacco at low rate
and are holding it, and with the alb
sence of shade tobacco from the crop
next year he predicts that that grade
will command very high prices. Care
less methods in growing has caused this
situation, Mr. Graves AYERS. EncOur
aged by their success in growing shade
tobacco, he says the growers paid less
care in the erection of sheds and the
covering, with the result that the crop
| of 1907 came out inferior in quality,
and the New York manufacturers and
large packers forced it's price down,
putting the Sumatra tobacco above that
of the southern states. These slipshod
methods cost the planters pretty
penny as it cost 25 cents to produce
pound of the shade and they obtained
but an average of Is cents a pound. AS
it costs but II cents to produce pound
| of ordinary sun-groWn tobacco for flll-
ing, which sells for Is cents a pound.
the growers will thus make the switch.
The Imperial Tobacco Co, which is
| the Canadian end of the American To-
bacco Co., is said to have secured
corner in almost the entire output
grown in Canada by buying up every
| pound that can be procured in Ontario
and also all that can be found in Que
bee. Moreover, the trust is paying
fancy prices for this years crop.
| Whereas the normal price is around
| cents the Imperial Tobacco Co. has
| been paying from 10 to Is cents, the
latter being the prevailing rate for the
best quality. 1--WE bought up the en-
| tire crop because we needed it, stated
Mr.. Gregory, manager of the Imperial
| Co., land we will probably need more
next year" He added that his firm
put out 25 bnyers, scattering them
through Essex and Kent counties. They
offered prices that took the farmers