ELEMENTS AND DEGREES OF QUALITY IN TOBACCO
 Classified by the Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, for the purpose of standard-
izing terms used in describing tobacco qualities and to assist in correctly interpreting grade specifications. While the
several degrees of each element are arranged to show their relative value, the actual value of each degree varies with
type and grade. In each case the first and last degree shown represent the full range of quality for the element and the
intermediate degrees show gradual steps between them.


 Elements
 of
 Quality
Smoothness
Maturity
Body
Width
Porosity
Color Shade
Finish
Uniformity
Oil (or life)
Cleanness
Soundness
Texture
Elasticity
Solodity
Strength (Ten.)
Wax (or gum)
Grain
Flatness
Fiber Size
Fiber Color
Shape of Tip


RELATIVE DEGREES OF QUALITY


Silky
Overripe
Heavy
Broad
Spongy
Pale
Bright
Uniform-10 %
Fat
Clean
Sound
Fine Tex.
Elastic
Hard
Tough
Waxy
Grainy
Flat
Fine Fibers
Conforming F.
Round Tip


 (b)
Smooth
Mellow
Fleshy
Spready
Porous
Light
Clear
Harmonizing-15%/
Rich in Oil
Dirty
Unsound
Good
Semi-esastic
Compact
Strong
Free of Wax
Not Grainy
Even Surface
Small Fiber
Blending F.
Oblate Tip


Unrough
Ripe
Medium
Normal Width
Open Weave
True Color
Normal Finish
Similar-20%
Oily

Damaged
Medium Tex.
Stretchy
Firm
Normal St.

Wavy
Med. Fibers
Emerging F.
Sharp Tip


Coarse
Unripe
Thin
Narrow
Close Weave
Dusky
Dull
Unmingled-25%'
Lean

Fair Tex.
Non-elastic
Flabby
Weak

Puckered
Large Fibers
Contrasting F.
Pointed Tip


Rough
Immature
Tissuey
Stringy
Tight Weave
Dark
Cloudy
Unmixed-30%
Dead

Poor Tex.

Flimsy
Tender

Shrunken
Coarse
Clashing F.


Crude



Dingy
Mixed-30%/


Curled


Injury The amount or percentage of injury.
Cure Well-cured or characteristics of excessive, insufficient, or improper curing.
Venation The number of degrees in the average angle between the main fibers and midribs.
Color & Length Color and length are elements of quality when they are not otherwise classified.
Yield The potential quantity of a given tobacco product which can be produced, per unit, from tobacco of a
 certain type, grade, size, form, condition, or moisture content.
Waste Opposite of yield. Portions which are dead, lifeless, and do not have sufficient strength or stability to
 hold together in normal manufacturing process, or due to excessive injury of any kind.
NOTE: The words "Very" or "Fairly" are used in the sense of more and less, respectively. They may be used in con-
 nection with a degree of quality to express finer distinctions.