6 4 
SMOKES. 
and packed in heaps ( pilones ), and are allow- 
ed to ferment for from three to seven days. 
They are then taken out and the leaves 
are stripped off and separated into three class- 
es, fonque (the over-ripe and, sometimes, soil- 
ed lower leaves, and any other damaged ones), 
capa (the middle leave that make the finest 
tobacco) and tripa (the topmost leaves). The 
capa and tripa are again fermented and are 
then classed and tied together, ready for the 
factory, according to their size, small, medium 
and large, the capa and tripa being kept sep- 
arate. 
The Montpelier Cigar Factory, 
Thanks to the courtesy of the management 
of the Montpelier Cigar Factory, the writer 
was shown over their factory — a handsome 
building in Princess street that was at one 
time a Jewish Synagogue. 
Classing. When the leaves reach the 
factory they are further graded, according to 
their colour, texture and aroma, which are 
variously blended in the manufacture of the 
different brands of cigars. This is the work 
of very experienced men. It is found that 
blending tobaccos from different districts 
generally gives the best results ; the darker 
the leaves the stronger will the tobacco be, 
other things being equal. 
Cigars. Men are employed for this work 
and no machinery whatever is used, except 
for the manufacture of cheroots. A cigar 
consists of three parts, the filler or inside 
made with tripa , the binder or capoti and the 
