leaf is grown under shade with the result that 

 although when fully mature they are light in 

 color, they are rich in flavor. 



The value of the cigar leaf imported by the 

 U. S. from Cuba averages at present about 

 14 or 15 million dollars annually. 



Porto Rican leaf possesses many of the quali- 

 ties of good Havana leaf, and like the latter is 

 used in cigar manufacture. The annual pro- 

 duction is about 120,000 bales. The U. S. 

 imports from 4 to 5 million Ibs. annually. 

 Further particulars regarding Cuban and 

 Porto Rican leaf will be given in the chapters 

 concerning cigars. 



Mexico produces a tobacco, large as to leaf, 

 dark in color, with heavy body and coarse veins. 

 The tobacco is very strong in flavor. The best 

 grades approach the Cuban tobacco in quality 

 and are imported and used as substitutes for it. 

 The U. S. importation is small. The annual 

 production is about 34 million Ibs. The best 

 quality is produced in the neighborhood of 

 Vera Cruz, and only a small portion is exported, 

 principally to Cuba. 



Brazilian tobacco leaf is brown in color, 

 medium in size, and medium in body. It 

 posesses fair qualities as a cigar tobacco, for 

 which purpose it is generally used in South 

 America, which is its principal market. 

 37 



