Happened to come across an article at inseason.com about the tobacco baskets we used to use here in Southern Maryland. Every spring the convoy of trucks would come north up 301 from North Carolina. They would have a 2 week window of time to have an tobacco auction at each warehouse. As our barn was on the pickup list about 50 baskets would be dropped off outside the barn. My job was to inspect and weigh the baskets - MD law had a set weight for all baskets so I sorted them in 3 piles inside the barn.
The first ones made were the red crop or brite using the best bottom baskets I could find, then yellow brite,seconds (slightly damaged) and dull. Bundles (hands) were put in the basket two in the center, then start in the corner with 2 bundles, then 2 more about 6 inches away until you went all the way around. Then put 2 more in the center and repeat until you get 5 feet high. Then you would add about 10 more bundles spiralling inward and hope you dont turn the whole thing over getting off. You would then put a basket off the OK pile on top and tie it down. Some of the OK baskets would be filled with tips, scraps or ground leaves and topped with baskets in the reject pile while we were waiting for the truck to return.
When the truck showed up - they would throw another 20 baskets off and load what they could starting with the brite. (And the whole process would start again - usually took two loads)
At the warehouse the baskets would be taken off the truck on sleds - a type of handtruck. The top basket would be thrown on the return pile and the tobacco, bottom basket and sled weighed. The scale man would note the basket name and number and weight - the scale was already adjusted to subtract the sled and basket. A wooden stick with the farmers name and weight would be stuck in the top.
The auctioneer, probably the same one from the inseason article started his song in the morning to the tobacco buyers who would make bids on each basket.
Tobacco then was pressed into hogsheads and sent south by flatbed tractor trailer.
This would continue until time to move to the next warehouse, with workers taking everything with them except the building and scales.
Pics of tobacco baskets can be found on google, there is a forgotten basket of tobacco on my uncles farm I will take a pic of.... probably the last of its type.
The first ones made were the red crop or brite using the best bottom baskets I could find, then yellow brite,seconds (slightly damaged) and dull. Bundles (hands) were put in the basket two in the center, then start in the corner with 2 bundles, then 2 more about 6 inches away until you went all the way around. Then put 2 more in the center and repeat until you get 5 feet high. Then you would add about 10 more bundles spiralling inward and hope you dont turn the whole thing over getting off. You would then put a basket off the OK pile on top and tie it down. Some of the OK baskets would be filled with tips, scraps or ground leaves and topped with baskets in the reject pile while we were waiting for the truck to return.
When the truck showed up - they would throw another 20 baskets off and load what they could starting with the brite. (And the whole process would start again - usually took two loads)
At the warehouse the baskets would be taken off the truck on sleds - a type of handtruck. The top basket would be thrown on the return pile and the tobacco, bottom basket and sled weighed. The scale man would note the basket name and number and weight - the scale was already adjusted to subtract the sled and basket. A wooden stick with the farmers name and weight would be stuck in the top.
The auctioneer, probably the same one from the inseason article started his song in the morning to the tobacco buyers who would make bids on each basket.
Tobacco then was pressed into hogsheads and sent south by flatbed tractor trailer.
This would continue until time to move to the next warehouse, with workers taking everything with them except the building and scales.
Pics of tobacco baskets can be found on google, there is a forgotten basket of tobacco on my uncles farm I will take a pic of.... probably the last of its type.
