The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1920-11-12
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

To the question-when is the hanging
tobacco in best condition for stripping?
one of the Edgerton leaf dealers ad-
vanced the opinion that the proper time
to strip is when the leaf is going into
case. On an approaching damp the
leaf begins to soften ahead of the act
ual rain or fog; then is the time to
watch the tobacco and start the strip
ping as soon as it is sufficiently pliable
tolhandle with safety to the leaf. He
was OF the opinion that as the moisture
is beginning to diminish under the rise
of atmospheric pressure the stripping
can not be done so advantageously for
the good of the leaf.
***
The growers of Lancaster county,
Pa, are seriously considering putting
up their own packing this winter. One
of the packers who had investigated
the sentiment among the farmers said
that he believed that unless the crop
could be sold above 20 cents that more
would be packed by the growers them
selves than ever before. Very little
was packed by them last year on ac-
count of the prices being so much high
er than had been obtained for the 1918
crop. And that fully satisfied all of
growers but those who had sold early,
at prices below 20 cents. If the grow
ers get above 20 cents this year, there
may not be much grower-packing. The
growers do not particularly relish pack
ing their own crop, for very few have
the proper storage places, and they
know, too, how easily pacing can be
spoiled.
A discussion of the tobacco ware.
house act, held in the Hartford Cham
Der of Commerce rooms last Friday at
tracted number of Connecticut valley
growers. The provisions of the act
were outlined by Chester Morrill,, as
sistant to the chief of the federal bu-
reau of markets. The speaker ex-
.plained that the owner of warehouse
in which tobacco is to be stored will be
allowed to have his place licensed by
the government if he can show that it
lis in fit condition. Permits will be is
Esued the owners of such places, and
the owner of tobacco crop storing it
IN sslicensed place will be allowed to
use the certificate Indicating the con-
ditions of the warehouse, in seeking
loans on his crop. No action was taken
by the growers attending the meeting.
journal.
August was an unusual month for
production in the tobacco industry, the
figures just made public by the In
ternal Revenue Bureau for that month
showing sharp decreases in every type
of manufactured product except cigars
and large cigarettes. Cigars advanced
by nearly 139 million in comparison
with the same month last year Large
cigarettes increased by more than
], 700, 000 Small cigarettes fell off by
slightly more than 349 millions. Small
cigars decreased 6,782, 900. Snuff de-
creased 1856, 900 pounds. manufactured
tobacco decreased 8, 429, ,305 pounds.
The following is from statement
to the U. S. Tobacco Journal by Sam
T. Gilbert, president of the CONSOLIDATE
ed Cigar corporation. 1t is of general
interest to the public:
THE dealer is waiting to see what
cigar prices are going to do," said Mr..
Gilbert. Il am repeatedly asked
whether prices are coming down or
not. Cigar prices will not be lower, +"
he declared eff anything, they will
be higher. They cannot be lower. To
start with, as we all know, the price of
labor has not come down, and there is
not the slightest prospect that it will.
We are making cigars from the highest
priced raw material that | have ever
known. The factory that has a full
years supply on hand-and every we'll
regulated factory of any size must nec-
essarily carry that much stock as a
minimum will be making cigars for
another year from this high priced ma
terial, and as most grades of tobacco
have shown an upward tendency during
the year, it can easily be seen that the
prospects are better for prices to go
higher, rather than lower. So far as
the jobbers and retailers being stocked
up is concerned, will say that we are
just as far behind orders in our produc-
tlon as we were year ago. This is
the fact despite 20 per cent increase
in production facilities we have made
within the past three months. From
what can learn from the best posted
leaf tobacco merchants, the present do
mestic wrapper crops, as well as bind
ers, must bring higher prices. The
highest price ever known is being paid
for the new Havana crop, which will
not be worked for five or six months
yet. What would like to emphasize
is that the wrapper and binder prices
of last year were the highest we had
ever known up to that time, and this
years prices are even higher. This is
the factor that points to the necessity
for increasing prices during the coming
year."
Notice