“carrot” and 80 carrots go to the bale, but the 
size of the bale varies considerably. The to- 
bacco is then ready for the buyer. 
There are two systems of disposing of the 
planters’ product: (1) direct purchase by the 
manufacturer or by a middleman from the 
grower; and (2) what is known as the ware- 
house system. In the southern states the ware- 
house system prevails. Every important to- 
bacco section in the south has its public ware- 
house which is under the control and super- 
vision of state law. Many of these warehouses 
are long established, that at Richmond, Va., 
dating as far back as 1780, and those at Louis- 
ville and Clarksville about 1839. 
On appointed days the planter brings his 
leaf to the warehouse. Here it is entered as: 
“loose leaf” or “inspected leaf.” In the case 
of loose leaf, the tobacco is open to the inspec- 
tion of prospective buyers, who examine it and 
afterwards bid on it. In the case of “inspected 
leaf”? the warehouse officials first examine the 
consignments, grade them and mark them ac- 
cording to their judgment, taking samples. 
The samples are open to buyers’ inspection and’ 
form the basis of sale. Tobacco auctions are 
regularly held when the buyers assemble and 
bid on the “loose leaf” and “inspected” lots. 
70 
