458 TOBACCO LEAF. 



The different brands require different hydraulic 

 pressure. Shape mills and pot mills are used. While 

 the plugs are under pressure, they are put in gums and 

 allowed to sweat or ferment. Some brands are fermented 

 lightly, others undergo a long process of fermentation. 

 In each case, the purpose is to adapt it to the market for 

 which it is intended and where it is in demand. 



After this fermenting process, the plugs are taken 

 out and again carefully inspected, the faulty ones being 

 rejected and the perfect ones tagged and packed in boxes. 

 When the boxes are filled, only enough pressure is put 

 on to get in the heads. When these are fastened in the 

 boxes, they are sent to the shipping room, where they 

 are branded with name, size of the plug, and the gross 

 and net weights of each box. There is a groove on each 

 box for the government stamp, which must be placed 

 on each package, and then varnished and canceled. The 

 boxes are strapped in packages of five or more, for 

 shipment. 



Cut plug tobacco is carried through a similar proc- 

 ess, except that it is not wrapped. It is made into 

 various sizes, blocks or slabs, and cut into slices for 

 fancy tin or paper box work, or shagged for boxes or 

 pouches, as customers may desire. Cut plug is made by 

 a costly patented machine, constructed for the purpose. 

 It is put up in packages varying in weight from two to 

 sixteen ounces, stamped and packed in wooden cases for 

 shipment, according to the requirements of the trade. 



The J. Wright Company, of Eichmond, Va., to 

 whom the authors are indebted for the cuts that accom- 

 pany this description, and also for the main data contained 

 in it, is one of the largest plug manufacturing establish- 

 ments in the world. The company has every modern 

 appliance, convenience and improvement for facilitating 

 the work and obtaining the highest results, as to the 

 excellence and handsome appearance of their products. 



