80 CIRCULAR 249, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Tobacco is subject to progressive losses in weight from drying in 
preparation for storage, through removal of dirt and sand, and from 
chemical and physical changes incident to fermentation. 
A further loss occurs when the tobacco is stemmed in preparation 
for manufacture or for export, although the quantity stemmed for 
AMA 2194 
FicuRrE 38.—A, a bundle of strips; B, a hand of flue-cured tobacco. 
export is relatively small. Losses vary for different types. The total 
loss from cleaning and drying in tobacco stored for 3 years varies 
from about 8 percent (Maryland, type 32) to about 20 percent in some 
cigar types. 
Similar variations are encountered in losses incident to stemming, 
ranging from 17 percent for Georgia-Florida shade-grown to 30 percent 
