130 WALL'S MANUAL 



engaged in tying, attending to the sorting out of 

 such leaves ay do not properly belong to grades upon 

 which they are engaged. The number of " grades," 

 or qualities, must be determined by the purpose for 

 which the crop is designed. Where the object is to 

 make the dark shipping tobacco, the best leaves are 

 assorted, according to size and quality, into first and 

 second quality " leaf;" while the lower leaves, together 

 with others that may be injured or ragged, form first 

 and second quality of "lugs." 



If the crop is designed for the manufacturer, the 

 color j as well as the quality, must be taken into 

 account. The dark and yellow colors, must be first 

 separated into two general classes, and each of these 

 again assorted, according to their several qualities. 

 So, we would have five classes : Yellow, good yellow, 

 dark, good dark, and " lugs.' 1 When the assorting and 

 tying have been completed, the bundles should be 

 " bulked down," unless the stems are found to contain 

 so much moisture as to be in danger of moulding. 

 It should then be hung up on sticks, and thoroughly 

 dried. Then, at the first favorable time before priz- 

 ing, it should be again bulked down. The bundles 

 should be carefully straightened in packing down; 

 and, when it is afterward transferred to hogsheads, 

 the same, or still greater care should be taken, that 

 every leaf be straight, and in its proper place. The 

 hogsheads usually contain about thirteen or fourteen 

 hundred pounds. 



The price of tobacco depends very much upon the 

 'skill with which it has been cured, and the care bestowed 

 upon the assorting, tying, and subsequent handling. 



