THE CUBA REVIEW : 21 
according to color of wrapper. ‘The carefulness of this work depends altogether on 
the demand of the party for whom the cigar is being manufactured. It will, of 
course, be realized that between the dark brown of the darker wrapper and the clear 
light color of the “claro” cigars there are an infinite number of tints, so it is mani- 
festly impossible in the ordinary work of the factory to have all the cigars in any 
pack exactly the same tint. Yet orders are received at our factories from particular 
smokers who can afford to satisfy their whims that demand such careful selection 
that all the cigars in packs often of several thousand must be of exactly the same 
tint. This, of course, adds considerably to their cost, as it is frequently necessary 
in order to pack one thousand such cigars to handle and inspect as many as fifty 
thousand. In the ordinary factory run, howeyer, it is found that four distinct colors 
can be distinguished, these being “claro” (the lightest), “colorado claro,” “colorado 
maduro” and “maduro” (the darkest grade). It will thus be noticed that the only 
difference between the cigars of the same brand and grade is that of the color of their 
wrapper, the filler found in them being of the same strength and material. 
In this same department where the selection of the colors is made the cigars are 
placed in their final packages. <All deficient cigars, whether their defects are of 
length, ring-measurement, workmanship or material, are thrown out. The perfect 
cigars are placed in boxes or other package, according to the demands of the pur- 
chaser, the customary trade package being the varnished cedar box seen everywhere 
where cigars are sold. The boxes containing the lower and medium grade cigars are 
placed, after receiving their contents, beneath presses, where they are subject to con- 
siderable pressure for several hours, it being found that this irons or smooths out all 
wrinkles and presents a beautiful and uniform top row to the eye when the box is 
opened. The higher grade cigars are subjected to very little pressure, often only a 
fairly heavy board being used, the careful workmanship in making these cigars having 
produced a product already practically smooth and uniform. The boxes used for 
commercial purposes contain 25, 50 or 100 cigars. 
In addition to the commercial package described, there is a vast variety of pack- 
ages employed on special order. One of the most usual is the heavy, plain, round 
cornered, unvarnished cedar box, with delicate polished hinges and clasp, each layer 
of cigars separated from the other by a thin strip, also of unvarnished cedar, used 
for special packs of the very best selected goods. Large cedar cabinets, containing 
from 500 to as many as 15,000 cigars, are also turned out for special customers; and 
even solid mahogany cabinets, with selected assorted sizes, have been turned out. 
These same assortments are frequently demanded in cedar cabinets, and smaller 
packings are turned out in cases made of Cuban hard woods. Lithographed tins 
lined with cedar veneer are also used considerably. The package, as can be seen, 
depends altogether on the whim and purse of the purchaser of the cigars. ; 
From the selecting and packing department the cigars in their boxes or cases 
now go to the banding department, where girls take them out and place around them 
the lithographed bands seen on all good cigars. After this is done they are returned 
carefully to their former containers, this work being so well done that no change in 
appearance can be detected. The packages then go to the final trimming department, 
where they receive their outside labels and are closed. Here is fixed the Government 
label, the placing of which on all packages of Havana cigars for export is obligatory, 
this label being so placed on every package as to seal it and prevent replacement of 
the contents without the destruction of the label. 
From this department the smaller packages of cigars are now taken to the de- 
partment where they are gathered together to be boxed or otherwise prepared for 
shipping to their final destination. The usual package for this purpose is a strong 
wooden box, of such size as to hold exactly the number of smaller boxes or cases to 
be shipped. These large boxes are carefully closed, and then bound with metal strips 
or wire bands, in such manner as to pe perfectly secure and protect their valuable 
