IF 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



A Cood Tiihacen Ficlil, San Luis, Piiiar del Kio I'roviiice. 



CUBA'S TOBACCO INDUSTRY 



£v H. O. XcviUc 



Tlie very high iirice that has betMi attained by sugar thnnigiinut the world, and 

 the almost universal use that has come to this product, has called the attention of 

 the civilized world to Cuba as the controlling producer of this material A fact less 

 widely known, but familiar to the large class of smokers of the best brands of cigars 

 is that Cuba also controls the grades of tobacco that are essential in the manufac- 

 ture of these brands, and as a result, the tobacco industry here occupies easily the 

 second place in importance among the occupations of her people. Some idea of this 

 imiHtrtance can be obtained from the figures of her exports of tobacco and the 

 maiuifactured products thereof during the fiscal years from July 1st, 1916, to June 

 1st, lltl9, as follows: 



Leaf tobacco exported, bales, 906,910; weight in lbs., 86,102,695; 



value, .?6.^..23.'),406.00. 

 Cigars exported, ?.TT..''.02,776 : value. .$.3.3,.3.'',0,S62.00. 

 Cigarettes exported, packs, 30,719,648 ; value, .$1,114,.599.00. 

 Picadura exported, lbs., 1,970,348; value, $962,119.00. 



Thus djring this period the total value of these exports has been $98,642,986.00. 

 a very respectable showing, and one weighing heavily in the balance of trade of the 

 Island. If these figures were combined with the value of the tobacco produced and 

 consumed locally, the total of which has been on the increase since the beginning of 

 Cuba's prosperity derived from her sugar production, the true importance of this branch 

 of her agriculture and industry would be at once apparent. 



Cuba's tobacco industry should be considered from two standpoints, that of 

 agriculture, and that of the manufacture of the product of the field into the various 

 forms in which it goes info consumption. Tliis article will treat solely of the former. 



The various classes of tobacco grown in Cuba, grouped almost entirely according 

 to their characteristics and quality, are the result more than anything else of the 



