Each class is made up of two or more different types. Differences between 
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 con- 
ditions, since the varieties and growing and curing methods for all types 
within a class are generally similar. 
Each type is further subdivided into grades. These grades are related to 
stalk position, quality, color, body, and other characteristics. One type of 
tobacco may be subdivided into as many as 1/70 different grades. Manufacturers 
buy the various grades of the leaf according to the intended use in manufac- 
ture. 
Leaves vary greatly in size. They range in length from about 12 to 30 in- 
ches, but most are from 20 to 24 inches long. The width is usually about one- 
half the length, varying according to the different types. Leaves of some 
kinds have sharp, pointed tips, and others have rounded ends. 
Following is a brief description of the kinds of tobacco, covering some 
of the elements of quality, volume of production and exports, and principal 
uses. 
Class I - Flue-cured makes up over 
57 percent of the volume of tobacco grown 
in the United States today. Its name 
comes from the metal flues of the heating 
apparatus originally used in all curing 
barns. Its normal range is from yellow to 
reddish-orange in color, thin to medium 
in body, and mild in flavor. 
Flue-cured tobacco is the principal 
export type, accounting for over 81 per- 
cent of the total leaf exported. Over on 
third of the production is exported, or 
around 431 to 498 million pounds annual - 
ye 
Most of the crop is used in ciga 
rettes, both in the United states and in 
the importing countries. Cigarettes ac- 
count for 95 percent of flue-cured usage 
in the United States, smoking and chewing 
tobaccos accounting for the remainder. 
Figure 1.--Flue-cured plant. Growers nor- 
mally break off the flower heads to allow 
for better development of the leaves. 
