The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-02-24
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

can furnish, that is in years with nor
NAL growing weather, from 20 to 30,000,-
geo pounds Of first class binders. This
year the yield of this type may not be
much above half of this amount, and
OF the good portion much smaller
amount Of the binder that will stand
up and win in the competition against
other binder types. If there is to be
al lncrease IN the fancy7 part of the
crop. there will have to be a new and
better ideal Of tobacco leaf before the
Wisconsin grower, inspiring him to
greater care in the choice of seed, in
the selection OF soil, in the cultivation
of the plant, and in the entire care of
the crop. This applies to both the
northern and the southern grower.
Here is phase of the tobacco situa-
tior, where the welfare Of all interests
concerned meet. The growing of a
uniform and high type of cigar leaf
by the Wisconsin farmer will be cheered
and supported by the packer The more
uniform the type and the higher the
quality, the better are also his chances
for making profit on the turnover
He wants something that will SELL just
as much as the grower wants something
that will SELL The manufacturer who
is to please the smoker, and create a
demand for his brand will be eager to
use a leaf that will make his cigar
popular. In order to attain these ends
the idea of bulk production must be
put aside, at least for the time being.
The grower must coordinate his ener-
gies and his economic needs in such
way as to make it profitable to in
f1y +1o rlf
ducing quality. This he can not do
at this time except by shortening his
acreage to begin with.
By this we mean that it is lack of
coordination of energy and economic
need for a farmer to make the tobacco
pay the entire way of his farm opera
tions. 1t will pay him better to raise
on his land potatoes, rye, wheat, fruit,
both small and large, and feed for his
stock, to take care of the needs Of all
his family and help through the year,
than to raise a quantity of tobacco in
the hope of selling at a figure which
will allow him to buy the other ne
cessitieS. Tobacco farming in that
sense has not yet become the habit
Of Wisconsin farmers, and we doubt if
it ever will prove profitable here to do
So Every thing considered the pro-
duction of the things that can be con
sumed on the place is the most eco
nonic production Intensified cultiya-
ton of the soil for high production in
any line requires, besides thorough work
Of the soil, liberal fertilization of it, and
re most economic fertilizer and the
one bringing the best results is the one
produced Ill the barn yard. The steady
increase in fertility of the soil, means
steady increase in the quality and
quantity Of the crops. Wherever the
farmer attends to this, he has laid the
foundation also for successful tobacco
raising To him the greatest profit On
his tobacco comes where it taxes least
the general productive power of his
farm as a whole An 80 acre farm with
4-acre lot of tobacco Of the right
type of seed the right location, drain
age, cultivation and care, producing a
high type quality of leaf will in the
long run net him larger profit, to-
gether with the profit from the balance
raised on his land, both the part con-
suned on the farm and the surplus for
the general market, than twice the
acreage of tobacco of an Indifferent
type and quality, if the rest of his
farm and farm production thereby IS
suffering.
Especially during the next couple
seasons the Wisconsin grower should
put his brains to work to make tobacco
culture pay as part of his general
farming operations. A maximum pro-
duction of high class leaf OH mini
mum acreage, should be the slogan.
Uniformity of type planted on ground
suited to tobacco culture throughout
the state, is a reform movement worth
while. Dane county with its great
acreage in the past will undoubtedly
continue to lead the counties of the
state in point Of acreage also IN the
future and it will do SO even though
it reduces the acreage materially. But
it must take new tack in its ideal OF
quality if it is going to win out and
put the binder value where it ought to
be.
That many manufacturers OF cigars
who ought to prefer the Wisconsin
binder above any other, during the high
price era have turned to Connecticut
and Pennsylvania for this goods is be-
yond dispute. Finding in the Con-
necticut leaf a more economical type
of leaf for binder purposes, because from
the same number of pounds more cigars
can be made, and with the chance OF
sorting out portion for wrapper pur-
poses, the manufacturers have chosen
the Connecticut cut leaf IN preference
to the Wisconsin, and Connecticut bind