Abstract: A continuous rod-like filler of tobacco or filter material for tobacco smoke and a continuous web of cigarette paper or other wrapping material are advanced at a plurality of different speeds toward and into a wrapping mechanism wherein the web is draped around the filler to form therewith a continuous tobacco rod or filter rod wherein the marginal portions of the draped web overlie each other to form an elongated seam. One marginal portion of the advancing web is coated by an adjustable paster with a variable quantity of adhesive which bonds the overlying marginal portions of the draped web to each other. The quantity of applied adhesive is varied in dependency upon the speed of advancement of the web in such a way that the quantity of applied adhesive is increased when the speed of the web is reduced and that the quantity of applied adhesive is decreased in response to increasing speed of the web. Such quantity can remain constant when the speed of the web reaches a nominal value.