The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-09-15
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES
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That the element of chance enters
| largely into the tobacco business stands
out prominently in the buying move
ment of the present crop. During the
early contracting while the drouth was
holding the crop in the balance it was
plain that buyers were taking long
chances in betting on the weather.
And they won Had the dry weather
continued couple weeks longer the
hope Of a binder crop would have van
ished. The rains which came just in
the nick of time not only saved the
earlier fields but injected new life into
the later tobacco which has eventually
made, to all appearances now, most
desirable binder leaf. Growers never
saw crop pick up so quickly and de-
velop so rapidly as the present one
since the weather conditions changed
in it's favor One could hardly believe
that weeks time would bring about
such development and change COM
pletely the complexion of the final har-
vest. To begin with it was largely a
gamble on the weather and the exper-
fenced tobacco men placed their bets on
the winner That they won places
them in the class of good sports to
which we doff our hats.
-
But it is the Wisconsin grower who is
the real beneficiary in the final outcome
of the 1916 tobacco crop, for the crop
is practically sold at the best average
figures ever received by them, expect
ing that the tobacco will be received
and paid for at contract prices, as we
have little doubt that it will be. Not
since the 1906 crop have such remuner-
alive prices been paid the growers OF
this state and even in that year con-
siderable portion of the crop so dam
aged in the cure that it was received
at less figures than the contracts called
for. 1t is freely estimated that the
the present crop will bring to the grow
ers of this state two million dollars
more than any previous crop grown.
After two partial failures the growers
have come into their own. Packers
are already beginning to figure the cost
not less than $50 per case for every
case Of green tobacco packed. Many
crops will pack above four cases to the
acre, which means that our growers
we'll receive 5000 or better for their to-
bacco crops this year.
~
It is doubtful if any tobacco crop
ever grown in the state was as closely
picked up at this date as the 1916 crop.
With buyers still actively engaged in
their search for the remnants, it seems
likely that every grower that can be
induced to put price on his product
will be brought into camp before the
harvest is ended The buying of no
crop was ever pushed so hard from
start to finish, nor trading so easily ac-
complished, and all because liberal,
remunerative price was offered. No
one probably has been more astonished
at the movement than the farmer nor
more happy over the fact that things
are coming his way. The fact is that
the big fish have gobbled up the crop.
Local packers and the small fry that
frequently do business on the outskirts
after the rush is over are largely shut
out this year. Even some of the larger
operators have not secured near as
much of the crop as their manufactur-
ing needs require but must be content
with what they were able to get. A
crop of double the size would probably
be quickly absorbed this season because
there is no available amount Of binder
leaf carried over as is often the case.
***
The situation now is that England
has forbidden the Importation of Amer
lean tobacco into Holland except that
consigned to the Overseas Trust, while
Germany has forbidden the importa-
tion of any tobacco except oriental to-
bacco, from her ally Turkey, after
August 7. The retaliatory provisions
in the revenue bill give the president
ample power to deal with the situation
as far as the Allies are concerned, but
are wholly ineffective as far as reach
ing Germany, and unless the tobacco
can be sent through Holland into Ger
many there is no reason for not con-
signing it to the Overseas Trust. AS
lifts the embargo there will be no in
centive to ship tobacco to private firms
or individuals in Holland for the Ger
man trade. That Germany has the
right to prohibit the Importation of to-
bacco cannot be questioned for mo-
ment. It is presumed she regards to-
bacco. as luxury and that It IS necese
sary for her people in these times Of
stress To cnrtaiI their expenditures IN