Prior to the outbreak of the European War 40 per cent of the exports went to Hamburg, 40 per cent to Bremen and 17 per cent to Ar gentina, with practically none to the United States, the figures being as follows: 1913, total, 29,388 metric tons (2,204.6 pounds), of which to the United States, 6; Germany, 24, 473; Argentina, 4,359; Uruguay, 343; 1914, total 26,980, of which to the United States, 192; Germany, 22,133; Argentina, 2,873; Uruguay, 664; 1915, total 27,096, of. which to the United States, 1,953; Germany, 1; Argentina, 7,302; Uruguay, 866; the Netherlands, 3,980; and France, 6,581. The shipments made to the United States were largely for re-export and for temporary storage to avoid the tobacco worm prevalent in Brazil. Imports of tobacco leaf, for blending with the domestic leaf, were, 1914, total, $386,069, of which the United States supplied $100,136; Holland, $60,805; Turkey in Europe, $30,818; China, $40,202; and Cuba, $16,012.
While Cuba is not as great a pro ducer of tobacco as certain other countries. the reputation that its raw and manufactured product has achieved has made the name Habana synonymous for excellence of tobacco, a reputation that the island has held since its first discovery. Next to sugar, it is Cuba's most important crop. The manufactures of this staple amounted in 1913 to $29,014,114, of which 387.376.230 cigars were valued at $22, 055,008; 289.334064 packages of 16 cigarettes valued at $6,516,344; 918,590 pounds of cut tobacco, valued at $442,762. In 1914 the total was $23,564,686, of which 312,767,343 cigars were valued at $17,626,391; cigarettes, 247,872, 578 packages of 16, valued at $5,574,887; 770, 829 pounds of cut tobacco, valued at $363,408, a general decrease in every class. In addition there remained leaf to the amount of $18,093, 754 unmanufactured. Of the cigars manufac tured in 1914, 188,816,225 were consumed in Cuba, and 123,951,118 exported. The exports for the year 1914 amounted to $26,353,170, divided as follows: Leaf, $16,584,078; cigars, cigarettes, $429,147; and cut tobacco, 6210,284. Of the leaf tobacco the number of bales exported in 1913 was 322,121; in 1914, 314,732. Of these amounts the greatest buyer was the United States, 1913, 259,758; 19.14, 239, 922; followed by Germany, 1913, 20,572; 1914, 18,838; Canada, 1913, 16,880; 1914, 7,861; Spain, 1913, 4,518; 1914, 25,802; and Argentina, 1913, 12,102; 1914, 10,281. Of cigars exported in 1913, the number was 183,226,330, the nine countries buying more than 1,000,000 each being: England, 66,842,801; United States, 53,577,563; Germany, 14,028,326; Canada, 13, 319,1V; France, 9,362,492; Australia, 6,316,505; Spain, 5,428,515; Argentina, 3,928,061; and Chile, 3,488,234. Of the 123,951,118 cigars ex ported in 1914, the nine countries buying more than 1,000,000 were: England, 43,951,994; United States, 37,732,728; Spain, 8,274,730; Can ada, 8,229,412; France. 7,230,825; Germany,
5,187,946; Australia, 5,121,363; Chile, 1,730,502; and Argentina, 1,146,432. In 1917 the total ex ports of leaf and manufactured tobacco amounted to $22,617,648, a decrease of about $2,500,000 in leaf and $1,800,000 in manufactured tobacco, caused in part by the European War and in part by the deflection of the ordinary transport service. This resulted in a depression among tobacco growers and a disorganization among labor, the result being that many of the plantations were temporarily planted with sugar cane, due to the great demand for this com modity.
In Cuba the greatest attention has been paid to the scientific raising of tobacco, so that the product of each locality has its spe cial characteristic, it being said that the poorest tobacco grown on the island is equal to the best grown elsewhere. The highest prized., as being the choicest cigar leaf in the world, is the aVuelta Abajo,* grown in the province of Pinar del Rio, near the western end of the island. It in turn is divided into other classes known as "Mantua,* Remates,* "Guane* and "Vinales,* all of the heavier type, used in blending, ((San Luis* and "San Juan y Mar tinez,* superior wrapping leaves, Hondo,* aromatic, "Consolacieon del Sur,* "Pinar del Rio,* and the less desirable grades known as 4 Bajas," Consolacion del Norte,* and aFarti Sur? The annual production of these is about 250,000 bales. Likewise in the province of Pinar del Rio is the ((Simi-Vuelta," heavy and aromatic, a favorite with smokers in the United States, and produced to the amount of about 20,000 bales annually. In the province of Habana, with an annual yield of about 80,000 bales, is the (Partidos,* lighter in than the Abajo," and producing a desirable wrapper leaf. Of its subdivisions, the "Turn badero* is the most prized, followed by "La Salud,' "Artemisa,* a filler, aCrovea,D supplying wrappers, "Bejucal,* and its three ordinary classes, "La "Wajai Caimito* and "San Jose de las Lajas.* The province of Santa Clara is noted for its "Remedios,* a name that is erroneously applied also to tobaccos grown in the province of Camaguey. Santa Clara produced also another excellent leaf, the "Santa Clara,* in addition to other classes, less known, called ((Cienfuegos,* "Colonia,* "Santo Domingo,* Sagua* and °Trinidad,* all of the last four named being substituted at times for "Remedios.* Another, and a medium grade, is the "Sancti Spiritus,* also of Santa Clara. The province of Oriente produces the "Para,* the least desirable of all Cuban to baccos, subdivided into "Mayri° and "Gibari.* The annual yield of 'Tara* is about 12,000 bales, exported chiefly to Germany, Canada and Central America. Its leaves are heavy and coarse, and being totally unlike the other grades, is unsuitable for use in cigars for export.