lengths for the various types and qualities of tobacco. 

 These lengths are known as " U. S. standard tobacco 

 sizes," or briefly, " U. S. sizes." As the accuracy 

 with which the length of tobacco needs to be stated 

 varies with different types and qualities of tobacco, 

 the department has prepared six different series of 

 sizes. In preparing these sizes careful consideration 

 was given to the various needs and requirements of 

 the trade. Six charts were designed to illustrate the 

 six series of sizes and miniature copies are shown 

 in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive. 



The metric system of measurement is in use in 

 practically all foreign countries to which we export 

 our tobacco, with the exception of the British posses- 

 sions. In order that the U. S. sizes may be clearly 

 understood in these countries, the range of each size is 

 expressed in centimeters as well as in inches. 1 The 

 range in inches is indicated on the left margin of 

 each chart and the range in centimeters on the right 

 margin. The numbers in the center of each chart are 

 the U. S. size numbers to which the range in inches 

 and centimeters on the margins of the chart relate. 



The sizes illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 are used 

 to state the length factor in certain grades of certain 

 types in which the length of leaf is of great impor- 

 tance. For any size covered by these three charts, it 

 is specified that 90 per cent of the leaves of the lot or 

 package must fall within the range of the size. In 

 order to prevent confusion in the size designations, 

 fractional numbers are used on the chart shown in 

 Figure 1, odd numbers on the chart shown in Figure 



2, and even numbers on the chart shown in Figure 



3. This arrangement of the U. S. size numbers makes 

 it possible for the fractional numbers to be associated 

 with the 1-inch sizes, the odd numbers with the 2-inch 

 sizes, and the even numbers with the special 4-inch 

 sizes. The size numbers on these charts indicate the 

 medium or half-way point of the sizes in inches ; thus 

 each size number is easily associated with the specific 

 range of the size. 



The sizes illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 are used 

 where the length factor is not of such great im- 

 portance. For each size of these three charts it is 



1 To avoid the use of small fractions in expressing the 

 range in centimeters, 1 inch is taken as 2.5 centimeters in- 

 stead of its exact equivalent 2.540005 centimeters. The dif- 

 ference between the range expressed in inches and in centi- 

 meters is negligible, and is allowed as a tolerance in the 

 sizes. 



