The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-10-24
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

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The intelligent tobacco grower has
his mind open to what is going on at
the scientific end of the culture of to-
bacco. Scientific experimentation is q
| process too slow and too costly for the
average farmer to practice. Economy
has dictated that this should be done
| by the state in behalf of all engaged in
the tobacco industry. At our univer-
sity agricultural college a branch of
the horticultural section is established
for the purpose Of carrying on scientific
experiments in the culture of tobacco.
The work undertaken here deals with
| the several phases of tobacco culture
| the seed, the soil, the climate, tobacco
fertilizers, tobacco diseases, crossing
of species, means and methods of cur
| ing, fermentation (sweating), gather
ing and compiling of statistical inform
alton relative to the cost of raising,
handling and marketing of tobacco.
The study is based on carefully checked
experiments and data, and the results
are from time to time published in bul-
letins or in scientific journals. Often
| it takes periods extending over several
years to establish on the basis of ex
periments one single fact of knowledge
which may be of direct practical bene-
| fit to the practical grower. Bnt one
such fact gained, through the work of
of the scientist, may mean saving of
labor and time, and large increase OF
earnings to the men engaged in the
raising, handling anc marketing of to-
bacco. While the work of scientific
investigation into the culture of tobac-
co may be said to be in its infancy,
as time is reckoned in the world of ex-
perimentaI science, still some very Inn
portant results of practical nature
have been obtained which have meant
increased earnings to the industry.
The Connecticut Havana No. SO seed
| is one instance. This improved strain
of Wisconsin seed has proved a COM
mercial success The development of
tobacco plant that is immune to the
root-rot disease gives promise of an
other victory for the science as we'll as
| the grower Meanwhile experiments
are gong on to determine the neturel
and prevention of must, blackrot, she'd
burn and all other ills of the aromatic
leaf, also the breeding of suckerless
plant. Any one of these problems
solved would mean additional quantity,
quality and profit to the grower and
the trade The Reporter will from
time to time devote space, as it has
done in the past, to the discussion of
these matters. and it invites the grow
ers and packers to offer suggestions
and observations pertinent to these and
other phases of the tobacco industry.
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The American Sumatra Tobacco Co.
has, as mentioned in our last issue,
taken over the Connecticut tobacco
concern, the Griffin Tobacco Co. This
transaction makes the American Suma-
ira Co. the dominant figure as the pro-
ducer of New England leaf. The Grif-
fin company has been the second great
est producer of shadegrown tobacco in
the country, and in trade circles cred
| tied with being the largest exporters
of domestic cigar leaf in America, with
extensive connections abroad. The deal
was officially consummated October 8,
when Fredric Lederer and Fred B.
Griffin of the Griffin Tobacco Co. were
elected vice presidents of the American
Sumatra Tobacco Co. Both concerns
| have been and are represented in Ed
gerton.
The outlook for the Burley section
| tobacco crop is not as favorable as
| might be desired, according to HI. E.
Tweed in the Western Tobabco Journal
| for Oct. 6. The crop, he says, is short
| in quantity and poor in quality. 1t is a
60 per cen: crop of the normal, and 90
per cent is inferior in quality. He con-
| tinues: tRefecting upon the situation
| the surplus of old tobacco is greater
than usual; prices at a few points
where new tobacco has been sold were
lower than last year and barely salts
factory. Prices and demand for old
| tobacco have not increased as the pres
ent outlook would seem to indicate.
The outlook is ominous and not encour
aging. There are those of long exper-
ience and sound Judgment who predict
that many crop will be sold under SO
per hundred. Should this be the case
| the season of 1919 will be fraught with
much loss, as such prices would not
pay cost of production. Many tenants
and others who have staked so much on
the return from their tobacco would
| thus be unable to meet their high.
priced obligations.
| ~
| In an appeal addressed to the strik
ing cigarmakers the Tobacco Leaf in
an editorial says: go yourselves, to
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