20 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Picking Tobacco Leaves 



In growing Vuelta Abajo tobacco, seed is taken from the first growth of strong and 

 sturdy plants and placed in plots of virgin soil near the fields. When the seedlings reach 

 a proper state of development, they are transplanted in the fields. Fertilizer is selected 

 by chemical analysis of both the soil and the tobacco whose flavor it is desired to repro- 

 duce. A mulch of from two to three inches of partly decomposed hay is put over the 

 ground to keep down the weeds and to provide vegetable matter as plant food. 



In cutting the tobacco great care is taken that it shall have reached the proper de- 

 gree of ripeness. Green tobacco produces harsh, acrid smoke; that which is over-ripe 

 does not work up well in making the cigars; that which the sun "has cooked to a turn" 

 produces a mild, smooth, cool and fragrant smoke. 



In curing, the leaves are suspended on poles which are put in racks, first in the sun 

 and then in the curing barns. In the latter they hang for several weeks, their color chang- 

 ing from the green of the growing plant to the brown of the finished cigar. 



When this stage of the curing process is completed, the leaves are put into heaps 

 and left to "Sweat" for several days. After that they are placed in bales of about 100 

 pounds each and shipped to the storage warehouse. There they ferment and undergo a 

 further curing. This process continues from one to two years, according to the grade of 

 the leaves, before they are regarded as fit to be rolled into cigars. 



From storage the tobacco goes to the cigar factory. Here the bales are opened up 

 and sprayed with clear water and allowed to stand until each leaf becomes moist and 

 pliable. After this the leaves intended for fillers are placed in hogsheads for further 

 curing, which requires from two to six weeks, depending on the grade of the tobacco. 



The wrapper leaves are selected with great care. The cheese-cloth under which they 

 were grown kept out insect enemies and protected them from heavy rains. Any leaf 

 that has a hole through it is retired to the humbler rank of filler material. 



The cigar-makers are employed on piece-work basis, getting an agreed sum for 

 every hundred cigars made. Each man is given an allotment of tobacco sufficient to 

 make a given number of finished "smokes." Hundreds of these workmen occupy a 

 single room. 



