The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-07-20
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

advancement under almost Ideal wealth
er conditions that have prevailed since
the transplanting. That it has splen-
did prospect to date no one will deny,
but as Prof. johnson Of the expert
mental station, who has discovered con-
siderable root rot prevalent in many of
the tobacco fields, says: 1T probably
looks better today than it will month
from now, for the soil and weather
conditions have been favorable for pro-
noting this fungus disease In view
of what might happen to the prospects
between now and the harvest, it is to
hoped that crazy buying campaign
will not be launched until the final out
come of the crop can be more definitely
determined. The growers know we'll
enough that if the crop comes through
all right they will receive high price
for their product, and it is with the ut
most reluctance that they will name a
figure now if pressed to do SO. Neither
can the dealer afford to take long
chances on a purchase made at time
when he cannot foretell what will fin
snally be delivered to him on the con-
tract. The theory that some hold that
field buying is only taking an option on
the crop-that if it came through as
expected they will accept it and if not,
refuse it's likely to be overturned
sometime despite the disagreeable con-
tingent of trail of lawsuits following
in the wake Of such unbusinesslike pro-
cedure. However, there seems to be a
lot of over anxious tobacco buyers rid
ing the growing districts at present
and buying campaign. may be precip-
itated at any time. But how much
better for all concerned if buyers would
only curb their impatience until at
least the crop had been topped and
some idea of the size and soundness of
the leaf could be determined before at
tempting buying movement. The
amount of money required to move the
coming crop, providing it comes through
right, will be the largest ever required
in Wisconsin. Credit men of banking
institutions are quite likely to want to
know what kind of security their Gus
toners nave to offer.
***
In some of the southern tobacco
growing states, notably Virginia and
the Carolinas, it has been believed that
commercial potash was essential in
growing the crop. However, in the
1916 crop, owing to the lack of potash
in the fertilizers, which it was impos-
sible to procure in the usual quantities,
was very much feared would lack quail
ity and would burn badly, and owing to
the lack Of labor and other difficulties
the planting would be reduced very
materially. AS matter of fact, the
was about as large as usual,
and up to the time of harvesting the
prospects were for good yield and
full average quality, if not better. It
seems to have been quite clearly dem
onstrated that potash is not such a fac
tor in making a good crop of tobacco
as has heretofore been supposed, for it
has proven to be an unusually good
burner and smokes sweet and cool. 1t
would hardly be safe to conclude that
such lands could be cropped year after
60 1fci fhn ic
not fed by potash or other suitable fer
tilizers.
Negotiations between the American
Sumatra Tobacco Co. and the Connecti-
cut Tobacco Corporation, looking to the
purchase of the latter concern by the
former, have so far progressed as to
make it practical certainty that the
deal will be consummated. President
Julius Lichtenstein, of the American
Sumatra Tobacco Co., being desirous
of enlarging the output of his company,
decided that the most feasible way of |
doing so would be Co purchase one or
more of the larger companies already |
engaged in the production of Shade
grown tobacco. Some time ago tenders |
were made several of these companies. |
with the Connecticut To- |
bacco Corporation have continued. 1t |!
is understood that the purchase price is |
$3.50, 900 in cash and $1,000, 900 in the |
preferred stock of the American Suma-
ira Tobacco Co. 1t is understood also |
that Marcus L. Floyd, president and |
general manager of the Connecticut |
Tobacco Corporation, will become man. |
ager of all the American Sumatra To-
bacco Co. s New England plantations,
at very handsome salary. The ANAL
gamation of these two companies makes
what is undoubtedly the largest tobac-
co growing company in the world. The
two companies have 1900 acres of to-
bacco under shade this year in New
England, in addition to which the
American Sumatra Tobacco Co. is the
largest single producer and handler of
Connecticut Broadleaf and Havana
Seed. 1t is calculated that on its 1860
acres under shade it ought to produce
this wear II, fEo rbhorh00d raf Q500t