brown color; narrow and small in size, varying 

 from 8 to 18 inches in length. Its richness of 

 flavor and the peculiar aroma are its chief 

 characteristics. Cuba produces annually about 

 300,000 to 500,000 bales of tobacco varying in 

 weight from 80 to 150 Ibs. per bale, nearly one- 

 half of which is exported to the United States 

 alone. 



The importation of Cuban leaf into the 

 United States over a series of years is shown 

 below : 



Cuban leaf imports into the U. S. (Ibs.) 



1855-1860= 7,014,485 



1871-1875= 8,985,465 

 1886-1890 = 15,532,075 

 1896-1900 = 10,811,173 



Average 



Yearly 



Imports. 



1901-1905 = 24,048,837 

 Year 1914 = 26,617,545 

 The value in 1900 was $ 8,478,251 

 The value in 1905 was $13,348,000 

 The Province of Pinar del Rio produces 

 about 70 per cent of the entire Cuban crop. 

 In this is the District of Vuelto Aba jo which is 

 celebrated the world over for the very finest 

 cigar tobacco. The District of Habana or 

 Havana produces about 13 per cent and Santa 

 Clara about 13 per cent. The Cubans them- 

 selves favor the dark "Maduro" fully ripened 

 leaves. At present a good deal of Cuban cigar 

 36 



