, 1885-05-17
THe HOME oE rae Havana.
Some of tho secrets Of the c~iear-MakinE
Industry of Cuba

Some Of tho Secrets OF the cigar-MakinE
Industry of Cuba
tcuha Cor. IndiAnAp' lis JournaIl
The manufacture of cigars in Havana
is carried on with more care, skill and
thoroughness than in any part OF tho
world. 1t is greatly to this circumstance
that the finer aroma and flavor OF cigars
made there are due. Natural differ
ences in the various kinds OF tobacco
and climatic causes, or course, have
much to do with this superior aroma
and flavor; but, even if other countries
had the Havana leaf, they could not
produce the same excellent cigars. One
reason why cigarmakers in Cuba are
more skillful is because they eonfine
themselves to one brand only. The
cigars are made with such exactitude
and perfection that they appear to have
been nodded. Not the smallest stem or
rib is allowed to show in any n of the
four or five layers Of Havana used. The
genuine Havana has a fragrance, apart
from that which the quality Of the leaf
and careful seasoning imparts, which
must DO attributed to the modus oper-
and Of the cigarmaker and the meth
DDS OF manufacturing.
Our favorite brand is manufactured
Immediately after the plant has gone
through he process of fermentation,
and while the leaf is almost colorless.
Some people think that fresh tobacco is
more easily handled, because it is softer
and more elastic, but in reality this is
not so. Most kinds of tobacco in Ha-
wanna must be immersed in water be-
fore they can be worked. Cellars are
unknown there, and, in consequence,
tobacco becomes drier by heat and
draughts than in other countries. Ha-
wanna tobacco undergoes fermentation
twice, first when ii is laid up in heaps,
and again when it is packed in bales.
The stronger and heavier kinds require
a seasoning Of eight months before they
attain such a degree of coloring that
they can be used, II the leaves are
worked much earlier they yield princi-
pally third-class cigars
Havana furnishes the world with
cigars, and in no other place in tho
world are there so many cigar factories.
Much of the pleasant aromatic flavor of
the Havana cigar is due the fact that the
filters are stripped and packed in or
binary flour or potato barrels and al
lowed to remain six months. The
longer the filters are stored the stronger
the flavor becomes. The method of
making cigars in other countries is very
defective, as the exquisite flavor is lost
by toe much drying. Rainy weather
always interferes with the manufacture
of cigars, as tobacco easily absorbs
moisture. The filters must always be
dry before they can be worked. Poor
tobacco is improved by being a~rtifcially
favored with Catalan wine, which. un-
diluted, is entirely too strong to drink.
The manufacturer never estimates how
many pounds of tobacco will be needed
for 1000 cigars, but estimates how
many cigars car be made from a bale.
In making a cigar, the workmen takes
two or three pieces Of leaf and places
them flat in his left hand; he her takes as
many smaller pieces as may be required,
rolls them all together in tho hand, and
finally applies the wrapper. His chief
object is to cover the veins or place
them all on n side. By this tho sknl-
full manipulation may be recognized. An
Impractical maker will make third
rate cigars out Of first-class tobacco.
Another test OF a good workman is the
amount OF scraps he makes a day. A
good cigar-maker will average only one
half pound. The heads Of the Havana
cigar are not fastened with gum or any
other sticky substance, but simply by
wheat bread. This is tasteless, and ey-
cry workman carries a well-kneaded
portion with him With very fine la
yanas nothing is used to fasten the ends
but they are secured by many skillful
twistings that wind into each other.
Everybody in Havana smokes,
but the ladies in high life are
rather secretiye about the matter.
The cigar-men smoke continually, and
when the employer does o supply
them freely with cigars of tho finest
quality the laborers steal them. First
class cigars hayeR fine, smooth appear
ance, the wrapper being without veins
and OF a beautiful color. Second and
third class cigars are of fine quality,
but not SO well made. The different
grades Of cigars may be recognized by
the different colors Of silk bands that
bind them in bundles. Great care is
taken in embellishing the boxes of fine
cigars, some of the orders Of the nobil-
ity in foreign countries being elaborate
in the extreme.