368 TOBACCO LEAF. 



the planters. In fact, the prices depend, in a large 

 measure, upon proper grading. 



Bright wrappers are sometimes classified into three 

 or more grades, as orange, lemon and mahogany ; lugs 

 into two or more grades, as sand and smooth lugs. 

 Sometimes a third grade is made, called wrapping lugs. 

 When the grade between the wrappers and lugs is of 

 good body, and sweet, it is called fillers. When it is 

 thin or light bodied, it is called cutters. These two 

 classes, or grades, are sometimes interchangeable. The 

 smokers are good bright lugs, or worm-eaten leaves of 

 bright color. The highest grade of the yellow tobacco, 

 and that which commands the best prices, has a large 

 leaf of a bright lemon color, with yellow fibers, of good 

 body, with silky texture, tough, elastic, oily, with no 

 holes or spots or ragged edges. It is not unusual for 

 this grade to bring 40 to 65 cents per pound. From 

 this grade are made "extra wrappers." Orange-yellow 

 perfect leaves command the next highest prices, then 

 the mahogany wrapper. Clear yellow trash, or lugs 

 greatly torn, will bring more money than perfect leaves 

 that have a dull, greenish appearance. In fact, to avoid 

 curing a crop green is the greatest ambition of the yel- 

 low-tobacco grower, and his success depends largely 

 upon his ability to reduce the greenish-tinged tobacco to 

 the minimum. Thin, papery tobacco, brittle, inelastic, 

 easily torn and destitute of oil, will not bring a good 

 price, however good the color may be. 



The classification, as adopted in the Danville, Va., 

 market, probably the largest yellow-tobacco market in 

 the world, is as follows : 



Wrappers. The picked leaves, finest and brightest 

 and most perfect leaves on the stalk. This grade will 

 make one-sixth of the crop. 



Fillers. This is every grade except smokers, wrap- 

 pers and cutters, and constitutes about one-half the crop. 



