466 PRIZING.' 



manure. In this very bad condition, I still persisted in trying 

 to save what I supposed might remain entire in the interior 

 of the lump, and at last prevailed so far over the ignorance 

 and prejudice by which I had been ridiculed, as to effect an 

 overhauling and repacking of this damaged commodity and to 

 save a proportion thereof very far beyond what I myself had 

 expected. Some of the heart of this was so highly improved, 

 that I have seldom seen tobacco equal to it for chewing, or for 

 immediate manufacture ; and what was repacked was sold to a 

 tobacconist in Water Street, Philadelphia, at a price so little 

 reduced below the ordinary market, that the man very frankly 

 told me, that if he could have had the whole drowned tobacco in 

 a short time after it was saved from the wreck, he would have 

 made no difference in the price but would rather have prefer- 

 red it for immediate manufacture, as it would have spared him, 

 some little labor in a part of the process. " 



Prizing tobacco applies to the packing of tobacco in hogs- 

 heads all such leaf being used for cutting purposes, cigar leaf 

 being either cased or baled. In some sections about 800 

 pounds net is packed in one parcel, while in others 1000 

 pounds and sometimes even 1500 and 1800 pounds. " Seed 

 leaf " tobacco in this country is all packed in cases instead of 

 hogsheads, each case containing from 375 to 400 pounds net. 

 It is necessary that all kinds of tobacco should be pressed in 

 some kind of package before it is ready to be manufactured. 

 There are exceptions, however, as in the case of Latakia 

 tobacco, which is simply hung in the peasant's huts through the 

 winter to be fumigated and to acquire the peculiar flavor this 

 tobacco has. Tobacco in good condition to case must be damp 

 enough to bear the pressure in casing without breaking and 

 crumbling, while it must not be too moist or it will rot in the 

 case. The number of pounds to the case will vary according 

 to the size of the leaf, as well as the condition of the tobacco. 



When ready to case the " hands " are packed in the case, 

 laying them in two tiers. The case being nearly full the 

 contents are then subjected to a strong pressure until it is 

 reduced to one half its bulk, then another layer is placed in 

 the case and again pressed, and succeeded by as many as are 

 required to fill the case. The tobacco should be packed evenly 

 in layers with the ends of the leaves touching one another or 



