The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-13
CUBA's UNDzvELOPED WEALTH
Future Possibilities of the Island Greater
Than Its - 81 Achievem IT'S

Future Possibilities OF the Island Greater
Than Its - 81 Achievem It. Z
From the New York Independent.
The soil of Cuba has no rival, espe-
cially for tobacco and sugar. one hun
dred pounds of selected cigar wrappers
will sell for $500 or $780, Sugar cane
yields a larger percentage of saccha-
rine matter than that grown elsewhere.
Thousands of dollars worth of bana-
mas are yearly imported into this
country, the plantations having been
greatly developed during the last few
years, still leaving millions of acres of
land adapted to the growth OF the
fruit The plaintain grows in abun-
dance, requires little cultivation, and,
as an article of food. Is alone sufficient
to nourish the human system. 1t can
be dried. ground and used as flour. and
should be as popular in this country as
oatmeal, and will be some day when Ii
becomes better known. The cocoanut,
in point of productiveness, Is next to
the banana. Cuban oranges will rank
with the Florida fruit, and the finest
pineapples are raised, though the de-
mand in this country seems to be for
the cheaper qualities. Among compar-
atively unknown fruits which could be
cultivated as soon as a market was
opened for them are two varieties of
the sopodilla, the brown and green cal
mito the red Nancy, the yellow ma
mey, the former having been described
by some Europeans as "a fruit fit for
the gods" Then there are the mamon,
two species of guavas, the mango, and
several species of fine berries 10 which
no attention is paid on account of the
plentiful supply of the larger fruit.
The berries are called fruitas de paja-
ros birds fruit.
The potatoes in Cuba are as fine as
the Bermuda variety and considerable
quantities are imported into this coun-
try, selling at 81 and IS a barrel There
are several varieties of the sweet pota-
to- two varieties of the yam, which is
second only to the plaintain IN its
nourlshing properties. The cassava, Ell
manioc plant, is wholesome and
nourishing food. The soil of the coun-
try is particularly good fer the growth
of garden vegetables and the yield un-
der new political conditions. with CAPT
tai, enterprise and scientific methods
of cultivation. viii be enormous. The
sugar crop, which now represents over
$40, 0O0. 600. could be increased .tenfold.
The island contains about 5000. 000acres
of fine arabic land, about one-eighth
of which is under cultivation, much of
IL being worked in such primitive way
that IL yields about one-half of what
IL would return under new and i'm
proved methods.
A vast amount of wealth Is represent
ed in the forests of Cuba. The com
mon mahogany of the island sells I'm
Europe at from $40 to $3.50 a thousand
feet. some of very fine quality Is worth
from $500 TO $500 per thousand feet, and
one variety has been sold for the re-
markable price of $3.50 per thousand
feet. There are millions and millions
of feet of this wood on the island. Ce-
dar is abundant and finds a ready mar
ket. There is a great need of better
facilities for preparing and transport
ing these woods for shipment The
lignum vitae has no superior in quail
ity. the ordinary selling from SIS 10 80 a
ton. the choice from S35 to $40 and the
best at about $45 per ton. There are 81
varieties of the palm tree which is
available in the manufacture of hats.
baskets. the banks of the royal palm
being used for boards In the constr1lc-
ton Of the homes Of the small farmers.
the leaves of the same tree being used
for The roof Among other hard woods
may be mentioned the ebony. the
acana, used for rafters: the sabina
eimarona, something like cedar; the