The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-11-08
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


severe enough to have injured uncured
leaf hanging in the sheds, occurred
during the week, but it is believed that
no great amount of injury was done to
the late portion of the crop which is
not entirely yet cured. In some in
stances where growers were careless
in not closing their sheds or where the
curing houses were poorly enclosed fat
stems may be found. The growers
who took the precaution to close the
doors and ventilators and nail up the
exposed places so as to keep out the
cold, their crops are safe. However,
only small portion of the crop stood
in danger from this source, as the bulk
of the tobacco is more thoroughly cured
out than the average season at this
date. 1t is a rare thing any crop does
not contain a proportion of fat stems,
especially late crop.
AT the Sumatra inscriptions this year
280,704 bales were disposed of at an
average price of 142 cents Dutch or 81
cents in American money. At last
years Inscriptions 234, 209 bales were
sold at an average price of l31 Dutch
or 52 cents in American money. Al
though this years sales were by 46, 495
bales larger than last years, the aver
age price was by five cents pound
higher than the smaller quantity bought
last year. This then would account for
the higher Sumatra prices this year.
-
We consider there is no better proof
of the country enjoying prosperity than
the status of the tobacco trade. The
wage Garner is the great factor In the
consumption of the various products of
tobacco, and the statement below OF
Internal Revenue Commissioner Cabel]
proves that the tobacco business is
making rapid strides, unprecedented in
the history of the tobacco manufacture
ing business. 'The receipts are SIS, 900, :
900 greater than they were this time in
the last fiscal year," said Mr.. Cabell.
1.-The figures show that the consump-
ton of cigarettes and other articles is
increasing immensely, which is a sign
that prosperity is at the flood. The in
crease is general, but it is especially
noteworthy on cigarettes and other to-
ace0 producCS.
X
y So far as the quantity Of Wisconsin
binders available for general market
purposes is concerned, the situation is
the most serious in the history Of the
trade. There has not been full bind
er crop in Wisconsin since 1906. Each
of the succeeding crops, through ad-
verse weather conditions, fell short in
quantity. The growth wasn't there
for liberal percentage of binders An
unusually large portion was fit only for
BIS or filler purposes, and that portion
suitable for binders was too limited
comfortably to supply the needs of the
manufacturers. There is nothing to
be had, anywhere, of 1906, 1907 and
1908 crops, and of the 1910 CT ,, which
the manufacturers are now working
with great satisfaction, the holdings
are very limited and are in the hands
of a few outside packers. The local
packers disposed of their holdings,
with the exception of very negligible
quantity of tobacco, promptly after
sampling time, the latter part of last
year. The 1911 crop, which is coming
on the market during the latter part OF
next month, it is already known, will
not supply nearly as much binder ma
terial as is needed by the manufacture
ers. The entire southern portion OF
the 1911 crop was poor one, owing tC
unsoundness of leaf. The grasshoppers
did deadly work, cutting up the leaves
considerably. Therefore a large por-
tion of the crop went into the hands OF
the stemmers. The northern portion
of the 1911 crop turned out very fine
and sound, but the bulk of this tobacco
went early in the buying season into
the hands of the large manufacturers,
and as consequence the available sup
ply for the general trade will be lim-
tied. 1t may also be noted that ware
houses in the state of Wisconsin are
more depleted of old stocks than they
have been in good many years; this
refers altogether to tobacco sold and
held on storage. It is safe therefore
to assume that manufacturers In gen.
eral cannot fall back on big stocks
which the seller was in the habit OF
holding for them. In view of these
conditions it is gratifying to know that
the 1912 crop will be, in percentage OF
binders. the most bountiful we have
IldQ There III d uOiilUCA VI yCdAo. LiS
will be distinct relief in view of the
present acuteness of the binder sitHa-
ton. 1t is generally conceded that the
crops that matured early are the best
this state has produced in years, includ-
ing the famous 1906 crop. This tobac-
CO, having been harvested in good
weather and favored with admirable
curing conditions, gives promise of the
finest binder leaf. The medium and
late crops, about which some fear was
felt-as the harvest was not finished
until October /, an unusually late date
are also doing we'll and making ex-
cellent progress in the sheds. These
will, of course, not be so good as those
harvested earlier, but they will, never
theless, produce good, sound binder
leaf. The buying of the 1912 Wiscon-
sin crop started at a vigorous pace ir
early August, and the prices that were
paid for the selections were higher than
they have been since the early eighties.
Somewhat of lull set in in Septem-
Der, but there is again renewed activ-
ity, prices remaining high. Conserva-
lively speaking, more than half the
crop has been lifted. 1t remains to be
seen how eager the desire of the large
0naraforc fo increase their holdings is.