The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1910-05-06
Leaf Tobacco Men Elect.

The Annual meeting OF the Ledl 1o-
bacco Association of Baltimore was held
in the new State tobacco warehouse Mon
day. The new directors elected were
Charles E. Moore. James L. Sunder-
land and G.. L. Hester, for term of
three years. The hold-over directors
are Messrs. John Gourley, John Stokes
and George Buchheister, for one year,
and Hamilton Prout, J. S. Rawlings
and William Meissel, for two years.
The directors elected the following
officers:
President-J. S. Rawlings, Vice
President-W William Meissel, Secretary
G.. Louis Hester, Treasurer-John
Stokes. ~
In its report the board says:
The 1908 Maryland crop exceeded the
previous crop slightly. Total receipts
reached 27, ,O72 hhds., inclusive of l,176
hhds.
Due to the dry weather during May
to July the crop came very slowly on
the market, and receipts, which up to
August, were about 5000 hhds. behind
those of last year, commenced only then
to increase perceptibly, reaching the
same number of the previous year by
the end of September.
The quality was very similar to the
1907 crop, and the color more brown
to light brown. Bright colory grades
were extremely scarce. The proper
ton of common to medium grades was
considerably larger than in the 1907
crop. With the exception of the spring
and early summer, when French grades
sold rather slowly, the demand was very
active for all grades throughout the
season, 80 that at the end of same
practically no stock remained unsold in
sellers hands. Prices, which ranged
from 4-15c., ruled strong for all light
handling grades, and while these were
somewhat off for heavy French tobac-
cos in the early summer, they gradual.
ly stiffened with the advancing season
80 that they were from l to &c.. higher
at the end of the season than at the
beginning.
The inland shipment increased from
1852 hhds. to 4,243 hhds during the
past year. Those to Holland from
1865 to IL, 1872 hhds., and to other
countries about 500 hhds., while those
to France decreased from 12,942 hhds.
to 10, 166 hhds.
The 1909 crop suffered greatly from
drouth and consequently only a very
small crop of about $4,000 hhds. was
grown. Up to this time about 4,5OO
hhds., inclusive of about LOO hhds.
Groundleaves have appeared on our
market. The latter were mostly COM
mon to medium in grade, short and
thick in leaf, sandy and of rather poor
quality, but partly colory to bright as
a redeeming feature. The demand was
good for all desirable medium in fine
colory grades, but rather sluggish for
off grades. Eventually the common
groundleaves sold gradually at low
prices.
The 1909 crop and second Tobaccos
differ from those of the previous year,
being heavier in body and brighter in
color. The early receipts showed quite
large percentage of greenish and un-
ripe tobaccos, but as these are supposs
ed to come mainly from the late cut
ting, it is believed that later offerings
will show up better. Quite a number
of hhds. showed bad order, thereby in.
dicating that tobaccos had been packed
in too soft condition. AS this crop con-
tains considerably more sap than the
previous one it is very essential that
farmers keep their tobaccos longer ir
bulk than usual, thereby insuring bet
ter and safer keeping condition in the
hid.
| Prices for the new crop opened or
about the same level as those paid fol
the old crop, but advanced sharply
when the French agent commenced
buying more freely by the middle O
March. 1t then became definitel.
known that France would not bet by con
tract any Maryland crop this year, bu
would buy its requirements direct on tn
Baltimore market.
The new State Tobacco Warehouse
was completed early in the year ant
| uou trrpad ovor to the State for huSi
ness on April 2lst. 1t is magnificen
building, fire-proof and modernly equip
ped throughout with a working capac
ity of 5000 hhds.