The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1910-08-19

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

The last year of drouth previous to
the present one materially effecting the
tobacco crop of the state was in 1901
and that season rains came August 9th
that saved the crop, though in the
southern growing sections it proved
largely short filler crop making an
excellent ''B'' tobacco. Even if rains
should come now the earlier fields could
hardly hope to mature much size of leaf
so much needed for binder purposes.
The later set fields might develop larg-
er leaf, but then a favorable curing
season and late fall would be neces-
sary to see it through. AS usual
thing September nights are too cool to
promote the ripening of late tobacco
and the danger of frosts is always
present to contend with. So far the
elements seem to be decidedly against
satisfactory tobacco crop this year.
From the very beginning of the season
the grower has been playing in hard
luck.
The trade is much interested in the
outcome of the sale of the holdings of
the big Burley pool which was adver-
tised to take place on the 10th inst,
when the entire holdings amounting to
over 10000, 900 pounds will be open for
bids at Lexington, KY. The sale is to
differ radically from any ever held in
the tobacco business. Priced samples
will be marked in plain figures and the
buyers can inspect them and take their
pick at the prices named If the prices
do not suit they have no redress, and
no one is compelled to buy. Thousands
of circulars have been sent to the to-
bacco trade everywhere, inviting all
buyers to attend the sale. In case
most of the pool is not sold in this way
it is stated that the tobacco will be
withdrawn from the market and offer
ed later at greatly advanced figure.
The result will doubtless hinge upon
how anxious the management is to un-
load. The buying public, however,
does not like such arbitrary methods.
Ydu can lead horse to water but it is
a harder matter to make him drink.
Or Saturday, August 18th, the To-
bacco Machinery Go. of Milwaukee
gave public demonstration at Slough
ton of what their new spudder can do
Probably hundred farmers and others
were present during the day to watch
it. From questions asked it was evi-
dent that some were skeptical about
the immediate general adoption of the
machine, but many volunteered enthu-
siastic endorsement of it's capacity. 1t
is usually run at speed that spears
seven plants on lath in Is seconds,
but can be run twice as fast as this or
only half as fast if the operator pre-
fers. Those who saw how easily it was
fed with plants and how rapidly and
accurately it speared each plant in the
center of the stalk and placed it on the
lath exactly where it belonged, were
not surprised to learn that foreign gov
ernments had begun buying the ma
chine. The demonstration was con-
Quoted by the campaign manager, F.
T. Terry, and their agent at Slough
ton, A. j. Suby.
An opinion by Attorney General Gil
bert given to Commissioner of Labor j.
D. Beck holds that children employed
in their home engaged in stemming to-
bacco brought from factory for that
purpose are so engaged contrary to
law. II believe" says the attorney
general, ''that the court would con-
strue home where children are en-
gagged in stemming and asserting to-
bacco as a tobacco factory. Under the
express provision of our law, any place
where this is done is factory and en-
ploying children at this occupation in
the home is practically converting the
home into tobacco factory"
The large tobacco worm, also known
as the tomato worm" is doing serious
damage to potato plants in various sec
tions of central Wisconsin, especially in
sandy regions, according to reports
gathered by Prof. J.. G. Sanders, en-
tomologist of the College of Agriculture
of the University OF Wisconsin. These
large worms are so numerous III some
fields that the potato plants have been
stripped of leaves and the tender shoots
devoured. They are not easily noticed,
since their protective coloring closely
resembles the vine, and the worms hide
beneath the leaves part of the day.
The green worms are the larva of an
insect known to scientists as phlege-
thontius quinquemaculata, which is one
stage of the common gray sphinx moth,
frequently seen flying like humming
bird about dusk. These moths lay their
eggs on several plants, such as the
potato, tomato and tobacco, and the
worms hatch out and do considerable
damage while making their growth.
When full grown they enter the ground
and pupate, forming chrysalis which
lies over winter and emerges as moth
the following spring. There may be
two broods of moths year. To con-
troll these worms potatoes should be
sprayed with arsenate of lead, using
six to eight pounds of the lead to 100
gallons of water. This arsenical is
superior to Paris green, as it will not
burn the foliage. If Paris green is