The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-07-19
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


The word comes to us, that over 100
growers in the towns of Albion and
Christiana have pledged themselves not
to sell their 1918 tobacco crop under so
cents a pound, and we hope it is true.
And we also hope if they produce a
bang-up good crop they will realize
their expections. One thing, however,
is certain, these farmers will not be
troubled with the opportunities of buy
ers until the crop is made and har-
vested. It is plenty early then to talk
about contracting their tobacco for the
farmers will know with some degree of
certainty what they have to sell and
the buyers can tell more definitely
whether it is worth the figures de-
manded. Trading can then be con-
Quoted on more businesslike and sat-
isfactory basis, for the grower may be
assured of obtaining the contract price
for his product if delivered in proper
condition, and the dealer relieved from
the long train of uncertainties that fol-
low field buying. This incident con-
firms the increasing sentiment among
growers to discourage in every way
the early contracting of their tobacco
crop, and it looks as though they had
accomplished their purpose in the towns
involved.
The eastern tobacco journals view
with alarm the wild scramble to pur-
chase the new Wisconsin crop, as the
following comments of the N. Y. Leaf
will Indicate: If there ever was time
when the packers of domestic cigar
leaf tobacco owed it to themselves to
go slow that time is now. The manu-
featuring industry cannot pay higher
prices for it's raw material than it has
been paying this year and continue to
exist. If the new crop is taken up
from the farmers at higher prices than
were paid last year, one of two things
will happen. Either the packers will
lose money or the manufacturers will
do SO. 1t is impossible to say at this
time which it will be, but it will inevi
tably be one or the other. If there is
a tremendously large production of to-
bacco in the 1918 crop, in all probabil-
ity it will be the packers. Nothing
thus far has happened that will make
a large production impossible, or even
unlikely. Generally the weather con-
ditions have been favorable, and the
acreage in tobacco is slightly larger
than last year. But in either event,
tie packers will be the ultimate suf-
.ferers if they overpay for the 1918
crop. If prices fall, there will be a lot
of money lost. If the manufacturers
''go BUSTED" the packers will have no
customers. The manufacturers for the
past two years have been struggling
with the proposition Of raising prices.
They have succeeded in measure only,
and the prices they are now getting
are not such as to make the cigar man
ufacturing business an attractive one.
The increase in the cost of cigars has
undoubtedly had something to do with
the lessened production. A further in
crease will undoubtedly cut down pro-
duction still more There is limit to
what the manufacturer can pay, and
that limit has been reached already.
For the packer to shut his eyes to
these facts is to court disaster. A
headache always follows a debauch,
either physical or commercial.
-
The July crop report issued by Field
Agent Calender says marked increase
in the area planted to tobacco has oc-
CURED, the acreage this year being es
timated at So, 100 acres, compared to
48, 800 acres last year, or an increase
of 10 per cent. The condition of the
crop on July l is placed at 80 per cent
of normal-the crop being earlier and
better than for many years. The con-
dition on July a year ago was 85 per
cent, with ten-year average condition
on July l of 81. The production based
on July / condition is estimated at
sc, 900, 900 pounds, compared to final
production last year of As. 1856, 900
pounds. Some of this years crop has
already been contracted for at prices
ranging from Is to 80 cents or better.
According to data compiled by the
Bureau of Crop Estimates Of the De-
partment of Agriculture, the average
farm price of tobacco throughout the
United States On December J., 1917,
was 24.9 cents pound, or more than
twice the corresponding average for
the 10 years 1908 to 1917, inclusive,
which was i2.1 cents During the per-
iod in question the lowest figure was
that FOR December /, 1915. 81 cents;
but by December l of the following
year the average price had increased
to AT cents, and II months later it
had leaped to 249.
-
A famine of cigar tobacco confronts
German smokers. The trade, accord
ing to German newspapers, estimates
that the supply will be entirely used
up by November 1st. During the war
Holland has been the main source from
which Germany obtained cigars, but
because of heavy shrinkage in i'm
ports from the Dutch colonies tobacco
exports to Germany have almost ceas-
ed. The Government is considering
how the impending panic can be avert
ed or ameliorated. One proposal is to
abolish cigar manufacturing during the
summer. According To the Frankfort