Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-05-24
The Tobacco Interest.


The following letter WAS sent to us last
Friday by Charles A. Martin, secretary of the
Leaf Tobacco Association Of Baltimore, with
the suggestion that it might prove interesting
to our readers. Mr.. Lauts. as is we'll known,
is one of the most prominent buyers and ship
pers Of tobacco in Baltimore what he says
with regard to the packing Of tobacco intended
for the French market is equally applicable to
all tobacco that is shipped to foreign ports
II might be we'll, therefore, Tor our planter: to
give this matter due affection. We might also
state that this association is composed of com.
mission merchants and dealers in leaf tobacco
generally in Baltimore: "
To the Leaf Tobacco Association Of b Mmore
Gentlemen When ! read last fall Of =
movement being on foot On the part Of the
planters of Maryland tobacco in Prince Georges
county to improve the condition of their crop,
particularly in regard to the demands of the
French Government, !, then contemplating 3
"trip to Europe, concluded to investigate tht
matter in Paris and report my experience.
now take the liberty of doing so through
the medium Of your association, hoping tha,
some benefit will be derived thsreirom. TAX.
ing the standpoint that q higher standard OF
packing Maryland tobacco would be equally
bene fetal both 10 grox srs and handlers Of the
weed, l with it particularly understood that
90 selfish motives prompt me to this report,
and trust that my endesvors will he prsper
regarded by your association. Should you
think proper this communication may be ex-
tended TO the growers, and if some benefit
should result, would be proud 10 having beer
in it.
co by the French Reggie. let me begin ~i,h th.
sampling in France. The hogshtads are bro
ken in three place, and three bundles taken
out of each u the breaks, representing th.
short, medium sad long ,obsccos contained
therein. Thus the samples by which the in.
spectors of the Reggie make their cl.ssi6ca, On,
IN accordance with the types, contain nine
bundles, and represent pretty we'll the contents
Of the h.gsheads, and you will perceive from
Jour general knowledge.of the packing Of Mary.
land tobacco, that many Of these samples must
have been badly mixed. The French inspee-
tors. .hile acting very fairly and in maay in
stances liberally, are working strictly 10 con.
formiiy With Art. 80 Of the Government rules
the connset, which says that sam
Piles conisiRing bundles inferior TO any one OF
the official types, shall be reduced to the nexi
lowest class, which virtually means that ID.
bogshead shall be cisssed according TO the
worst or loves, sdsliiy Of tobacco contained
in the sample. The result during the pas,
years has consequently BEEN that ell mixed
hogsheads have been mercilsssly elAssed dow ~
and hence no contractor or buyer for the Re-
gle will be able to buy mixed hogskeads st q
his her price than that Of the lowest grade re-
presented in the sample. All the better ,obse-
COS contained in such bogshesds are thus .ir-
tually sacrificed, aud TO some extent made .
presen, to the Reggie. Peimi, me TO cay there
fore, that by . earefll assortment Of their to-
bacces the planters Of Maryland will hes, serve
their own Interests, inasnueh a. they thus en-.
able the krsneh eontsacier TO ailos iull value
for What be buys, knowing then ,ha, be esa
deliver the tobacco accordisR to sample. ast
therefore according to type. would add that
''secobds' do sst at ell sui, the French de
m-nds, and hogsbesds containing such sre De.
elassi6ed likewise. While they sre 10 good
demand in o,h'r eeun,rirs, particularly in Ger.
mssy and Holland. they srs. direct hiedrAces
to good deliveries In France. Thesefots 10
this regard also palma should b taken in the
assortment and ,hpnsnt Of Maryland tobacco.
r.n.in. ses,lemes. yours very r..pec,fully.
hgxsy LAcvs. ;