The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-02-08
NOTE sook SKETCHES


their tobacco acreage the coming year,
one being the request of the council
of defense that the farmers ought to
produce more food stuffs, and the labor
situation, already acute, is another rea-
son. But the strongest Of all is the in
creased cost of fertilizer which most
tobacco growers in those states have to
purchase. 1t is announced that it will
cost $40 more per acre to fertiiZe to-
bacco fields the coming season than it
did last season. The best he can hope
to do is to sell his crop at an advanced
price if he gets his money back and
this is not always guaranteed.
There was 4,300,000 pounds less of
Wisconsin tobacco in the hands of deal
ers and manufacturers on Ian. l, 1918,
than there was year ago that date.
These figures show that the stocks are
gradually shrinking. Of course the
great bulk of the forty odd million
pounds reported was composed of stem
ming goods, but even the cheaper
grades are fast diminishing. The rec
ords filed with the commissioner of in
ternal revenue do not distinguish be-
tween the different grades in store, so
it is always difficult 60 estimate what
proportion would be leaf suitable for
cigar purposes. If the facts could be
known it probably might disclose the
smallest amount of Wisconsin cigar
leaf tobaccos on hand ever before
known. These figures, however, take
no account of the 1917 crop of which
very little had been received on Jan. /.
Usually Wisconsin heads the list of ci-
gar states in the amount reported but
now is exceeded by New England,
Pennsylvania and Ohio, so as matter
of comparison we are exceedingly low
in reserve tobacco stocks.
***
We wonder whether those individ-
uals, no matter what their station, pro-
fession or eminence in specialties may
be, have even read Or tried to inform
themselves of the overwhelming con-
census of public opinion all over the
world that tobacco has become a ne
cessity in military as we'll as in civil
life and that it's convenient and parrot
like designation of luxury is being
scorned and derided by every sane man
who believes in the enjoyment of
human comforts. Almost daily the
public press publishes items proving
the ,lsassity of tobacco for the well
fare of the very flower OF manhood who
are selected for sustaining the greatest
physical eXertions and mental strain in
military camps and on the battle field.
In statement issued by the Depart
ment of Commerce it is pointed out
that the general discomfort Of the
French civil population as we'll as of
the soldiers in the field is the scarcity
of supply of tobaccos. Although the
consumption of tobacco had risen so
per cent from 1913 to 1917, the supply
for the present needs has proven insult
ficient and appeal is made to the public
to help to augment that supply with
voluntary contributions. AS all kinds
of luxuries are prohibited in every one
of the warning countries, would such
public appeals be made officially both
by the leaders of the government and
armies if tobacco is to be classed as a
luxury? And from London comes the
report that Lord Rhonda, the food con-
troller of Great Britain, calls tobacco a
necessity, not luxury. "We must
have tobacco" he says. Il believe
that it's (loss would be national mis-
fortune It means much both to the
manual laborer and TO him who works
with his brains. / hold that the de-
privation would work great discom-
fort. ~. S. Tobacco Journal.
*"
The Bureau of Crop Estimates, in the
January monthly crop report, gives
some interesting methods in obtaining
the big yields found in the reports. In
the verifcation Of reports the produc-
ers were asked to give brief statements
as to the methods employed in obtain
ing the large yields. These statements
as to the tobacco crop are given below,
practically as made by the farmers,
with their own emphasis and in their
own language: The Bracken County,
KY, grower writes that his production
was 2O45 pounds on three-fourths of an
acre, equivalent to 2726 pounds per
acre. A good seed bed was prepared.
The ground was in excellent condition
when transplanting. The ground was
laid off in rows 33 feet wide and the
plants were placed 20 inches apart in
the rows. The weeds were kept cut
out and the tobacco plowed almost each
week On the same farm was produe
ed in 1916, 19, 280 pounds from 10 acres.
That is equivalent to 1928 pounds per
acre, big yield for so large field.
The Washington County, Tennessee,
grower writes: 'tMy 1916 tobacco crop
of four acres weighed 8438 pounds, and
my 1915 crop Of four acres weighed
8400 pounds. In 1914 made $500
pounds on two acres. I have been
growing tobacco for only eight years
and have never made less than 1000
pounds, except the first year Con-
tinuing he writes that his standards
have been to have plenty of good, Wig
orous plants; to be ready at the proper
time to transplant in real deep, we'll
prepared seed bed with plenty of avail
able plant food; to transplant when the
ground is not too awfully wet, as by so
doing the plants will live and grow off
better and the ground will not be pack
ed down so badly; to make the first
cultivation very deep one so as to
tear up the soil that has been packed
down in transplanting; to follow with
frequent shallow civilizations up until