"The factory for Cabanos cigars has been established seventy-two years the founder of it being Don Francisco Cabanos, his son, Don de P. Cabanos, succeeding him, to whom has succeeded his son-in-law, Senor del Valle, the present proprietor and director of the factory. When it was founded, the cigars were sold to the public in bundles of twenty, only amounting to a total number per year, of four or five hundred thousand cigars, the sales of which kept constantly increasing until 1826, when there were sold two millions. At this period the demand for exportation commenced, increasing each year until 1848, when the number sold amounted to three and a half millions. At this time, the present director came in charge, and increased the sale to eight millions per year, until, in 1866, the total sales by this one house only, amounted to the enormous number of sixteen million cigars, which went to different parts of the world. The tobacco manipulated in this factory is, with some few exceptions, that grown upon plantations in the Vuelta Abojo, with the proprietors of which Senor del Valle has a special contract for their product. The most noted of these places are known as '_La Lena_,' '_San Juan aj Martin_,' '_Los Pilotos_,' '_Rio Hondo_.' The firm also own three _vegas_, as do also Partagas, Uppmann, and others, in a greater or less degree. The amount raised upon these _vegas_ in connection with the Cabanos Factory, amounts to five thousand bales, of from first to eighth quality, leaving the most inferior qualities, which amount to about one thousand bales, for exportation, the factory not using such common grades. It is a custom of the manufacturers to keep a supply of the best qualities always on hand from year to year, in order that, should the tobacco crop, in any one year, be bad, the reputation of the house can be maintained by using the good tobacco in the store. The factory is a large stone building, opposite the Canipo de Moste, in which all the operations connected with cigar making are carried on (excepting the manufacture of boxes) by over five hundred operatives, all males. The following is the process of manufacture: