Gross sales and . ;.!ue of the 1952 Old Belt fluc-or.red tobacco crop weie the .second largest on record. However,' the general average decreased lioin tlie pre vious yj-ar, chiefly because of lower quality offerings. The Virginia Department of Agriculture reports season gross sales i Include resales > totaled 327,536.803 pounds lor a value of 158.6 million dollars. The average was $48.43 per hundred, or $2.02 below the one for t.ie 1951 crop. The voliiine exceeded tnat for the prior year by 15.4 million pounds, or 5' , . and was below only the 333.2 million pounds sold in 1946. Value of the crop topped last season's by 1.1 million uollars. and ranked second to the 1950 history peak. Average prices for most leaf and smoking leaf grades moved up over quotations foi the 1951 ci op. On the other hand, nondc- 1 script and primings .mowed loss cs. Cutters and lugs were un- , changed to lower. Most grades surpassed their respective loan: rates by $2.00 to si.00. Nonde script and several leaf grades of red. mahogany, and ualnut colors averaged 50c to $2.50 under their loan rates. Growers delivered 60.9 million pounds, or 18.6'r of gross sales, to the Stabilization Coiporation tin der tlie Government loan pro gram. This compares with 44 9 million pounds, or 14 4':, of sales, turned over to the Corporation in 1951. Opening auctions were held Monday, September C2. Most of the markets closed between the period of December 10-19 inclu sive. Three markets re-opened after Christmas holidays — the first time sales have been held in January since the 1947-48 sea son Final sales weie held Jan uary 9. A flup-cured lobat.c quota of 1.294 million pound.: lias been announced for U.e 1953-54 ; marketing year. Converting this quota tio acres on .lie basis of average yields during the five years 1047-51. the 1553 acreage allotments total appioximalely 1.048.000 acres compared with 1.127.400 acres alloUeu for 1952. Allotments for most farms will be 8't lesd in 1953 than in 1952.

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