CIGAR MANUFACTURE. 313 



They all earned more than the tobacco-cutters, and 

 were looked upon as the ai'tists of the trade. They had 

 the privilege of picking the finest leaf from the hogshead 

 for their use ; and the first process with them was to strip 

 the central stalk away; a process usually effected by 

 boys. The cigar maker received the leaf on his bench in 

 small quantities, and spread each half leaf on a square 

 block of wood before him, cutting it into gore- shaped 

 pieces, which were used to roll round the central 

 tobacco, consisting of a gathering of the smaller pieces 

 cut off, and the leaves which were torn, or with holes ; 

 and which though equally good, will not do for cover- 

 ings. The proper size of each cigar is then tested in 

 a gauge ; trimmed to its proper length ; and finally rolled 

 in a strip of leaf, which spirally envelopes it, and is 

 twisted at one end to secure it. This end is the first 

 thing cut off by the smoker when the cigar is put 

 between his lips. 



In our previous chapter we have noted the great 

 increase of the cigar trade, the large variety of cigars 

 manufactured, and their names and qualities. The 

 rate of duty on foreign cigars is very high, and 

 amounts to a restriction of the article to the humbler 

 classes. Nine shillings per pound duty thus imposed 

 on tobacco leaf requiring so small a cost in manu- 

 facture, (much less than is bestowed on cut tobaccos, 

 the leaf itself being worth about seven-pence a pound), 

 has the effect of restraining choice foreign cigars to the 

 morocco cases of the wealthy. But as this has little to 

 do with the quality of the leaf, and imposes a completely 



