The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-13
Pot Cigars.

| eyes, sir, don't know Of better
judge of cigars than General Grant, and
his taste is generally for a domestic
cigar of good long filling, Sumatra
wrapper, rather green, and Of the shape
called Flor de Fuma,' said dealer in
Chicago. Tho reporter was attracted
by this talk to ask some questions about
cigars and the making, as well as Il few
casual side talks aY to who smoke good
cigars, and the demand; and he tells
| us:
There are many hundred factories of
all kinds i'll this country. and they turn
out thousands on thousands of all sorts
and styles. 1t is becoming known that
these cigars are about as fine as any,
and even excel imported by reason Of
their superior make and shades. The
flavor, however, is what t',g%lome man
ufacturers cannot catch. Lie CuDalls
seem determined to hang on to this
trick or highly ilavoring their brands.
The cigar trade increases daily, and
each year less smoking tobacco sees it's
way into the pipe-howl. The demand
also increases for domestic cigars. 1t
is the make and wrapper that nowadays
counts. Good manufactures use Con-
necticut leaf for wrappers. 1t is seldom
seen around cheap cigar. The Suma-
ira leaf is also largely used for high
priced cigars. 1t is broader than the
Connecticut, and has shorter stems.
The Sumatra leaf is imported in bags
Of from 100 to ITO pounds, and the duty
has lately been nearly doubled on this
tobacco. 1t is nearly 35 cents on the
dollar now. A leading firm here made
quite Il speculation out Of it by reason
of having stored a large quantity of the
leaf before the duty was put on. One
thing that generally msleads most
smokers is that they imagine IL dark
colored wrapper to he u strong cigar.
There is no naturally dark tobacco. 1t
is dried properly into brown color; that
is natural. Amy other color is sweat
ed or colored with the juice from the
stems, and are not natural. The
choice of Il cig3r should 0e medium
brown, about four and half inches
long, and either ''Flor de Fuma" or
'uavana Stub' shaped. These are
more popular. The best Judges pick
out these styles Of cigars in either do
mestic or imported brands.
On the question Of wrappers there
are many opinions. Some think the
Sumatra, others the Havana, others
Connecticut leaf the best. Wisconsin
| ~ hho" oSlullS ouU L ITO" Slfl0 lCal.
broad, good stock for WRAPPERS, that is
now claiming attention. 1t is grown
from Havana, and apparently does as
well, il not better, than in it's native
land. Some dealers predict a great
future III tobacco raising fer Wisconsin.
Ohio also raises Il leaf for wrappers, but
1T is not much in use. It hasnOt attained
any great degree Of perfection in cuiti-
vatlon. Outside those named there is
only the pennsylvania leaf that is used
for wrappers. 1t is claimed for this
product that it is too bitter. The to-
DaccO for filling cigars comes mostly
from Conn ecticut, Wisconsin, Ohio,
Cuba, and the West Indies. Havana,
tobucco is the best, and il used in both
long and short Filings. The former is
the regular leaf filling, not cut ND to
amy extent, while the latter is cuttings
from the leaf that cannot be used for
wrappers, and sometimes the stems cut
up fine. A long filler is, of course, the
best. but also the most expensive. The
claim is made by old dealers that the
New York cigars are playing Harry
with the trade. They are regular
cheating draiiiis, very highly favored
and poorly made. There is great
howl going up about these cigars. The
| hoAh Ililio duottI a ClSdi 10 consider Is
the binder. This 1T is that holds the
cigar together. Tho Connecticut
second or ground leaf is mostly used
for this purpose. 1t is we'll calculated
for binders, as it is strong and well
| Favored.
~ new feature in the cigar business
is the introduction here now Of Cali
fornla cigars. They get the leaf else
where and the cigars are made up by
Chinese, who become very expert in
rolling them. They can't be sold on
the Pacific coast, 80 they are sent East,
and are frequently rebranded and sold
by large dealers rs a domestic brand
made East. They are cheap and fine
looking, and when put on the market
at less price than homemade cigars can
be sold cheaper. This new feature has
caused great deal of the bitter war
between the cigar-makcrs' union and
some OF the factories and dealers. They
are denominated coolies. Then there
arc the tenement house cigars made in
Now York cheaply by the people
who live in tenement houses, The
stock is measured out and issued to
them, and the work il done at their
filthy rooms. These are some of the
things that tirst-class local munufactur-
erers have to contend against to compete
III good brands OF cigars with imported
goods.
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Use Of Fruits.