All tobacco grown upon the island of Cuba is not of the finest quality; the majority of it is far inferior to the best Mexican coast tobacco. The value of the tobacco lands of this last mentioned country has not been fully developed. The variety of soil, exposure, climate, and atmospheric influences are greater than can possibly be in Cuba, and when the best is discovered, combining all the requisites, which undoubtedly will be the case with an increased culture of the plant, it will be found to be equal to the Vuelta Abogo of Cuba, and much more extensive. The subject of tobacco lands, evidently, is not well understood in Mexico, as it must be, from great experience, in Cuba. All of these varieties of lands and circumstances exist in Mexico, and it is safe to predict that, at some day, this country will stand pre-eminent over all others in this industry.
We extract the following from the Tobacco Leaf in regard to cigar-making in Cuba:—
"The rule is that a cigar-maker devotes all his ingenuity and diligence to one class of goods. For example, one workman makes only Londres; another only Regalias; another only Milores Communes; and so on. In the Cuban's factory the operatives are allowed to smoke as many cigars as they like when at work; and to take home with them, when they leave work in the evening, five cigars each. The immigration of Chinese laborers into Cuba has modified, and must further modify, the labor market there. In the cigarette factories at Havana, Chinese workmen are almost exclusively employed. Though objectionable for many of their moral habits, these workmen are nevertheless docile, ingenious, laborious, and contented."
A writer, alluding to the manufacture of cigars, says:—
"The colors or strengths are Amarillo Claro, bright yellow; Amarillo Obscuro, dark yellow; Claro, bright; Colorado Claro, bright red; Colorado, red; Colorado Obscuro, dark red; Colorado Maduro, red-ripe or mellow; Maduro, ripe or mellow; Maduro Obscuro, dark ripe or mellow; Pajizo Claro, bright straw-colored; Pajizo, straw-colored; Pajizo Obscuro, dark straw-colored; Fuerte, strong or heavy; Entre Fuerte, rather strong or heavy; Flajo, light. Then there are the indications of the qualities:—Superfine; Firo, not quite so fine; Flor, finest or firsts; Superior, next, or seconds; Buenos, next, or thirds. The cigar has a notable history. First has to be determined the part of the plant from which it is taken; then the part of the leaf from which it is taken, the tobacco being best which is furthest away from the root or middle of the leaf. One elaborate process follows another for the perfection of a work of art—for as such we must regard a cigar."
Hazard, in his admirable work on Cuba, devotes considerable space to cigars, their manufacture, varieties, and use, in which he speaks of the various brands as follows:—
"The brands known as 'Yara Mayau,' and the 'Guisa,' are perhaps the most celebrated made upon the Island. Of the 'Yara,' which has some considerable reputation, particularly in the London market, I confess I cannot speak favorably. Cigars that I smoked made from this leaf, and which are much smoked in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba, I found had a peculiar saline taste which was very unpleasant, as also a slight degree of bitterness; many smokers, however, become very fond of this flavor. When I state that in Havana alone there are over one hundred and twenty-five manufacturers of cigars, it will readily be understood there must be a great many inferior cigars made even in Cuba. Havana may be called the 'City of cigars,' from its reputation and the immense number of factories there are in it for the manufacture of cigars, from the smallest shop opening on the street, employing three or four hands to the immense fabricos erected expressly for this purpose, and employing five or six hundred.
Cuban Cigar Shop.