62 FLUE-CURED TOBACCO IN FLORIDA

lap sheets in a circular manner with the stems pointing out-
ward. The tobacco may then be held or stored until the
market opens, or until the grower desires to sell it. Sheets
sizes may be varied up to 300 pounds; 300 pounds is the top
limit for a sheet of tobacco.

 Every sheet of tobacco has to be inspected by government
graders before it is sold at which time the group, quality,
and color classifications are given. Example (X3L) X=Lug
Group, 3rd quality, (good) and L, indicates color, lemon.
Figure 34 gives a complete breakdown on grade classifications.
Figure 35 shows the marketing ticket giving needed informa-
tion on each lot of tobacco. Farmers should be keenly aware of
marketing influences and carefully study the market, this
will often be very profitable.

 Table 13 shows warehouses charges on auction floors within
the flue-cured markets.

 A comparison of tobacco quality and color by types is shown
in table 14. It should be of interest to note the differences in
percentages by groups and color of leaf.

 For example, type 12 for the market year of 1955 and 1956
shows that 2.7 percent of the tobacco marketed was green,
in type 14, the percentage was 5.4, or twice as much. The
practice of harvesting and marketing green tobacco is very
costly.

 Another striking contrast is in the amount of non-descript
tobacco reported from the two areas. From (type 12) 4.6
per cent whereas from (type 14) 8.3 per cent of the entire
crop was non-descript.
 In comparing quality areas ranked on grade (3) type 12,
had 8.2 per cent of the leaf group which graded good, while
type 14 had 4.9 per cent.
 For fair quality, grade 4, 19 per cent in type 12 and 14.7
per cent in type 14.
 For low quality grade 5, 18.6 per cent in type 12 and 21.4
per cent in type 14.
 For poor quality grade 6, 9.5 per cent in type 12 and 14
per cent for type 14.