1 88 The Soverane Herbe 



La Coronas, Flor de Cubas, etc. The visit of a 

 distinguished person to a factory is usually com- 

 memorated by the adoption of his name as the title 

 of a brand of cigars. Thus were christened Henry 

 Clays, Serranos, etc. 



On the front of the box the shape and size of the 

 cigar is marked. Among the many shapes are 

 Trabucas, Conchas, Londres, Reina, Victorias, Panta- 

 tilas, Regalias, etc. With this is usually combined 

 the size, such as Perfecto, Infantes, Princesses. Com- 

 binations such as Conchas Finas, Conchas Speciales, 

 Londres Grandes, describe both the shape and size. 



On the back of the box, flanking the lid, is the 

 quality of the brand, the classes in the descending 

 scale being Superfina, Fina, Flor, Superior, and Bueno. 



The right-hand side or end of the box bears the 

 colour-mark, these in the ascending scale being Claro, 

 Colorado, Maduro, Oscuro, and Negro. Claro is 

 applied to the lightest-coloured cigars ; Colorado 

 Claro to not quite so light coloured ; Colorado, dark ; 

 Colorado Maduro, darker; Maduro, very dark; Oscuro, 

 extremely dark ; Negro, darkest. 



So fully is the pre-eminence of the Cuban cigar 

 recognised that practically all cigars are sold as 

 Havanas. Even English-made cigars are put in 

 foreign boxes and given high-sounding Spanish 

 names. But a genuine Havana cannot be imitated ; 

 its fragrance and flavour are its own, while the Cuban 

 workman alone turns out a perfectly-made cigar, the 

 dexterous twist with which he finishes off both ends 

 of the cigars being inimitable by all other makers. 



If the names of brands were to be taken as true, it 



