(2) Porto Rico Cigars.
}Used for cigars made in those places.
(3) Philippine Cigars.
(4) Clear Havanas. This term denotes a cigar made by hand in the U. S. of Cuban tobacco exclusively and in the same style as in Cuba.
(5) Seed and Havana. Up to about 50 years ago there were no clear Havanas made in the U. S., the best produced being a combination of Havana leaf and leaf grown in the states from imported Havana seed. Hence the term which ordinarily means an American made cigar, the filler being wholly or partly of Cuban tobacco and the wrapper, a domestic or Sumatran leaf.
(6) Domestic Cigars. This term is used for cigars made in the U. S. in contra-distinction to imported cigars.
(7) Nickel Goods. Ordinary 5c cigars made either entirely, of domestic tobacco or with a Sumatran wrapper, and usually made partly or wholly by machine. It also usually includes “segundos” or “seconds,” i. e., cigars of a better type made to sell at higher prices but which on account of some defect are rejected on inspection. Sometimes clear Havanas made of scrap filler and inferior wrapper are included. These cigars have a vast variety of designations and make up the general stock of most cigar stores. The cost of production does not usually exceed $20.00 per thousand and they sell to dealers at from $25.00 to $30.00.
(8) Stogies, Tobies, Etc. Cheroots. Cigar shaped rolls of cheap domestic tobacco made quickly by machine, and of various sizes. Cheroots are open at both ends. The filler of stogies is usually a western grown leaf of full size, but rough quality. They are manufactured principally in Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Wheeling, etc.
One of the large tobacco companies operates about 25 large cigar factories in various centers of the U. S. Here are made all classes of domestic cigars, but all are made under the same conditions of sanitation, economic handling and strict supervision. The leaf is prepared, selected, fermented, blended, etc., in the company’s own special leaf houses and is despatched to the various factories as needed. All the better class of domestic cigars are hand-made, machinery being used in making the cheaper grades. There are special factories for the making of “little cigars,” of which a vast number are made on account of their popularity. These include the package goods and those put up in cardboard boxes of which such brands as “Virginia Cheroots” and “Royal Bengals” are types. By the terms “little cigar” the trade recognizes all cigars under the regular standard size and which weigh less than 3 pounds per thousand. In some “little cigar” factories these little cigars are not made from inferior leaf. They are made usually from the small leaves of the tobacco intended for higher priced goods, but which on account of faulty size cannot be used. The leaf is, however, cured and prepared in exactly the same way. In addition the “scrap” or waste portions of the high priced leaf is used for fillers for little cigars. The little cigars of this type are usually of first-rate quality and on account of their small cost give excellent value to the smoker.
Cigars. Miscellaneous
There are a good many terms used in the cigar trade to denote color, size, quality, etc., which smokers should know the meaning of. Most of these terms are Spanish, because the cigar trade was for a long time confined to Cuba.
Terms used to denote the quality of cigar leaf