The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-03-22
NOTE sooK SKETCHES

+
Compared to their value, low grades
of the present crop are bringing higher
| prices than the binder leaf. No one
ever imagined that stemming tobaccos,
which include filters, frosted, hail-cut,
wet stems and even trash, would ever
bring Is to 18 cents figures away be-
yond the price for the finest binder leaf
a few years ago.. But such are the
facts of these abnormal times when
the market seems eager for every
scrap of tobacco that can in any way
| be used by the manufacturer. Only a
| few years ago farmers were glad to re-
ceive to cents for the low grades
which went to the steamers, so the
present advance is from 800 to 900 per
cent, while the better grades have no.
| where equaled the increase. Just how
long such disproportion will continue is
hard to predict, though it is not likely
to remain for longer period than a
year or so. The increased demand for
stemmed leaf by scrap manufacturers
and the decreased production in the
cigar leaf states have led up to the
present condition which might be rem
edied by the return to.the normal pro-
duction, though this can hardly occur
while labor shortage prevails in agri-
cultural pursuits and the pressing need
of the government is for the produc-
tion of larger quantities of food stuffs.
The most assuring thing the tobacco
growers can derive from the situation,
however, is that the high price for low
grades insures profitable return for
tobacco even though minor disasters
befall the crop during the growing sea-
son. No other crop upon the farm can
claim greater advantage on this
score.
~
The 1917 crop will long be remember
ed in tobacco circles as one full OF
trouble for all concerned. For the
grower because it was so backward
through late planting, with much un-
favorable growing weather, hail storms
and then damage by frost. For the
packer, by reason of the Unexpectedly
high prices, and then the disputes at
tending SO many deliveries. The pack
ers simply had to come down on the
growers with both feet to protect
themselves. Not only was large per-
centage of filters packed for wrappers,
but any quantity Of fat stems was be-
ing run in among the sound tobacco.
The only recourse the packers had was
to send the grower back home with
directions to sort over and come back
with the goods in proper condition.
The fact that we have SO far heard OF
no lawsuits is pretty conclusive evil
dence that the growers who tried to
camoufage the dealers knew they were
doing wrong and did not deem it wise
to invoke the law. Even if the tobacco
is delivered in good shape, it is seri-
Gus question as to how it may sweat
out, considering that it had very bad
time curing If much of it spoils it
will mean heavy loss to the holder, by
reason Of high prices paid for it. And
then, to look ahead, it is very uncer-
tain market that looms up. Old tobac-
co is considered high priced, but even
so, If no higher price is to be paid for
the 1917 packing, how can the holder
expect to get his money out of the in
vestment. If the war continues until
this crop is ready for the market it is
highly probable that the scarcity of old
goods will stiffen prices. But war is a
great thing to unsettle calculations, and
year from now prices may tumble all
to pieces. So it can easily be seen
that the holders of 1917 tobacco are not
people to be envied-yet. 1t may be
stated here, so that the writer is not
condemned as a pessimist, that the
packings of tobacco cut early in the
season look fine. This tobacco, how
ever, escaped the frost season, while
the bulk of the crop did not.-N. Y.
Leaf.
Business with cigar manufacturers
continues good, though the many i'm
pediments in the way of the industry
90 on unabated. 1t is difficult to write
with any degree of certainty of the
actual state of affairs, as conditions
are as fuctuating and varying as
thermometer these days. The status
of the industry depends solely on the
viewpoint. IF you are manufactures.
with plenty of stocks laid up, and if
you ship to points in the vicinity of
your factory, and if your orders are
plentiful, then you can honestly clas-
sify business as good. But, on the
other hand, if freight embargoes, lack
of workable material and other draw
backs stand in the way of smooth go
ing, you are one of the unfortunate who
must continue to suffer in silence. Dis
cord among labor continues, in fact, is
increasing momentarily. Daily come
reports as to the activities of so-called
organized labor, and manufacturers,
that is a great many, have expressed
their opinion to accede to demands Of
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