PREFACE 



The purpose of this booklet is to give information on the history 

 and development of the dynamic tobacco industry in North Carolina, 

 and to explain in a simple story the many steps involved in tobacco 

 from the seed to the ultimate consumer. 



The history of tobacco and the development of its culture along 

 with the manufacture of its products are closely connected with the 

 agricultural and industrial progress of this state. 



North Carolina holds the distinction of producing more flue- 

 cured tobacco and manufacturing more tobacco products than any com- 

 parable area in the world. Tarheel farmers harvest an average of 

 more than 800 million pounds of tobacco each year for which they 

 receive more than $500 million annually. Its factories turn out 

 almost two-thirds of all the cigarettes manufactured in the United 

 States. North Carolina is also the leading manufacturer of smoking 

 and chewjjig tobacco. About 35, 000 workers are employed in manufac- 

 turing and processing plants, and they receive more than $100 million 

 annually in gross wages. 



The wholesale value of cigarettes distributed in this state each 

 year is more than $85 million, and other tobacco products total 

 around $18 million. 



North Carolina' s tobacco industry is one of the nation' s largest 

 tax payers. It pays the Federal Treasury almost $4 million every 

 work day through the 8 cents per pack Federal excise tax. This 

 amounts to more than a billion dollars annually. 



The foundation of North Carolina was established with tobacco, 

 and today tobacco is still the mainspring of the economy of this 

 state. 



J. H. Cyrus , In Charge 



Tobacco Marketing Section 



N. C. Department of Agriculture 



P- H. HILL LIBRARY 

 N, e, STATE UNIVERSm 



