The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-12-17
NOTEBOOK SKETCHES


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The following is the number of acres
of tobacco grown in Rock county for
the year 1920 as shown by assessors
returns: Avon 88, Beloit 1884, Brad
ford "a. Clinton 9Sa, Fulton 1920, Har-
mony 817, GAINESVILLE 5023, Johnstown
92s, La Prairie 265, Lima IL, Milton
203, Newark 153, Plymouth S9Ga, Por-
ter 1870, Rock 432, Spring Valley 311,
Turtle Is, Union 353, Clinton Village !,
Footville %, Milton 55s, OrfordviIle 43,
Edgerton 200, Evansville 81, GAINESVILLE
1888 $40 acres.
The value of the 1919 crop of tobacco
according to the statistics of the de-
partment of agriculture was $543, ,000,-
900. This makes tobacco the sixth
most valuable crop grown by American
farmers. Ten years ago the value of
the tobacco in this country was only a
little over 500, 10000
u
We publish today in this column a
communication from an old tobacco
grower and dealer. He points out some
matters of great practical Importance
in the handling of tobacco, and we are
sure the readers of The Reporter will
appreciate the value of the points which
the writer's long experience in the han
ding of tobacco has taught him.
From time to time the question
arises: ''How shall / strip my tobacco
this year?
This comes not only from beginners,
but from many older in the business.
For this reason, those buying for the
''stemmers" at low prices advise to
strip it all together. This advice is
followed so literally that they often in
clude the stalks in the bundle. Today,
the grower who carefully drops out all
trash, takes the filters and ties them in
hands, placing them in the bundle and no
shingling by packing hands in the mid
die of the bundle, and who takes pains
to pack the binders straight in the bun
die, tapping the paper over the top of
each bundle one or two Inches, will not
need to ask-How to do it?
Too much can not be said about
Strengthening out the tips of leaves
when bundling and lap two to three
inches so that the bundle is solid in the
center.
Ia bundle put up with the paper leav-
ing IRON two to five pounds exposed TO
the air causes these, outside leaves to
break to a great extent and is too COM
mon sight even among strippers of
long experience. Another great loss is
noticeable in bundles not Tapped in the
middle, SO that the tips are broken and
doubled up, never to be classed in as fair
tobacco even. But Mr.. Easy says, ''Oh,
the stemmers take anything and never
look at it. :" Yes, they did, but they
have lost thousands of pounds by poor
handling and through the sprinkling
with snow or water
Among other losses in this business,
| would not forget the evil practice of
pressing the bundles too hard, as great
loss is sustained in breakage in trying
to snake it out in asserting, especially
if it passes into sweat before sizing.
Nor would neglect scoring the habit
of many farmers who use the shed as
hen roost One hen flying up through
the dry leaves may ruin more tha~ she
is worth, not to mention that she must
go back the next morning. MIR. Easy
will say, 'They will not go into the hen
house built" and eggs at Zoe to Soc
per dozen, etc. This loss is on too
many farms.
My advice is: Put your tobacco up in
the best possible manner in bundles.
Then in January or February begin
sizing at home. If you get this done,
you will find your opportunities for
making good sale far better than the
crop put up in the bundle. 1t appears
that under the present conditions farm
ers will make no mistake to size the
present crop in good shape and do it
early. Yours very truly,
Seedleaf.