TOBACCO SHRINKAGE AXD LOSSES IN WEIGHT 25 



PUERTO RICAN, TYPE 46 



Puerto Kican cigar-leaf tobacco is produced in the central and 

 inland portion of Puerto Rico. It is marketed and handled at a 

 number of points on the island. The principal markets are Caguas, 

 Juncos, Cayey, Comerio, San Lorenzo, and Utuado. The average 

 annual production for the last 5 years has been about 21,000,000 

 pounds. 



Puerto Rican tobacco is used principally for cigar fillers and the 

 major portion of it is used in continental United States. The leaves 

 are smaller and thinner bodied than most of the cigar-filler types 

 produced in the United States. It is aromatic and has a distinctive 

 flavor that blends well with other filler types. 



It is harvested by both the stalk-cutting and the priming methods. 

 It is air-cured under natural atmospheric conditions in curing barns 

 that may be either of wood construction or constructed of poles 

 thatched with cane or palm leaves. 



Tobacco is grown and marketed in Puerto Rico principally under a 

 system called "refractioning." The growers are supplied by dealers 

 and merchants with food, fertilizer, and other necessities, and are 

 obligated to deliver and sell their tobacco to them. The tobacco is 

 delivered by the growers in large bundles or lots rolled in burlap or 

 cloth. It is usually marketed between April 1 and July 1, although 

 some may be delivered as early as March. A limited amount of 

 sorting is done by the growers based on the position of the leaves on 

 the plant and on the general quality. The subdivisions that are 

 made are known by such Spanish terms as Coronas, Resagos, Boliches, 

 etc. If the tobacco is refractioned through a general merchant it is 

 again sold to a regular packer. In the packing houses finer lines of 

 distinction are drawn as to quality or grade. 



Some bulk fermentation is practiced before the removal of the 

 stems, and some fermentation occurs after stemming. The stemmed 

 leaf is carefully sorted and graded on the basis of quality, length, and, 

 to a certain extent, color. About 30 percent of the Puerto Rican 

 tobacco is packed in barrels for storage and shipment. The remainder 

 is packed in bales. The size of the bales is approximately 34 by 28 

 by 30 inches, and the average net weight is approximately 150 pounds. 



The loss in weight in handling and packing Puerto Rican tobacco 

 averages about 12 percent. The loss in the first year after packing, 

 during which time the first and hardest sweat occurs, averages about 

 5 percent. The loss in storage during the second year averages 

 about 2 percent. The loss in steinming averages about 21.5 percent. 



CONNECTICUT BROADLEAF, TYPE 51 



Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco is produced in the valley of the 

 Connecticut River from near the Massachusetts State line to Glaston- 

 bury, Conn., principally on the east side of the river. Some is handled 

 and packed at various points throughout the valley but Hartford, 

 Conn., is the principal marketing point. The annual production for 

 the last 10 years has averaged about 15,000,000 pounds. It is used 

 principally for cigar binders, but about 15 or 20 percent is used for 

 wrappers and a small quantity of the lower grades is used in scrap 

 chewing. 



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