Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-10

potatoes. Climate and seasons are all dis
mmilar. The North is exclusively field
for the culture of cigar leaf-tobacco, as
have said. The growth of this industry
has been checked by the competition, IN
Sumatra tobacco. IL Is dearer than either
native or Havana. but u goes further, ana,
owing to the nature of tho leaf, more can
be done with Sumetra than with the Ike
quantity of any other tobacco in manu-
featuring cigars"
About 90 900, 600 pounds Of cigar-leaf are
required to make our annual product OF
cigars, OF little less than twopounds each
TO every man, woman, and child IN the
United States. The 4.O00,000,000 cigars
manufactured would give every member OF
our sixty millions population ego each per
annum, or, assuming that there are twenty
millions of male smokers in Uncle Sans
domain. they would be entitled to an ave-
rage of / 800 cigars apiece-an allowance OF
nearly six weeds per diem.
A NATION OF SMOKERS.
Next 10 Germany and Turkey we are fast
getting TO be the greatest nation OF
smokers on earth. For our total domestic
manufacture OF tobacco we require about
$50, 0oO, 900 pounds, which includes snuiii,
chewing, and smoking also. What is LETT
over of our leaf product is taken Nv foreign
countries, where it is evidently better ap-
preciated than it is at home, less for its ap-
pearance than for its good quality. =.
Americans ought certainly TO be quail
fed smokers. ;" said the manufacturer; and
yet they are of all nations tho least particu-
lar about the cigars they use. They want
the best. of course, and they pay the best
price, but seldom get the article. You see,
there is an artistic as well as a commercial
way of looking at tobacco. If know TO q
surety where certain grade Of tobacco Is
grown, | can tell pretty safely what its true
quality and bouquet will be. Thus
we say that the leaf raised IN the
Vuelta Abaio district IN Cuba-where
the tobacco plantations run from
300 TO 600 acres each-is very fine ana
valuable grade because 1t IS raised on ylr-
gin soil and does not require the use OF fer
tilzers or any thing TO make It gross. The
same argument could be applied 10 much
of our own tobacco in the West and South,
of course. but the leaf would be altogether
different in consequence of the variation
in the climate. But if ! know that con-
signment Of leaf is the growth of certain
section Of excellent land. which IS culti-
waited by q skilled raiser then Am morally
certain that have good article that viii
repay smoking"
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVANA AVID sUNfATEA.
what is the principal difference be-
tween Havana, Sumatra, and the native
leaf-tobacco?
"Oh, You can detect it at once. See:
the Havana leaf is dark, smooth, glossy,
and rich in natural oil, like q piece of old
satin: some of it beautifully faded into
deep brown. The fibre IL strong but not
coarse, and the general texture of the leaf
such rs one would expect TO find in that
latitude. The Sumatra leaf is finer. light
or. thinner, and glossier, like a piece OF
China silk, but more Opaque; wlry, yet
smooth, and for all the world like
the surface Of a cocoon. The fibre IS
delicate to a degree. Our own article
is strong, dark, and frequently coarse, but
il is very honest tobacco, and Will stand
the test well. 1t is really Havana toned
down and acclimated. Havana Is like an
Oriental princess-rich, beautiful. and
CorreOusly clad Sumatra is ameretriclous
creature-showy and deceptive and leaving
q sting behind wherever she touches; and
American is just like q sturdy. worka-
dav. honest descendent of the Puritan
stock. with a dash of the tawny Indies
thrown in-sound, reliable, sweet, and
wholesome, too. .,
How would I choose q cigar? Well,
would pick ont a Havana wrapper and
Connecticut filler. moderately dark; l
would cut of the point and wet It with
nv lips before lighting il. Then |
would smoke 1t to the end of q sitting.
Very mild cigars may not be spoiled by
going ont and relighting again after
having been laid aside, but the ma
iority Of tho grades in common use Will
not stand being smoked more than once.
They turn bitter. and all the nicotine
in the leaf comes TO tho fire and lrrI-
tates the tongue. That is probably the
reason WHY people who are constantly in
dulging in dry smoke, and who keep a
partially smoked cigar IN their lips, are
afflicted with iufamed pa,ates and cancer.
/ can't think OF any other cause for IT.
They would escape all danger by blowing
through the cigar on relighting it, or else
by throwing it away as soon as 1t ceased to
buru -