II 



Now the replacement of the complex nitrogenous consti- 

 tuents, including the green colouring matter, by the 

 starchy ingredients has a most important effect on the 

 colour, flavour, elasticity, and finish of the leaf. 

 Indeed, much of the success in curing tobacco depends 

 on harvesting it just at the right time, when it is neither 



Photo taken by Maharajkumar Victor N. Narayax. 



Female labourers harvesting tobacco leaves in Mr. Marx's plantation. 



Tobacco grown under shelter of cheese cloth. Mr. Marx's plantation is 



supposed to be the richest and the best equipped in Cuba. 



too ripe nor too green. Thus, in the case of cigar* 

 tobacco, the brightest, clearest, brown colour is obtained 



*If a high class cigar be unrolled, it will be found that three kinds of 

 leaves have been used in preparing it. The innermost tobacco in the cigar 

 is called the 'filler' ; the next leaf used is the 'binder', to keep the filler in 

 the form or shape of a cigar ; and the finishing or outside leaf is called 

 the 'wrapper' The filler leaf is generally selected for its taste, sweetness 

 and strength, and the wrapper for its light colour and fineness in appear- 

 ance. The binder and wrapper leaves are usually neutral in taste, etc. It 

 is not necessary that they should contribute to the flavour, aroma and 

 strength of the cigar like the filler leaf, but they must not have any un- 

 desirable qualities rendering the cigar worthless. The Cuban tobacco 

 yields the best fillers, and the Sumatra tobacco the best wrappers. 



