£.3: T, June 1. HUME LIBRARY .FAS.- Univ. of Florida UNITED S DERA- OF AGRICULTURE Bureau of Agricultural Economics MAY 10 1968 TOBACCO BISPEC" .AND DEMONSTRATION SERV7 (Flue-cured) d&V^tihi By Ruf • Taylor, Market -ecialist OSITORY Inspection of tobacco according to standard grades as an aid to grow in ■ their crop was inaugurated in 1929. This service is now about 8 years old, but the work has been conducted on such a limited scale that most tobacc ers are still unfamiliar with what the service is, how it is con- ducted, and how it can be of dollars-and-cents value to them. Reasons for the inspection and market news services are readily under- stood by eve: -er who has sold a split lot of tobacco for two widely different prices, or has taken in a basket and resold it on the same floor possibly or threo times the first price. Every tobacco grower knows there is much unct; by about the price any basket of tobacco will bring, and that there is a wide range in the prices paid for tobaccos of the same quality. He knows that often he has lost money because he was on the short end of that price r^nge. Inspection and market news services have been developed to provide a measuring stick for quality and price in order that growers may protect themselves against loss in the sale of their tobacco. The inspection service undertakes the inspection and certification of grade of tobacco, before sale, at ruction markets. Packed tobacco is also inspected and the gr ified upon application by interested parties. tSg The United States Department of Agriculture, cooperating with State agencies, has ncde tobacco inspection s and tobacco pr: i^orts avail- able to growers at a : rkets, to do* whether by informing growers as to the grade and current ma: Lee of tob.rco, basket by basket, t: tion- ystem would be improved and I in prices paid to growers for the same grade of tobacco would be red Its value as an aid to growers in marketing tobacco has been fully demonstrated. Although prior to 1936 a small foe was charged for tobacco section, during th i 1931 to 1935, inclusive, from 108 million to 186 -ion pounds of farmers* tobacco were sold r nnually under standard g on auction markets. The Tobacco Inspection Act now makes it possible to nd the service and make it avail* grow *.hout o . The provides for three distinct s - ;tration, inspection and • The demonstration service is cduca tional. It acquaints farmers with objects of inspection and ma: Bd how 1 services can best be us*»d f and instructs then in the c preparation of tobacco for market so that it ■ highest price consis* quality. This v.*ork is accomplished through practical demonstrations on farms .In cooperati. partments of Vocational Education, agricultural teachers I ;1 training so that tobacco marketing may v . in rural high schools. Agricultural colleges, county agents, vocational teaohera of agriculture, Chambers of Commerce, and oth civic and farm organizations further the service. St anda rd_ bac cc That the operations of the tobacco inspection service may be under- od, it is necessary to have some knowledge of the system of grades used in classifying tobacco according to Federal standards. ■ grades • not difficult to understand. ■ dos for tobacco are determined by the simple process of division subdivision until a point is reached at which f . subdivision is P essential nor desirable. Each final subdivision is called a grr. The first division is made on the basis of distinct characteristics of t< - bacco caused by vari I I , soils, climate, end methods of cultivatic: . harvesting, and curing. Each major division, based on distinct characteristics caused by theso conditions, is called a class (J of Classification :cc issued by the Bureau cf Agricultural nics - pa*-** 3& fig.l) eta class is then subdivided into ty] .A type is defined as o isior. of a class of tobacco bavin . common c. .sties which --.it its being divided into n number of r 1 grades. Tobacco that has th chart- I ic3 and corresponding qual . . colors, and \--hs is t i as a type. Clas. Lly based on r broad distincj^ subdivision | down each typj into groups, or groups of of those types usually sold r.t ruction, -roup divi- '- position Of th-. learos on the plant. 1: . may vary with each class of tO- . 11 be seen b; to Figure 2 that tl -oups for • , Cutt it , In cr rior quality an aa Wr La ael V . - of the Old Belt. In th ; . plants 6«n* . usually bar by cutting * priming in other Flu I dis- . ?ts wh«i*o farmrs aim a- .action of tobe.ccc sui- for smok: a. BRIEF OF CLASSIFICATION OF LEAF TOBACCO (Covering rlum and type* of tot I « LASS 1— FLl r < I Kill TiPES Type 1 1 : Thai type of flue-cured tobacco c ommon ly known as OU Belt Flue-cured. Waton District Bright or Flue-cured. Bright Virginia Leaf. Western North Carolina Hnght, Middle Beit Kkic- eured. or Semi-old Bait Flue-cured; and produced principally In the Piedmont aertiooa Of Virginia and North Carolina. Type 12: That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Eastern Flue-currd. New Beit of North Carolina Flue-cured, Eastern District Bright, or Eastern Carolina Bright; and produced principally in the coastal section of North Carolina, north of the South River Type IS: That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly knows as Southeastern Rue-cured, Southeastern Bright, South Carolina Flue- cured, or New Belt of South Carolina and Southeastern rtoitt Carolina; and produced principally in the coastal sections of South Carolina and the southeastern counties of North Carolina, south of the South Rircr. Type 14: That type of flue-cured tobacco commonly known as Southern Flue-cured. Southern Br.ght, Southern District Bright, New Belt of Georgia and Florida, Florida Bright, Alabama Bright, or Georgia Flue-cured; and produced principally in the southern sections of Georgia and to some extent in Florida, Alabama, and CLASS 2— FIRE-Cl RED TYPES Type 21: That type of fire-cured tobacco commonly known as Eastern Fire-cured, Virginia Fire-cured, Smoked, or Dark Fired, or Dark Virginia; and produced principally in the Piedmont and mountain sections of Virginia. Type 22: That type of fire-cured tobacco commonly known as Faslern District Fire-cured, ClarksviUe, Hopkinsville, and Spring- fead Fire-cured or Dark-fired, or Kentucky-Tennessee Broadleaf; and p r odu ced principally in a section east of the Tennessee River, in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. Type 23: That type of fire-cured tobacco commonly known as Western Fire-cured. Mayfield and Paducah Dark-fired, or Western District Dark; and produced principally in a section between the Tectsaji f. Ohio, and Mississippi Rivera in western Kentucky and norta western Tennessee. Type 24: That type of fire-cured tobacco commonly known aa Northern Fire-cured. H en d er s o n Dark-fired or Smoked, the Stem- ming District, or MadJeocville Dark or Dark-fired, including the I r e c ur ed of the Oweosjboro district; and produced principally in the TlaadsMri district of Kentucky. CLASS 2— AIR-< I KM) TiPKS Type 21 : That type of air-cured tobacco commonly known aa Banter. Burtey Air-cured. Red Burley, White Burley, or Light A lt cc u cd of Ke n tuck y; and produced principally In central and r, southern Ohio and Indiana, western West Tennessee, and sections of Virginia, North Caroline. Missouri, and Arkansas T»pe 22: That type of air-cured tobacco commonly known aa Soothers Maryland tebaeco, Maryland Air-cured, or Maryland ■apart; and pr mim ed principally In southern Maryland. Type XI: That type of air-cured tobacco commonly known aa r Air -cured, Kentneky-Tinn— ii One-sucker, r, or Dark Air-cured One cocker, including the Upper Cosabertaad District One cocker; and produced principally in northern Ti en south central Kentucky, and southern That type of air-cured tobacco commonly known aa Grera River. Green River Air-cured, Henderson District Air-cured, Dark Air-rarvd of Ow—tinm. or Owensboro District Air-cured; in the Green River Section of Kentucky, II. ■J ■ That type of alr-eajred or known aa Virginia B eja par ed. Virginia Bun and Air-cored, or Dark Virginia Air-cored; and produced pricslpaly In the central section ef Venta. north of the J saves River. « I ISS 4 « li;VB FILLER TYPES Tyae 41: That type of cigar-leaf tobacco commonly known «. rYnnsylvanlaSecdlcaf, Pennsylvania Broadleaf, Pennsylvania Killer Type, or Lancaster and York Com • \ LEAF > CUTTERS U S DEPARTMENT Or AGRICULTURE NEC 3114 1 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS Figure 2.- Approximate stalk positions or the various CROUPS Or GRADES. - - Frc up nomally consists of ■ :.e bottom . Lugs a ' I lually thin to medium nd low in oil, and show a I .-.ount of injury ci. tic of leaves grown n-- A. Leaves of this group ar an other leaver iant except I ually have dull finish and le f color characteristic of Cutters, and Che; : Fine quality Leaf. Lugs are made up of ri; , .eaves at the very bottom of th .sually bf before they are ripe. If left to ma - may be lost. These leaves as ha -; y lack gr known in th* 1 trade as Primings. Primings are treated as a subgroup of Lug . -;ces b- I . Lugs and Primings (1) Lu .3 Primings are pr- , (2) Lugs are grainy whereas ..ts lack grain, and (3) L .eet odor chi ic of Flu - • obacco v.: odor. l the Lug 1 • . . Cutt thin to medium in body. longest plant. T -color shade and ish from • to dull ac ity. • distinguished fn • comp- toon injury istic of grown groun . Choi'- Lea of Cutters art- thr- smoothest • on the plan- cc p1 . "urther distinguished by , • ' Df th;- • :urfac(-. In curing, of th' nd Cutter groups tend to roll up so that lots o: rs shov;, on inspection, very little of I iribs. Tobacco of the pr p is msdiun to heavy I . his Lly havv ah f oil and wax (gum) the n those of the Cu' jroup. -/Choi- ..-.., jup narrower than Cutters and sterna (midribs) and ^co of this group usudly is not :s, do°s not have as light-color shado nor as hir . 3 , s of this group normally fold f la I . reby showing prominently the stems or mid- ribs. T: not have I , - ike ap: ?e characteristic of re. Tobacco of this g -urity •ly rip° according to quality. In some oaa leaves l 'ore being nan Ov ■- -.- C is of thinner body, has mc in oil, • orous, and shows a ci 'Vint o: -herac 4 that have passed beyond th*» normal itage of mat j as smo>: : is treated as ' tobacco in 1 :p will uaui rs. those snoot . .... ' cf injury. >e betw< if and I ia the deg: ic ity. must be « y. Wrappera sake up a *oup wh*»reas proupa which, all group di the first and basic factor of grades for tobacco, d tobf be physical charac detailed abovo >d to det- • the several groups. In addition to physical differences, there is, as shown by Darkis 1/ and his co-workers, a definite relationship •••vamical composition and the stalk position (group of tobacco). / have pointed out the correlation between the position of the leaves on • -Ik (group) and the usage of Flue-cured tobacco in its manufactured forme, subdivision divides each group into qualities. Th- a used to descrir lity are Choi Lns , Good, Fair, Low, and Common. Each of these is based on a combination of e 3 that go to make up quality of to- bac: . In ;red tobacco the final subdivision is on the basis of color. 1 qual. the several groups is divided into colors as required. The :sed to describe color in Flue-cured tobacco are Lemon, Orange, Red, . and Gree- . The group, quality, and color are combined to form the grade which describes a lot of tobacco* Below ar* 5 listed the groups, qualities, and colors used in grades for Flue-cured tobacco: Group_s Qualities Colors Wrappers Choice Lemon Leaf Fin* Orange Cutters Good Red Lugs Fair Dark-red Nondescri pt Low Gre^n Scrap Common Any combination of group, quality, and color can be made to form a For example, Cutters of Good quality in Orange color constitute a r.is method of expressing grades is too cumbersome for practical oses, symbols are used for each group, quality, and color. This simpli- .3 use of this system of grades. The symbols and the words they stand for (groups, qualities, and colors for Flue-cured tobacco) are given as lows : Groups A - 'Wrappers B - Leaf ittera X - Lugs - Nondescript 3 - Scran ^uaJLitjies 1 - Choice 2 - Fine 3 - Good 4 - Fair 5 - Low 6 - Common C_olors L - Lemon F - Orange R - Red D - Dark-red G - Gr Substituting symbols for words, Cutters of Good quality in Orange color :"irst symbol, C, indicates the group, the second _, 3, denotes the quality and the third symbol, F, describes the color. Bae ol U3ed in a Federal grade for tobacco has therefore a definite and known mean!:. . 1/ Industrial a rtry, Vol. 29, October 1936 -8- ■"•.13 cl rjsume I let ermine the grade of a . ot of tobacco. >n examination we find that it La clearly a Lug, so we know I t symbol of r.ould be "X". >.:*::- in ia.- it ind that it is thin to median in , fairly grain has a v.. .rates it is a Good Lug, or in other words, third jr. If It had been thoroughly ripe, fairly smooth, . , it would have been or second quality. If it had a smooth lug of clear finish end ■ oily, It would have been Choice lity. Going the- other •. t have found thet this Lug was only I or fourth quality; or Just Connon, or fifth quality. But Lng all actors into consideration I I It to be Good or add a " " -3 the aecond symbol and have M X3". This still is not comp] Br it does not indicate the Color. Thia particular lot we find to | ight c n color, so we add the syr.boi "L" making it ."? u complete description of the tobacco. As we shall find later, it is possible to consult the market news reports and see what prices • paid for other tobacco of the sane description. The • ten of grades for tobacco differs from private systems • . In the first pi- - I | ral system is, and must more comprehensive since it muat describe any and all lots of tobacco offered for sal*, whereas any prlvt te system applies only to the grades of tobacco purchased by the pcrticular firm that uses the system. In the second place, b prude symbol has a definite meaning which is known to the general public. cbove groups, ounli* . and colors, in combination, do not always describe e'ecur . lot or tobacco that has son- unusual characteristic or some part • phase of quality or color. To describe such lots of tobacco, special factors are used in addition to the usual grade symbols. For pie, .-scribes Lenf tobacco, of Fair quality, Orange color, in doubtful keep- ■ .3 of the groupn, qualities, colors, and special ' or 3 111 grades for . tobacco. Farmers > tinea confused by the fact thet th qualities, colors, and special factors can be combined to form a large " e r Of say that to^ ies are recognized becaa total numtrr cannot be ' I to their particular crops. It should •hot grades are used only as r L. These farmers say *h r * leral . pnadea than ^ed in prive- This does not • to be correct. For thf week ending OctoV tobucco sold on the a I Oxfora, N. C. was classified into ^ral gri of which 20 lots or more were sold. During t. :od its purchases which did not include 25 porc-nt c o sold during the wet 4; to 3 y a K 1 § z 1 2 o 1 M 9 4 ■- a o « 8 2 • i (/) U CL > O o o < O h i<» * 3uO §1 r5 "3 ° a 8 - s - Z Oua U "o m £ u 3 U O Out QUO M J > 3 » Si! »5 . i E . 3 o z u u u u o i : ;? J 2 o»- i 2 > 35o OuOt oxo §s U 3 a z s i a • J 6 1 ii VI 1 9 3 3 2 U Qt z o o< z z "o u < Oo u a u x K O B< O il. a 2 6 o « * U. -1 ? O CO u a o So 11 ►- o 35 = 5 < CO CO < — 1 o Q* o,, o z »2 OK z y -2 1 -10- Oj ... _._ . .. . ■■ . (1) ('.:■ . . IP tObLCC St. (2) to is ci a flat t ■ ts. (3) . lot, or : , is t q vmre house tic d on the lot . hews the name of t r and ths number of pjund3 of tobacco in the lot, end nay gr other infor purpose of : .is pr vie none • ; :-.bol of -, 'ind th<; pric nich the tobacco is sold. It elso has | fig. 4) . (4) Th:- lots, or baskets, Ln Line on t p >- or. (b) As soon as th ; good light, til ffleiul inspectors stcrt ct th- beginning of the "b - Le, and ns a pro- nation of each basket of tobcoo . (6) Hr.ving mad' si ; i ■: •.:•• I on, the- inspect r on the tick that ly tobacco in the lot, and si.- b initials. If the to- • or . tes B4R. If tobacco is made up of quality In color, the gre . ynbols nr 1 lot i up of Lufif. of Good quality in Orange color 1 rk is 33F. The war* 3 - • Lfioal ' typs of tobacco as w*ll as i' tality, and color. (7) When t. . • • ion starts on etch lot, the lot is announced for the information of all part. nsaction. Tot Fanners a f cone -ith production. :on of ;oo -a major part of tobacco p: ot spend enough time on *o diff of tobac i s not • ; to a )bacco al* .go is to the a qui 1 11 Buyer rOB M t (i INSPECTION < BBTU K 11 1 Thl. U>l..~r. In.porlnd by tt>* I . S. I>»p«rlmr»l *f V.r irullorr OB«Vr lh» Tobarro lo»l>«-«-t|on Arl. la rrr- nf.^d to b«: Type 12 Grade ■>«-> By. ( Inapt* tor) 0-Ls 3JL4L Lbs. BLANK'S No. L&aL TOBACCO INSPECTION CERTIFICATE Thl. U. ►>«■<-• iBaportod by the C. 8. I>rp«r1mrti( a* Agriculture tindrr tbr Tubor-co Inaprfttnn Art. la rrr- llflrd to b*: Type 12 Grade. _. X.J..A... f ' ffoio*) (Inapf-rtor) Figure 4.- TOBACCO WAREHOUSE TICKETS Upper - 3efore Inspection and Sale Lower - After Inspection and Sale -l: - Studies show that the gr* of the tobaj n is sold at prices within for each -.re in lino with equitable prices as • . I "S. The studies also one lots s^ll con- siderably normal prj ge for , and about the same or a s^lls in the price ri f tobacco that is twe : i. In both cases these prices ar^ entirely out of lir. .In the one case the seller r 3 too . for his tobr.cco and in the other he receives far too little. It is one grower, for sone unerplainec >n, is pal: for hia tobacco another is likely to be penalized. is th: iiiuies so much dissatisf-*ction and which could l* ell nd consistent use of the i: I ion service. The value c • StiOfl service lies in the fact that the certifi- es! bloke 1 provides tobacco grov.- unbiased /•tion regar . ity o: aob lot Oj ?co of: ith the price reports, this infornntion gives them POP l atelligent decision c: ' or not to accept a bid. The tob':ccc service opt-rates in connection with the i' - ■tion Sfrvic- . .ot of tobacco has been sold, and has been 30 : on tit c house books, o coupon i3 taken from the ware house ticket t of tobacco. These coupons, showir • pal grade 1 the pric .ch lot has been sold, are forwarded to a central office • to grade and I ; ch grad-. is celculht-id. These pric ,^d in th of daily end weekly prlo • >orts (figs. 5 and 6, - • 13 and 14). combination of insp' ction servi^ gives fair. .". iMormntion as to the grr.de of ci.ch lot of tobacco offered for sole ond txge price at which each grade ':. -t-ually -elling. " prlfl Lfl id by combining th». prices of all lots of . • • for the whole number of lots sold. ie lot probably been sold at prices above the av< p • and '• . grt.de will hi nd »- 1<- so f: in pri^ "".bly exp ' "ust hOv. hould be in prices be I ig to ;* pric '.fig. 6) it will b - for Lik3 durir. • ■: X1L, 339 p 100 po : , . .... Or. ould h pool in of Lur . ity, 1 >olor I I found by a Bi] • will be littl in V. for tobacco f X1L and t: . ; of t is ($39 - $35 ■ $4) . If $2 is add f ....... ly $?7 p<_T h -13- UNTTED STATES 1 Bureau o: omics Ral- • , '. : . C . . 193G. REPO RT - TYTE 11(b) -C table shows daily average prices for •'.: color grade? . ten group On the Oxford . . .Market Monday November 2. These avera- us are conputed ^ busis of a limited number of lots and are -ect only the general trend of the market. On, Oran • )ren Smoking Leaf Cutters Lug . . U. 3. U. 3. u. s. V ".•• . Average Grade rag* Grade ■ c $ 47.00 H1F 44.00 C1F x: 38.00 .00 40.00 C2F X2F 33.00 31.00 36.00 C3F 4o.00 x. 21.50 20.00 27.00 C4F 42.00 X4F 10.00 9.5C 14 . 50 C5F .00 X5F 5.: 5.50 j :_ -ocked sales. Offerings chiefly second to fifth quality . id • . ".bird to fifth quality cutters and first to fourth quality lugs, Leef (S group) predominated. - ■ : D TOBACCO A - rs - . B - C - Cuttei - Lugs . - H - script QUALITIES 1 - First Quality 2 - Second 3 - Third ■ 4 - Fourth " - : ■: ■ 6 - sin COLORS L - Lemon F - Or:. • - : ' D - Cork G - Green I IAL FACTORS K - Off color : - M :ced T - Tips V - Greenish Tinged U - Unsound - Doubtful keeping or . . fourth c , and I color. P.M. (S. . - Report :2TI Or ;au of A^- . es -14- Raleitfi, N. C, . 1 , 1936 . 11(b ) following tabl Oxfor . . :o on the October 29. Kt Based on 20 or Lots of 1 i 3. ..■ :. • ■ ing • .22 I Oc- . . . ■ Oc* . 1936 • >ugh Oc . 1936 ■- r- We . Ending Oc . Through Oc- . :. 6 r. FK B5FM |be: FV JB5RK >L ; ni ■ i 9.75 8.00 .00 8.00 .25 .50 . .50 . 6.25 . 30 8.25 . ont .00 - i 1 14.00 n 15.50 12.50 .30 8.50 .50 an . 30 47.00 50.00 . X) •■: .00 C4FV .00 . 35.00 .30 .00 .'. 1 . 7 5 7.: 5.75 . 7 5 C5L LV C5P 39.00 . 30 .00 38.00 23.50 B3: • . 30 . X) 27. . 30 .00 .X) . 12.00 . X) . X) : 35F B6D 36 GL .75 .50 .75 .25 .50 . ."5 . .00 P1L . • 1 • 39.00 .DO 38.00 : ; i ■ ! . . . . • . 30 • DC 14. H1F L t 341 347 19.00 19. L3, ! 9. . ,00 . 11.75 8.' YXZF .30 • .50 : . . P4F . .75 .25 7.7! H2B ■ . . 5. S.5C .25 3.73 21.! 25 • .. 27.00 . 25. L3. : • ll.i . . 1. 7 5 1.75 • 1.' ■ ■ . 1. 351 i .75 1 . ■ Bulk . r eased vol . \ smokj M«k. Third • xn $6 . to $65.00 and i and fin' . i to ; . . : ly. . - :; i -1. - -n prio • L and X3L ($35 - $-? - is $8. .If of ; is subtrac on $35, the side of .und to be approximately $31. At these prices X2L •ice fr . to $37 per hundred pounds. The range for other g- be fo I ime way. LI enable every farmer to know when his tobacco is col , . :ot, are in line with those already . on a grade basis, by the buyers. K T o further information is to market their tobacco on a basis of fair ' it ion. The ■:•: thir information is used determines its value to ceo growers. Actual instances will provide the best il- first instance, a farmer had several lots of tobacco tted. Two lots were placed in the same grade by the inspector. When bid in by the some buyer end placed in the same "company" :e price bid for one let was $28 per hundred pounds and for the indred pounds. The first price was in line with the average cond was far below the average. The farmer was dis. . ied but accepted the prices bid for both lots. Obviously the in- vs services were of no value to him because he made no us j of th( information supplied. Ir. • jond case, d farmer had several lots of tobacco inspected. lot of 250 pounds was bid in at $22.50 per hundred pounds which was Lily below the average price for the grade. The bid was rejected r old ■ 1 '.'■" p r hundred pounds. This price was above • - t.cc^pted. This farmer profited from he us„d the information as it should be used. could bj cited at length. The point i3 that if farmers to benefit from the inspection service and market news service they -.ation obtained. No one can successfully refute the " ' •- tion that enables farmers to reject abnormally low bids cr.d resell their tobacco at substantially higher prices is of great Qtial value in :. c ting tobacco. Iso be used to prevent rejections when bids er ls, c . by the sale of tobacco of the same grade. Usually ' th pric bid is . . to or higher than the average shown for the ■-•'. , r Taction is ua : , and often leads to disap- ■tell as 1033 of money by the f - . r. la brief , ^re designed find d to supply tobtcco ,- information - I .ill enabl ir crops . prices com. I .th quality and mar. - ! cnnnc t and mine the gr >bacco as well as Sov that in tho majority of I they can, and do, since the bulk of sales are made at ; -.oraal range for re are • •ibnomally low prices to be explain • ion may be found in the rate at which tobacco is sold irnal rate at which flue-cured tobacco is auctioned is 360 lc- or 1 lot for each 10 seconds, '.."hen sales are unusually is faster t the rate is slow conditions the warehouse star* id buy ist determine ity, and color of a lot of tobacco evary 10 . • : . It is • doubtful wheth ;e determinations cm be con t this " of speed du les ying lipht conditions. To a large ext in prices fo: f tobacco nay be explained by errors in judg- rt of star • d * t vrhlc Id. . under v;hich tobacco is sold. Som- - ■ Laced on * loor where th satisfactory. It :. in q dr rk c .or uni p 'kylifht tnr. the su:. lir Btly on tho tobacco. Both conditions render mirations very I , ten -^e of tobacco. -of sales or vorabK light - ecn be y attributed to or • 111 aff< ot 3 of t by in- ct ion sc nrlo . • ' . , • :•..:• . d by speed . , Bt thr pro v id '- p ieb g rush four I lired. ] • • • zco se- ct ru. to oake nor- thorou co-. - t ions of , lot Edition, of thos^ lot3 of tobacco ^ry ligi * for i' - t ion of . Farmers frequently a of tobacco is Increase • p * ion3 of the inspect J is ir. • 1 and in others it is no* . d by the soil i under cultural prnctic- or me* . skill it is cur way i: she Index to n -roup, quality, i. In the case of those lots of tobacco thai their grade or ^co is selling at or abov i has not increased ti L- . -1 But there are exceptions. the an no unc orient of th* rrnde may n\ -ion to a lot '..hich o1 Mould be overlooked; in such ceses prices are Ly increased. In the case of lots that are bid I materially : rhe average for their grade, the price can be materially increased by the proper use of the information suppli- by the inspection and market news services. If the bids are rejected and the tobacco is resold, the lots generally sell -.vithin the price range Tor their grades and the sales price is materially increased in such 01 Far hould realize that both services are informational. The does not promote sales. The market news service does not establish pric-.s; it only records current average prices established by sales of tobacco. If the service is properly used it will go far toward preventing the losses now suffered by growers through tobacco that is knocked n at less than its current market value. If the information is not ap- plied it will have no influence on pric :7iers c ay that the services have helped then, wh^n their to- bacco sells at average prices or higher per grade, as shown in the price c port ris is especially true when the grades assigned to lots are higher than the farmers expected. On the other hand, they are prone to complain that the sea have been of no value when thuir tobacco is bid in at prices belo averages for the several grades. conclusions are not entirely justified. It is often true that announcement of the grade to the buyers helps the sale, but it is also "hat in many cases, possibly in most case 3, the price vrould have been about the same even if the tobacco had not been inspected. The important point to bear in mind is that the object of inspection and market news ^o_le_t_the_farmer_ k_n£v.^v/h_j^he_r_the_p£i^e_o£fc_red_is £ight_ or th £ 11 I l-£ l.ow. The tobi ceo probably would have sold at the if it had not been inspected so that direct assistr.nc-' cannot be attributed to the inspection service. Conversely, when tobacco is in- spected and the lots are bid in nt prices materially below th-- averages for their grades, farmers are disappointed and inclined to find fault with the ; tion service. In the latter case they have unbiased in- formation that their tobacco has been undersold. The trouble here is not with the servic. but with themselves. The service made it possible fc; • 5 to know that they were not getting a fr.ir price for their tobacco, but th -led to use the information. :s kind of information can now be obtained only through the in- spection ;t news services. If used properly it is of direct con- re ial value to farmers but if it is ignored the benefits of the inspec- tion end market news services are largely lost. In addition to the practical benefits that individurl Pfl should •on inspection and market news services, it has oft^n been found that these services contribute to smoother running stiles and a more even UNIVERSITY OF FLOKIUA ilium mini 3 1262 08921 4711 i >u v*ny ud rrl -w i