40 CIRCULAR 249, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
case of filler and binder types, and the requirements as to fineness of 
texture, freedom from injury and blemish greater than in the case of 
binders, but there is the added factor of color. In fillers and binders, 
color is important only as an index of quality, but in wrappers, color 
is important as such, because the majority of cigar smokers are 
influenced in their selection of cigars by the color of the wrapper. 
This brings about an anomalous situation. It seems to be an 
accepted fact among smokers that a dark wrapper indicates a strong 
cigar and a light wrapper a mild one. Demand is greatest for mild 
cigars, or cigars that have the appearance of being mild on account 
of being light in color. This is a mistaken assumption, for color 
indicates maturity of the leaf. A mature wrapper, even though dark, 
as a rule will produce a milder, sweeter, more fragrant smoke than an 
immature wrapper. The latter may have a more attractive color, 
but the immaturity by which the lightness of color may have been 
obtained often has a deleterious effect on the smoke. 
The requirements for producing good wrapper tobacco are so 
manifold as to make the requirements as to soil, climatic conditions, 
and cultural practices the most exacting to be found in the tobacco- 
producing industry, and the prices paid are therefore higher than for 
any other class of American-grown tobacco. 
CIGAR-TOBACCO DISTRICTS 
The cigar-tobacco districts classified according to filler, binder, 
and wrapper types are described below:® 
FILLER TYPES 
Type 41, Pennsylvania Seedleaf—The most important filler type of 
American-grown tobacco is Pennsylvania Seedleaf, type 41, grown in 
the counties of Lancaster, York, Chester, Lebanon, Berks, and 
Dauphin, Pa. Although it is a filler type, a limited quantity of the 
thinner, lighter-bodied leaves, which are free of injury, are selected 
and used as binders or as stogie wrappers. The lower or stemming 
grades are used principally in the manufacture of scrap chewing 
tobacco or in shredded fillers for low-priced cigars. A very limited 
quantity is exported. 
Pennsylvania Seedleaf is harvested by the stalk-cutting method 
and, like all cigar-leaf tobacco, is air-cured. After the tobacco is 
fully cured it is stripped from the stalk and tied into hands of 14 to 
18 leaves, then put up in paper-wrapped bundles or bales weighing 
from 50 to 70 pounds for delivery to packers. 
Some packers of Pennsylvania Seedleaf practice bulk-sweating 
ee p. 85) prior to packing in cases. Other packers of Pennsylvania 
eedleaf pack direct into cases without bulk-sweating. Packing is 
usually completed in May and the sampling is done the following 
fall after the tobacco has gone through the first summer sweat. 
In case-sweating, the tobacco is packed in substantial wooden 
cases, 30 by 30 inches across the ends or heads, and ranging in length 
from 36 to 52 inches. The average length of a case is about 42 
inches. The weight of cases when packed ranges from 250 to 365 
8 In the discussion of types which follows, free use has been made of descrij tions contained in Cir. 435 (22). 
