Each class is made up of two or more different types. Differences among 

 types are found in color, body, leaf composition, and in the response to fer- 

 mentation and aging. They result mainly from varying soil and climatic condi- 

 tions, since the varieties and growing and curing methods for all types within 

 a class are generally similar. Within the flue-cured class individual types 

 can no longer be easily identified and the type designation usually refers 

 only to a marketing area. 



Each type is further subdivided into grades. However, one set of stand- 

 ards is applied to all types of flue-cured, and some types of dark and cigar 

 tobaccos share standards. These grades are related to group or stalk posi- 

 tion, quality, color, and other characteristics. One type of tobacco may be 

 subdivided into over 100 different grades, whereas others may have only 5 or 6 

 grades. Manufacturers buy the various leaf grades according to the intended 

 use in manufacture. 



Leaves vary greatly in size. They range in length from about 12 to 30 

 inches, but most are 20 to 24 inches long. The width is usually about one- 

 half the length, varying according to the different types. Leaves of some 

 types have sharp, pointed tips, and others are rounded. 



Following is a brief description of tobacco classes, covering some of the 

 elements of quality, volume of production and exports, and principal uses. 



Class 1 - Flue-cured makes up 

 over 60 percent of tobacco produced in 

 the United States today. Its name 

 comes from the metal flues of the 

 heating apparatus originally used in 

 curing barns. It is yellow to reddish- 

 orange in color, thin to medium in 

 body, and mild in flavor. 



Flue-cured tobacco is the princi- 

 pal export type, accounting for over 

 83 percent of the total leaf exported. 

 Over one-third of the production is 

 exported, or around 500 to 530 million 

 pounds annually. 



Most of the crop is used in ciga- 

 rettes, both in the United States and 

 in the importing countries. Cigarettes 

 account for 95 percent of flue-cured 

 usage in the United States, smoking 

 and chewing tobacco accounting for 

 the remainder. 



Figure 1. --Flue-cured plant topped and 

 ready for harvest. 



