The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-04-12
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


9p.s@s.s. :. :
If the market for the coming years
tobacco crop should start at the closing
figures of. the 1917, Wisconsin tobacco
growers might already commence to
discount profit that would size up
with stock in any of the war babies.
The farmer who produces a good crop
in 1918 is in danger of being classed as
a plutocrat unless all signs go wrong.
~
Owing to the high prices prevailing
this year for tobacco and the fact that
considerable loss faces tobacco packers
from damaged tobacco, quite number
of packers Of Pennsylvania this season
have adopted new method of packing
in order to reduce losses to minimum.
Discovering that there was consider
able fatty stems in the tobacco that
was brought to the warehouses early
in the season and that much of the to-
bacco had not been properly dried out,
the packers referred to adopted
method of temporary packing. By
them the tobacco when received early
was packed temporarily, first by pack
ing light and later condensing after the
water sweat What the result of the
former method will be and its advant-
age over, the natural method is too
early to ascertain. Packers who have
packed as usual, however, declare, af-
ter an examination of their packings,
that the tobacco is coming along nicely;
in fact, is curing rapidly, and will be
ready for market at an early date. 1t
is one of the incest crops in years. No
tobacco ever raised there has cured so
quickly, and packers are anticipating
very mild and sweet tobacco. Thirty
to forty per cent of the good tobacco
will be fit for binder purposes. It seems
to be ffee-burning and of good quality.
The condition of the new tobacco will
be greatly to the advantage of the
hard pressed cigar manufacturer, and
it is anticipated that the fine, thin and
serviceable binders will meet with
big demand.
-
Some timely advice about starting
the new crop of tobacco is given in a
circular issued by w. T. Pomeroy &
Co, growers and distributors of i'm
proved strains of tobacco seed, from
which we quote: The Importance of
starting the new crop with good seed
cannot be overestimated. The seed
should rot only be of good terminating
power, as determined by a reliable
test, but should also be Of standard
variety of selected seed, which will
breed true to name, and produce a crop
uniform both as to quality and yield.
Impure seed frequently results in the
ordinary method Of seed selection by
the growers, owing to the transplant
ing of plants from various sources, or
of mixing Of different strains through
the flowers in the same field, or in
neighboring fields. In the majority of
cases. it is therefore highly desirable
for growers to get new seed every
second year, if not every year, from a
reliable source. To get good stand
of plenty, strong and healthy plants of
the right variety is half the battle.
Select we'll fertilized piece of loose,
warm soil for the seed bed, preferably
near the farm buildings. Best of all,
select the most convenient spot on the
farm for plants, where the soil is fair
ly fertile, and sterilize the soil with
steam This is done by means of
steam traction engine and large in
verted pan and connecting steam
hose Get your neighbors to cooper
ate with you and sterilizing can be
done at a less cost than that of wedding
the beds. Steaming not only does away
with wedding, but prevents disease in
the beds, and produces earlier and
stronger plants. The seed should be
sown about April Is to 80, depending
somewhat on the weather conditions.
Seed is generally started to sprout in
doors, either in moist, rotten wood,
sawdust, or simply by moistening the
seed with water and placing it in
fairly warm room. A good method is
to start the seed to sprouting by add
ing enough water to keep the seed
moist, and sowing when just starting
to sprout, by stirring the seed in water
and sprinkling on the beds. More COM
monty it is soWn after mixing with rot
ten wood, sawdust, corn meal, or sand,
in order to get thin and uniform dis
tribution. With seed terminating 80
per cent or more, one ounce is suf-
ficient for four to six rods of bed six
feet wide. This amount should supply
plants for one acre. It frequently hap
pens that tobacco plants are checked in
the beds, turn yellowish, and grow
slowly. This may be due TO various
causes. Ordinarily, however, the use
of nitrate of soda in the water for
sprinkling the beds will in a few days
bring back their color and start rapid
growth.
The War Trade Board has under con
sideration the question of curtailing
imports and exports of tobacco. It is
too early to attempt to forecast its~de- /
cision but in view of the shipping sit
uation and the imperative demand for
ships and cargo space it is not unlikely
that there will be some curtailment Of