US Patent 4,771,794 assigned to BAT GmbH, FRG. In a method and an apparatus for controlling the physical properties of a rod of smokable material the actual values of at least two physical properties, in particular resistance to draw and hardness or deformation are detected. The differences between said actual values and predetermined desired values are determined and control signals derived therefrom are compared. The particular instantaneously largest control signal is supplied to a single actuator, that is an ecreteur or a hopper. An autoselector circuit with maximum selection is used to compare the control signals.