CHAPTER XII. 



OK THE MARKETING OF TOBACCO. 



In the cigar-leaf growing States there is not, as yet, 

 any organized system of marketing tobacco, such as has 

 been developed so admirably in the heavy leaf, Burley 

 and yellow districts of the South. Numerous attempts 

 have been made by cigar-leaf growers in the New Eng- 

 land and Middle States to organize cooperative exchanges 

 for the sale of their crops, but so far without success. 

 The method followed at present, and for years, is for the 

 planter to wait for the buyer to come to his farm. 



Buyers usually inspect the crop very carefully while 

 it is growing, and under unusual conditions may even 

 contract for the growing crop. Such contracts are usu- 

 ally verbal, and are a frequent cause of dissatisfaction 

 and complaint. The buyer agrees to pay a certain price 

 for the crop delivered to him in good condition, but if 

 the market goes down before the leaf is delivered, he 

 will claim that it is not of the quality represented, and 

 he will not pay the stated price for it. On the other 

 hand, should the market advance, the buyer of a crop 

 contracted for in the fields will insist upon having the 

 leaf delivered. If such contracts are made at all, they 

 should be in writing, with all the conditions plainly set 

 forth, so that there can be no mistake, and 10 per cent 

 of the amount should be paid to bind the bargain. This 

 caution also applies to tobacco sold on the poles before 

 stripping. 



The great bulk of the cigar leaf, however, is sold 

 after being stripped and put in the bundle. The buyer 

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