120 TllK I'rLTVRE OF TOllAf'CO. 



tn liim. The waivlmuseman is ivspniisilde to the f;injier, ami the hitt'-r 

 lias notiiing whatever to du with tlie buyer. 



The buyers take the tobacco to their buihliugs, wliere it is 

 " re-ordered " and packed in hogsheads for stoiuge or shipment. 



The loose-sales system is extending and is very satisfactoiy to 

 producers for several reasons ; — The tobacco does not have to be held 

 by the grower until it is in a condition for packing ; neither is he put 

 to the labour and expense of packing ; it also permits the sale of small 

 quantities, and foi- that reason more grades of tlie tobacco may be 

 made. To the buyer also tlie system is satisfactory, for the reason that 

 he can at once see the quality oi the goods, and liecause lie is better 

 prepared to handle and pack the leaf than is the growei'. 



The Package and Sampling' System.— In some sections the 

 tobacco is packed in hog.sheads by the grower and .sold by means of 

 samples taken from these hogsheads. The inspection and .sarapiling is 

 done by inspectors governed by State laws. In some .States these 

 inspectors are appointed by the tobacco Board of Trade, and in other 

 States they are ap]jointed by a State official. The inspector is compelled 

 to give a large bond befoie taking up his duties, and if the buyer finds 

 on o]jening his hogshead that the tobacco does not gi-ade up witli the 

 sample taken he may come liack on the inspectoi' for reclamation. All 

 differences and claims presented are settled by a lioai'd of ai'bitration, 

 the arbiti'atcjrs being three in numlier and appointed by a committee 

 of the Board of Ti'ade. One of the arbitiators is a warehouseman, one 

 a buyer, and the third is selected by these two. No waiehouseman or 

 inspector is allowed to liuy or to participate in the profits of any sale. 



"When a hog.shead of toliacco is placed in a warehou.se for sale, it 

 has its end removed, is then turned on its head and the cask lifted off 

 the tobacco, which retains the shape given it liy the hogshead. A 

 sample is then made liy the inspector, wlio ])rizes tlie tobacco apart 

 with a lever and takes portions of toljacco fj-om at least foui' places in 

 the bulk. This .sample is tied and labelled with the name of the seller, 

 inspector, and warehouse, as well as with the weight, hogshead 

 number, and date of in.spection. The sample is then sealed, so that it 

 may not be tampered with, and the tobacco is sold on the merits of the 

 sample.^ The owner of the tobacco is given, as soon as it is inspected, 

 a manifest with all the data concerning the package marked upon it ; 

 this manifest is negotiable. An inspection fee of one shilling and a 

 .sampling fee of three .shillings are charged ; this pavs for the laliour of 

 opening and recoopering the hogshead. A warehouse storage fee of six 

 shillings for the first four months and of fivepence a month thereafter 

 is charged. If a package has been stored until the accumulated 

 storage fees have eaten up the value of thetolxuco and no settlement 

 is made by the owner, the toljacco is sold by the warehouseman to 

 covci' his claims. 



If a tobacco is found to have been packed with the intention of 

 defrauding, the inspector is ninipelled t.> give information to the 

 Grand .Jury. False packing of t..bacco is railed " nestimr " l,v tobacco 

 men. If the cask or hogshead is f.amd to be in l>ad roudi'tioii it is 

 replaced at the expense of the owner. 



A large percentage of this hogdiead tobacro is sold bv aucti..n 

 upon the merits of the samples, and f.ir this the auctioneer receives 

 from .sixpence to a .shilling a package. If placed in the hands ,,f 

 commi.ssion men the comiuissi.m isusuallv two and a half per cent. 



