43 



the combustion products and the access of air. Certain it is that the 

 flavor and aroma of the wrapper is always fully considered in blending 

 tobaccos for the high-priced cigars. 



The filler tobacco, on the other hand, must have a rich aroma and a 

 desirable flavor. The best Cuban tobacco has a characteristic aromatic 

 flavor which it has been impossible to obtain in any section of this 

 country, but which there is every reason to believe can be developed 

 by selection and breeding in certain districts in this country. 



Mr. Floyd has brought out so clearly the requirements of the cigar- 

 leaf trade and has shown the steps taken and the great success obtained 

 by the Florida growers in meeting these requirements that a short 

 abstract from Report Xo. 62 of this Department is here given: 



All are fairly well agreed that for wrapper purposes the Sumatra furnishes the ideal 

 leaf, while for fillers, where quality is needed, the island of Cuba produces the best 

 leaf. As these tobaccos are the standard of quality and style sought after, it should 

 be the aim of each tobacco-growing section to produce as nearly as possible a tobacco 

 that will take the place of these imported goods, both in appearance and quality. 

 The first essential in all cases is that the tobacco, whether wrapper or filler, burn 

 smoothly and freely. Xext, there must he quality, the taste must be pleasant, not 

 rank and strong, nor too mild. The wrapper must have style. That means that a 

 wrapper, to be acceptable to the manufacturer of the High-grade cigars, must he light 

 in color, rich in grain, thin in texture, small in vein and stem, very elastic, and of 

 good burning quality. The most desirable sizes are 16 and 18 inch leaves, as from 

 leaves of these sizes the manufacturer will get four wrappers from each leaf and have 

 very little waste, which is always quite an important item to consider. 



The first essential is that the wrapper leaf be grown; the next that it be properly 

 cured, assorted, and classified. A manufacturer will never pay a high price for a bale 

 of tohacco unless he can calculate just what it will yield him, and this he can only 

 do when it is well and carefully selected. The tohacco should lie uniform in size, 

 color, and texture, as when a bale of tobacco contains a variety of colors, sizes, and 

 textures the buyer is left to guess its value and the price will necessarily be low. 



For filler purposes Cuban tobacco makes the standard. The size of the leaf should 

 be from 12 to 14 inches, not longer, and it should not be very dark and heavy, as 

 many seem to think, but of medium body, and of a rich brown color, burning 

 smoothly and freely. All manufacturers agree that it is never well to make a cigar 

 from only one kind of tobacco — that is. a cigar should not be made in which the 

 entire filler is Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Florida tobacco, but tobacco should be taken 

 from these various sections and a combination tried until tobaccos are found that 

 blend well. When this result is secured, the combination is adopted, and a new 

 brand of cigar is put on the market. This is especially true of the Cuban tobacco. 

 Many of the manufacturers would gladly reduce the amount of imported Cuban 

 tohacco if they could be supplied with a domestic tobacco that would blend well 

 with it. 



For the past ten years Florida has done much to show what could and should be 

 done. Finding that the trade could not be forced into taking whatever might be 

 produced, it was determined to grow as nearly a- possible a tobacco similar both in 

 appearance and quality to that grown on the islands of Sumatra ami Cuba. T 

 this the best seed obtainable was secured from these islands, and. as tar as practica- 

 ble, their methods of cultivation, harvesting, fermenting, and manipulation were 

 employed. How well these efforts have succeeded may be judged from the fact that 

 Florida fillers, when well cured and baled, bring to-day as high as 45 cents per 



