The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-03-05
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

bacco seed. James Johnson of the Wis
consin experiment station finds that
this years seed sprouts slowly. Most
of the seed requires three weeks to
complete termination which ordinar-
lily requires a week, he says. While
the termination may improve as the
seed gets older, Mr.. Johnson warns
every farmer who has grown his own
seed to make termination tests before
sowing time. Tobacco seed which is
purchased should be of guaranteed ger
mination. Any grower with little in
genuity can make tests of his seed.
Scatter few seeds, preferably 100, on
moistened blotter. Place the blotter
between two fairly close fitting plates
to prevent drying out. Keep the blot
ters moist. Keep at ordinary room
temperature. The sprouting should
start in three to. six days and be COM
pleted in abont ten days. The expert
ment station will test seed for growers
free Of charge if they will send SAM
pies TO MT. JODU5ONs
***
The admonition to test tobacco seed
early enough to be sure of having seed
which show as nearly perfect germlna-
tion as possible when the actual seed
! ing time comes, is an old story in The
Reporter Sketch column. Yet, the
above paragraph upon this matter,
quoted from the University bulletin.
may serve the purpose of reminding
some to take time by the forelock and
begin the tests now. Experienced and
reliable seed growers always test their
seed before offering it for sale, and the
farmer who does not feel sure of his
new home grown seed might save time
and trouble in obtaining guaranteed
seed from the seed grower and dealer
who has made speciality of raising
and testing the seed before putting it
on the market.
On account OF the food shortage in
East Indies, several tobacco growing
companies in Sumatra, and also some
rubber planters, have agreed to divert
large acreage of their plantations to
be used for rice cultivation. This may
| have considerable influence upon the
I tobacco industry, both in Europe and
America. Tobacco fit for wrappers
will be in high demand, if the Sumatra
stock is materially reduced
The shortage in the supply of wood
containers for cigars is now real men
ace to the manufacturer of cigars. 1t
is suggested that tin containers be
more generally substituted for wood
than is the case now. 1t is claimed
| that the tin keeps the cigar in better
condition than the wooden box, and
that the preference of the trade in
favor of the wooden box is matter of
| the taste of the eye, and long habit,
rather than that of the tongue.
**x
The George ]. Whelan and James B.
Duke flights in the business world have
| ceased to surprise. But the last re-
ported sailing through the space OF big
| business is of nature to take the
breath away from mortals with only
ordinary powers to Withstand sudden
| shocks. The formation of a $50 million
dollar corporation to control mills and
| retail stores is no ordinary enterprise
even in our age of huge undertakings.
| A branch of mail order house in every
town, SELLING direct from the fac
| tory" may be the next Innovation in
our business life. Wouldn't that be a
practical way of eliminating the hated
middleman? Our age of combination
for efficiency is giving US some bless
| Jugs that we have not prayed for.
| Fifty thousand farmers in the United
States use motor trucks for hauling,
according to the u. S. department of
agriculture; 1,465 trucks are reported
/ for Wisconsin. The figures must be
conservative.
The export of manufactured tobac-
co to England, Sweden. France, Nor.
way and Spain during the last year
shows a large increase over former
years. England received 3163 million
pounds in 1919. or nearly twice the
amount of 1918. Sweden took 12a mil
lion pounds, or more than six times the
amount of 1918. We sent 793 million
pounds to France, or II million pounds
more than 1913. Norway imported 81
| millions last year, or twice as much as
| in 1913 Spain nearly quadrupled her
purchases, importing from the U. S.
a Il l.