The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-12-20
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


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Another season of casing weather
early in the week has permitted grow
ers to remove more of their hanging
tobacco from the curing sheds. The
mild temperature has also served to
soften the frozen bulks which many
growers failed to properly protect in
the late zero weather and stripping was
therefore suspended until the leaf could
be safely handled. The recent expert
ence has taught many the necessity of
covering the bulks as the tobacco is
taken from the poles if the stripping
cannot be Immediately attended to, for
if they become frozen good deal OF
torn and broken leaf will result. A
slight covering of the bulks with straw
or corn fodder will generally suffice to
protect them from any ordinary freez-
ing weather and stripping can proceed
at the leisure of the farmer having
strip room facilities.
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In his annual report for the last fis-
cal year, Secretary of Agriculture Will
son. who has been in the cabinet since
1897, says that the tobacco crop has
not quite risen to the high level OF pro-
duction of most of the other crops, yet
it amounts to 959, 437, 600 pounds and is
II per cent above the average OF the
preceding five years. The price has
risen somewhat, he adds, so that the
total value of the crop, $97, 600, 600, is
II DER cent above the five-year aver
age. Speaking of agricultural credit,
he SAYS that in communities where ele-
vators or other warehouses are used
for storing tobacco, grain, cotton and
other farm products, farmers may use
the warehouse receipts as security for
loans. He says the value OF the to-
bacco crop has gained more than the
production. The Secretary points out
that the Department has found out
that tobacco wilt is spread by nema-
todes. The Department is cooperating
with Tennessee in combating tobacco
insects. Reviewing the results of the
Department on tobacco investigation
begun in 1898, the Secretary says that
it was apparent from the outset that
the average yield and profit per acre
were small and it was found that this
condition was due to the growing OF
mixed and undesirable types, failure to
follow sound cultural methods, partlcu-
larly in the matter of crop rotation and
fertilization, damage to the crop from
insects and diseases and lack of under
standing of the vital features of sue
cessful curing, fermenting and handl-
ing of the leaf. All these problems
have been taken up, he says, resulting
in marked improvements in the old
methods of tobacco culture.
-
The fundamental principles of curing
and fermenting have been thoroughly
studied and practical application of the
results of these studies have been made
in the cigar-wrapper leaf and fue-c cured
districts with striking success. 1t has
been shown that the diseases and dam
age from other causes during the cur
ing processes can be readily controlled
by proper methods. Among the field
diseases of tobacco which have been
brought under control may be mention
formerly did much damage in some Sec
tions. The tobacco work of the last
year has followed along the same gen
eral lines as formerly. The work with
the export types in Kentucky has been
extended into Tennessee, with head
quarters at Clarksville. The principal
results obtained are the development
of very promising new type for the
broadleaf district of the Connecticut
valley, very large increases in yields of
tobacco from improved methods of fer
tiliZing in New York state and from
crop rotation and fertilizer demonstra-
tions in the manufacturing and export
districts, and effective demonstrations
in improved methods of curing in the
fiue-curing and in the Burley districts.
Approximately 4, 500 acres of shade
grown tobacco are being set out this
season in Porto Rico, according to
planters, considerable increase over
last years shade planting. By the end
of this month most of the hills and val
leys in the tobacco district will be COW
cred. Few people 0uLSlue OF the Snaue
growers know the cost of shade grow
ing. To begin with there are 5000
square yards of cloth needed for cover,
besides the cloth needed for the sides.
The cost of cloth per acre will average
in the neighborhood of $3.50. There
are about 80 posts per acre that cost
from twenty-five cents to forty cents
apiece. Many of these posts are pur..
chased in the States and the cost Of
transportation is excessive. Some of
the posts come from Santo Domingo
and Venezuela. The wire on which the
cloth is stretched costs about $40 per
acre, so that the cost of materials for
shade growing averages 5000 to S225
per acre exclusive Of the cost OF put
ting the shade in place. During rainy
season. like the present. one, very little
if any of the cloth will do for more
than one seasons shade. The posts