The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-05-05

seems to justify the prediction that
growers will be favored in this particu-
lar the present season. Then it will be
up to the farmer to keep abreast with
his work so as not to be belated in pre-
pairing the fields for the crop.
***
K. H. Teisberg of Cottage Grove is
conducting considerable of an expert
ment station, especially in the line of
commercial fertilizers. He first intro
duced the fertilizer for tobacco plants
in that locality which is now in quite
general use and has made raising to-
bacco plants so per cent more certain.
He has also experimental with nitrates
for stimulating the growth of plants
after they have attained considerable
size and has found it successful. This
year he is introducing his phosphate
fertilizer which is intended for grains
and corn.
Not in a number of years, if ever,
saws the New York Leaf, has the Su-
mara tobacco situation been so acute
as it promises to be during the ensuing
twelve months. Generally speaking,
Iflss prices that are being obtained at
the inscriptions in Amsterdam for to-
bacco suitable for use in this country
are almost prohibitive. In fact, they
are prohibitive to the extent that the
goods cannot be proftably used by
American manufacturers unless extreme
measures of internal economy are re-
sorted to- Up to few years ago COM
petition for the desirable grades was
restricted to the American buyers. But
now the American has the European to
compete with as we'll as his own coun-
trymen This added foreign competi-
tion has been growing keener during
the past few years, and at the series
of Inscriptions now being held it has
developed to an extent that is gravely
menacing to the manufacturers of this
country. The American importer finds
himself in very trying position.
The remedy, if there be one, is in
finding some substitute for wrappers of
cigars. With Florida increasing its
production and New England plunging
into the shade-grown proposition there
ought to be way of supplying the de-
mand without relying upon Sumatra
tobacco. Let the manufacturers COM
mence campaign of educating the
public to be content with something
just as good.
The u. S. Tobacco Journal comes out
flat-footed for the repeal of the duty
on Sumatra tobacco and backs its posi-
tion by the following arguments, though
we imagine they will not appeal very
strongly to the investors in the New
England shade-grown enterprises: 1t
there is any merit in the outcry OF the
manufacturer that he must have the
Sumatra even at ruinous prices, what
becomes of the pretense of the domes-
tic grower that he can supply all the
needed wrapper leaf? But as the fact
is apparent that he cannot do it, the
only relief the manufacturer can ex-
pect is from a radical reduction in the
excessive wrapper duty. Nothing else
will save the manufacturer S welfare,
prosperity and his very existence. And
all sympathizers should work with
him for the attainment of this end.
Naturally, the Sumatra situation DOM
mates every condition of the leaf mar
ket. If the manufacturer has to pay
from SOC to 81. 90 more pound for his
wrapper leaf, not only for the Sumatra
for the domestic wrapper grower will
be only too quick to take advantage OF
the high cost of the foreign leaf IN
raising the price also on his own pro-
duct then he will turn round and try
to squeeze down as much as possible
the price for the domestic binder and
filler leaf He will do it more obstin-
ately out of sheer resentment against
the perversity Of the domestic filler and
binder grower for upholding the exces-
sive duty rate on tobacco. Eventually
the domestic filler and binder will have
to pay for the higher cost of the wrap
per leaf. Such is the situation OF the
leaf market which will yet become
more difficult for the trader with the
advance of the season.
The month of March shows an active
condition of trade in all branches of the
tobacco manufacturing business. A
most satisfactory increase in the total
internal revenue collections is revealed,
and each individual branch of the to-