MARKETING 



475 



Tobacco must be handled only while in a pliable condition or it 

 will crumble and ruin. It is stripped, unless it was stripped in 

 harvesting, and graded. The number of grades varies with the kinds 

 of tobacco. Length o^ leaf, freedom from injuries, texture, curing, 

 and other points determine the grade. Practical experience only 

 will enable one to learn to grade tobacco. 



As tobacco is stripped and sorted it is tied into hanks. A hank 



Fio. 202. Barn for curing dark tobacco, Tennessee. 



is a bunch of several leaves. The tie is made at the butts of the 

 leaves with a leaf. 



Storing. The stripping and tying may take place so late in the 

 season that the tobacco may be taken to market almost immediately 

 afterwards. In some instances it is put into cases, tied into bales 

 or prized into hogsheads, while still a larger part is marketed loose 

 in the hanks. While in storage it usually ferments and the quality is 

 thus improved if conditions are favorable. 



Marketing. Tobacco is mainly marketed individually. Some 



