CIGAR-MAKERS. 267 



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 Yuelta 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 work- 

 man 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 immigra- 

 tion 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 yel- 

 low ; 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 

 ojiite 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 



