The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-07-21
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

1 NOTE BOOK SKETCHES :
A heated spell extending over more
than two weeks was partly broken
early in the week by scattering thunder
storms covering quite wide area of
the tobacco growing sections of the
state. In some localities these storms
were quite vicious and accompanied by
wind and hail in few instances. 1t
was nowhere general rain and at best
offered but temporary relief from the
burning heat of nearly three weeks
drouth. A few early crops covered by
the streaks of hail were sufficiently ad
vanced so that claims for damage have
been filed with the company carrying
hail insurance. The losses at this stage
will be small but adjustments will
shortly be made. 1t will prove no.
tice, however, to the company that if
they engage in offering growers pro-
lection against such losses it must be
expected to pay the losses incurred, for
best,
***
Owing to the unusual number of hail
losses sustained already this season, in
surance companies writing such risks
have begun to get little frightened
over a possible chance of sustaining Sc
we're loss on the years business and
commence to hedge. We are informed
that the Hartford ms. Co. has issued
orders to limit the amount of TOBACCO
hail insurance to risk of $25, 200 in
any one township, even in the heavy
growing districts. This means that
protection for not to exceed 500 acres
can be obtained in any township. AS
several of these towns grow two and
three times that amount of acreage it
can readily be seen that only fraction
of the total acres can obtain this pro-
lection should they desire it. The first
orders for insurance will therefore be
received until the limit is reached. 1t
behooves the growers, therefore, to
govern themselves accordingly.
~
The root rot of tobacco is by far the
nssst-serious disease with which the to-
,bacco grower has to contend. The av-
erage annual loss during the last three
years in Wisconsin alone has been
placed at one million dollars. The dis
ease is caused by a fungus which at
tacks the roots of the plants, causing
them to discolor and finally to decay.
The plants are gradually starved to
death, due to partial loss of the root
system and consequent inability to
get sufficient food and water from the
SOIL This condition in the field is often
wrongly attributed to ''worn out" soils,
drought, excessive soil moisture, or
run OUT seed. There are two possi-
BILE methods of controlling this disease:
First, by planting only healthy plants
in healthy soil; second, by growing dis
ease-resisting strains. James Johnson
of the Agricultural Experiment Station
has been endeavoring to develop re-
sistant type which will be suitable for
Wisconsin conditions. He has found
that various strains differ widely in
their ability to withstand root rot.
Some of the Wisconsin tobacco strains
have been found to succumb readily to
the disease, while others are seemingly
resistant. If resistant strains can be
developed, which at the same time yield
tobacco of high quality, excellent yields
may be obtained on so-called worn
out" tobacco fields. "Until such re-
sistant types can be developed, Mr..
Johnson advises, growers should raise
healthy plants by sterilizing the seed
beds with steam or by using only new
ground for the seed bed. For the to-
bacco crop new ground should be used
in preference to old fields. Land upon
which tobacco has been grown usually
contains more or less disease If climatic
conditions favored the growth of the
fungus, which Would lnIect nealLny
plants. A new soil or one that has not
grown tobacco in recent years and has
not received any surface drainage from
neighboring fields will not be infected.
An old grass sod well fertilized will u.s.
ually give the best results in regard to
controlling root rot. "
-
Accompanying the announcement of
the Treasury Department that the
greatest balance in the general fund of
the United States treasury since 1903
existed at the close of the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1916, is the statement
of Secretary McAdoo, in part, as fol-
lows: Receipts from internal revenue
were unprecedented and remarkable,
reaching the enormous total of $512,-
740, 769. So, and exceeding all previous
estimates by many millions. The large
receipts from internal revenue are due