brown color; narrow and small in size, varying 
from 8 to 18 inches in length. Its richness of 
flavor and the peculiar aroma are its chief 
characteristics. Cuba produces annually about 
300,000 to 500,000 bales of tobacco varying in 
weight from 80 to 150 lbs. per bale, nearly one- 
half of which is exported to the United States 
alone. 
The importation of Cuban leaf into the 
United States over a series of years is shown 
below: 
Cuban leaf imports into the U. S. (lbs. ) 
1855-1860 = 7,014,485 
1871-1875 = 8,985,465 | Average 
1886-1890 = 15,532,075 ) Yearly 
1896-1900 = 10,811,173 \ Imports. 
1901-1905 = 24,048,837 
Year 1914 = 26,617,545 
The value in 1900 was $ 8,478,251 
The value in 1905 was $13,348,000 
The Province of Pinar del Rio produces 
about 70 per cent of the entire Cuban crop. 
In this is the District of Vuelto Abajo which is 
celebrated the world over for the very finest 
cigar tobacco. The District of Habana or 
Havana produces about 18 per cent and Santa 
Clara about 18 per cent. The Cubans them- 
selves favor the dark “Maduro” fully ripened 
leaves. At present a good deal of Cuban cigar 
36 
