Before the sale. Farmers deliver their tobacco in trucks to the warebouses, 
where it is packed on flat "baskets" about 40 inches square, furnished by the 
warehouse. On some markets, warehouse employees are required to supervise the 
packing of the tobacco onto the baskets. The baskets are weighed, and a ticket 
with several carbons is placed on each. This ticket shows the grower's name, 
the basket serial number, and the weight in pounds, and also has spaces for the 
buyer's name and grade mark, the selling price per pound, and the Government 
grade mark. The weight of the baskets may vary from just a few pounds up to 
several hundred. After the baskets are weighed, they are moved to the warehouse 
floor and arranged in long rows in preparation for the sale. 
Figure 29.--Typical basket of type 12 flue-cured tobacco packed 
for display on sales floor. 
Government inspection and market news services on auction markets. Shortly 
before the sale starts, a Federal inspector examines each lot (basket) of 
tobacco and grades it according to the official United States standards. He 
enters the grade, date, and his initials on the basket ticket, which then becomes 
the certificate of grade for that lot of tobacco. After the sale, data on 
grades and prices are collected from these tickets and consolidated. Averages 
are calculated and form the basis for the published market news and price reports. 
Current price reports are made available to the growers on the auction floors. 
Inspection and market news services are in effect on all auction markets, 
and are authorized by The Tobacco Inspection Act (passed in August 1935). The 
Act provides for free and mandatory inspection on those markets that have been 
designated for the service by the Secretary of Agriculture, following favorable 
referenda of growers selling on such markets. Government grading and market 
news services aid the farmer in comparing the price offered for his grade with 
the current market price for similar tobacco, and in determining whether his 
price is a fair one. 
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