The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-01-27
! Note Book Sketches.

1t is with the utmost satisfaction that
the tobacco men throughout the country
have sensed the new impulse of a re-
viving market While the activity as
yet is not buoyant and full of assurance,
something that hardly could be expect
ed after such a long period of stagna-
tion, it bears the earmarks of soundness
and the color of returning life. The
large journals devoted to the interests
of the tobacco industry are unanimous
in voicing the opinion that better times
are ahead, and not far ahead, either
The reasons of this incipient revi-
val are not so far to seek In the first
place, the time has finally come when
people have made up their minds to
accept new basis of prices. The grow
ers are ready to part with their product
at greatly reduced figures, as compared
with the prices Of two years ago. The
packer, who has been sweating blood
under the load of the costly purchases
of 1919 and 1920, is willing to take his
medicine with the rest, hoping only to
come out sufficiently strong to again
tackle the job on the basis of the new
p1 lSC. llC aCOllS ulIlSI ID ICSpOIlQ1tR, To
the offer of cheaper smoke. Both
cigars and cigarettes are. finding their
way down to lower price level, land
smoking tobacco is sure to follow This
opens the chance for the consumer to
again step in and supply his want at
figures where his reduced buying power
is able to again indulge.
Another reason for the revival is seen
lin the reduced stock of leaf now held
by the manufacturers, and their need
of replenishment.
On this matter the Tobacco Leaf, in
its market review of Jan. II, says:
For some time past, there has been
a firmly expressed conviction among
dealers, in practically every type of ci-
gar leaf tobacco, that, generally speak
ing, the manufacturer is running pretty
close to shore in the matter of raw ma
terial, and that some noticeable inn
provement in demand for these various
types was bound to assert itself some
time early in the new year.
Leaf merchants sincerely believe
that the price question has been pretty
thoroughly ironed out, and that man
ufacturers have nothing to gain by with
holding the purchase of their normal
requirements, in the hope of further re-
cession. Such of these merchants as
are taking aggressive action upon this
belief seem to be we'll satisfied with the
experiment"
kThe Northern Wisconsin Havana
Tobacco Seed is the name of strain
of Spanish tobacco which Leonard John
son of Westby, Wis, is introducing.
The leaf is of very good texture and
burn, thin and outstanding. The shape
of the leaf makes it an economical cut
ter for the manufacturer. It seems to
have qualities similar to Comstock
Spanish and the No. SO. The supply
of this seed is limited as yet, and used
almost exclusively in Vernon county
The strain was first picked in 1906, and
since it has by selection attained to
stability. in reproduction. Southern
seedmen of long experience, such as
w. t. Pomeroy Of Edgerton, and Stoley
Nelson of Stoughton, and others who
are endeavoring to supply the best seeds
of strains which have proven to repre-
sent quality" leaf, in conjunction with
the efforts of the tobacco section of the
horticultural department of the Agri-
cultural school of the u W., are work
ing at the root of the quality leaf
problem in the state.
*H:*
The federal government has initiated
move against the large tobacco firms,
Liggett & Meyer, P. Lorillard, and
others, to stop alleged practices by these
concerns in violation of the law against
combinations fixing prices in restraint
Of trade If nothing more-is gained by
this procedure, it may help to clarity
the meaning of the law i'll question, or
lead to the enactment of laws which
are sane in principle and direct Of en-
forcement Similar suits have been
started by the attorney general in this
state If it does not reform the al
legged law breakers, it may reform the
law. in itself matter of no small i'm
portance to the state and the nation.