THE MARKETING AND SALE OF 

 TOBACCO LEAF 



When the tobacco leaf is fully cured it is at 

 once prepared for the market. The first step 

 is the planters' classification of the leaf. In 

 the case of pipe smoking and chewing tobacco 

 the planter collects all the imperfect, injured 

 leaves, or those inferior from any cause* and 

 ties them in bundles. These are the planters 

 lugs. All other grades are leaf. Slightly in- 

 jured leaves are classed as low-leaf or seconds. 

 The others are classed medium, good, fine and 

 selected leaf, according to grade, color, qual- 

 ity, etc. 



In the case of cigar leaf tobacco a similar 

 classification is made, more care being taken 

 owing to the very great difference in price be- 

 tween the better and poorer qualities. This 

 difference may be as much as 20c in the lb., the 

 finer and more suitable leaf being eagerly 

 sought for. 



Pipe smoking and chewing tobacco leaf is 

 usually packed in hogsheads or cases each 

 weighing from 1,000 to 1,400 Ibs. The opera- 

 tion of packing the leaf is called "prizing." 

 Cigar leaf is usually put up in "hands." A 

 "hand" consists of from 25 to 75 leaves tied 

 together. Four hands tied together make a 



69 



