Evening star., 1936-05-14
TOBACCO GROWERS
SEE TREATY HELP
Maryland Expects Prompt
Stimulation From French
Trade Pact.
BY 9 Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

~ - 0su44 SoAAtobSAASAs W Az osoAs
BALTIMORE, May IA prompt
reaction favorable to tobacco growers
was anticipated on the Baltimore mar
ket today as q result of the reciprocal
trade agreement between the United
States and France made public yester-
day.
THE fact that the Government has
taken cognizance Of the tobacco in
dustry and obtained an international
agreement under which France is to
increase It's purchases from the United
States 10 per cent over last year un-
doubtedly will stimulate activity among
domestic buyers" George Sachse, man
ager of the Maryland Tobacco Grow
ers' Association, said.
DR.. T. B. Symons, director OF the
Extension Service of the University
of Maryland, predicted the stimula-
ton cited by Sachse would be an
other important outgrowth of the
treaty.
Hope for Higher Prices.
Apart from the benefit derived from
increased exports, DR.. Symons pointed
out that re-entry of France into the
MARYLAND tobacco market on broad
scale would inevitably carry an i'm
petus that will be reflected in higher
prices.
The extension service director also
anticipates renewal Of purchases OF low
grade tobaccos by France. For several
years the French have retired from
that field and their return would i'm
prove the tone of the entire market,
DR.. Symons predicts. Formerly they
bought the cheaper grades almost ex-
clusively.
While DR.. Symons and Sachse reflect
the enthusiasm felt by leaf growers
throughout the Southern counties OF
the State both were without definite
information as to the exact extent to
which Maryland would benefit under
the agreement with France.
The treaty specifies that France buy
tobacco worth $4,000, 900 and weighing
20 SOC, 900 pounds this season.
Paris to Determine Amount.
Sachse said that as far as he knew
there has been no ALLEGATION of the
20,500, 900 pounds among the tobacco
growing States.
E. Lucas Giradville, resident Balti-
more agent of the French tobacco
monopoly. which purchases American
tobacco for France. said the amount
to be bought in Maryland probably
would be determined by Paris.
Giradville recently informed DR..
Symons that French purchases were
being curtailed because growers were
wrapping their hogsheads with vines.
DR.. Symons and the county agents now
are working to halt this practice.
In an effort to meet the require
ments Of domestic manufacturers as
well as the French importers, DR..
Symons is to visit the executive Offices
of the big cigaret firms In New York
next week. He will endeavor to learn
what they think of the quality and
pack of Maryland tobacco.
OroWerS Are Conn0ent.
Last year he and q committee Of
growers and specialists visited South
ern tobacco factories for the same
purpose. DR.. Symons said the data
so collected would be used in a gradual
effort to improve the Maryland product
and widen its market.
Meanwhile the States growers
looked confidently to the treaty to re-
store, at least partially. the dwindling
French market. OF the 1885, 900
pounds of tobacco France imported
from America last year. less than
100000 pounds came from Mary
land. The State once shipped 7,000,-
900 pounds year to France.
Senator Tydings appealed last Fall
to Secretary of State Hull to have to-
bacco included in the trade agreement.
In the course of subsequent con-
troversy over the decline of French i'm
portations, Hull asserted consular re-
ports indicated the blame lay on old
fashioned Maryland methods Of pack
ing and grading. The extension serv-
ice surveyed the situation and reported
much need for improvement.