INTRODUCTION 



In preparing the classification of tobacco types the 

 Department of Agriculture has divided all American- 

 grown tobacco into six main classes. Each of these 

 classes covers several types. The types of each class 

 have similar characteristics and are ordinarily used 

 for the same general purposes. For the convenience 

 of the trade and to facilitate the statistical work of the 

 department, a number has been assigned to each class 

 and to each type having an average annual production 

 of 1,000,000 pounds or more. The use of these numbers 

 is not mandatory in any respect. 



The first three classes of tobacco are divided on the 

 basis of the method used in curing. The last three 

 classes, which are all cigar-leaf tobacco, are divided on 

 the basis of the principal use for which the tobacco is 

 grown. The actual use varies materially from year to 

 year with the different types, and for that reason the 

 class division of cigar-leaf tobacco is based upon the 

 principal use for which it is produced. It should be 

 clearly understood, however, that certain grades of 

 the cigar-leaf types are used for different purposes 

 from what might be implied by the class names. For 

 example, the tobacco in Class 4 is produced primarily 

 for filler purposes, although the better grades are used 

 more or iess each year for wrappers and binders and 

 the lower grades are used, to some extent, for chewing 

 and pipe tobacco. 



There is a considerable difference in the use of the 

 term "type," which is frequently confused with grade 

 or certain groups of grades. For the purpose of this 

 classification the word "type" may be defined as "A 

 division of one of the main classes of tobacco having 

 certain peculiar characteristics which will permit of 

 its being divided into a single system of grades." 



It is not possible, without going into considerable 

 detail, to specify all of the sections in which a type is 

 produced or to include all of the names by which a 

 tvpe is known in the trade at the present time. In 

 the present classification it has been the purpose of the 

 department to use a sufficient number of name,^ t& 

 identify each type of tobacco. To supplement this 

 information the" principal sections in which each type 

 is produced are also shown. 



In case the local name of a type or the section in 

 which it is produced is not covered under the descrip- 

 tion of the type, it does not follow that the tobacco is 



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