In their unique language, auctioneers on all three floors of the Rhodesian Tobacco Producers building in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, swung into voluble action April 13, after opening of the internationally famous Salisbury Tobacco Auction.

If this year's crop sells as expected, it will reach GBP30 million (Rhodesia) for the first time. The 1959 crop brought GBP27,600,000; and the 1958 crop was worth GBP23,300,00. Four sales will be held every day - with the exception of Saturday and Sunday - for the next six months.

Normally the Auction opens before mid-March, but a combination of climatic factors, such as the late start of the rainy season and the January drought, this year held up the crop, and this in turn delayed curing and baling.

The crop shows an average yield per acre of between 900 and 1,000 pounds. Rhodesia has never before averaged a crop yielding more than 900 pounds per acre. In total weight this year's crop is likely to reach more than 200,000,000 pounds.