Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-20
CUBA's FRUIT TRADE.
How 1t Was Lost by bad Methods
and Rough Handling.

The Florida Times-Union and Citizen
says: Among the things OF which but
pleasant memories remain to the natives
of Cuba may be counted the fruit indus
try, that was once a thriving business
that the native planters fondly believed
was theirs forever and day. A change
came over the spirit of their dream when
the Americans decided to try their hands
at raising oranges and pineapples, and the
dream has been changing ever since, until
to-day the Cubans and the Spaniards Of
Cuba would be glad TO see some chance
OF getting back even a small remnant OF
their former prosperous fruit trade. How
it came TO pass that the fruit trade Of
Cuba passed from the islanders into the
hands of the American growers is told by
a produce merchant, who lived in the
fruit district for many years, and, in fact,
until the loss Of the fruit trade to the is
land forced him to leave.
when we shall have won Cuba" said
this man, 1.-THE Cuban fruit trade will be
once more part of the industrial life OF
Cuba. The conditions of soil and climate
are perfect for the cultivation OF fruit
like the orange and the pineapple. but the
people are quite unequal to the task OF
taking advantage OF these conditions. II
is not quite fair to call the natives OF Cuba
lazy. Shiftlessness or carelessness more
aptly describes their state. They always
choose the easiest way of accomplishing
an end, and leave the rest To Providence.
NOW, fruit like oranges and pineapples
requires the most careful handling from
the time II is picked until ii is offered for
sale in the markets. How do the Cubans
gather and market this fruit. or rather
how did they, for the market Is theirs no
longer?
ITO get the fruit from the trees the
Cubans or Spanish planter shook the tree
or knocked the fruit down with a long
pole. 1t reached the ground bruised by
the fall and battered by the rap from the
pole. Considering that the frui was
picked for a journey OF thousands of
miles, 1t will be seen that II began its
market life seriously handicapped for
competition with the carefully picked
fruit Of the American planter.
The next step was 10 transport the
fruit 10 the town TO be packed for ship
ment. This was done by mules The
oranges or pineapples were bundled into
the panniers or saddlebags, and away went
the mule over the rough country roads, |
jolting the fruit in the saddlebags and |
making sad havoc with the cargo When |
the destination was reached, instead OF |
carefully lifting the burden from the |
mules back and depositing it tenderly on
the ground, the mule driver dragged It of |
In the toughest way and threw IL down |
N the nearest corner OF the storehouse.
The next man threw his consignment OF
'ruit on the top OF the other. and so they
we're piled up without the slightest regard
20 the consequences to the fruit
Next we come to the packing process.
have seen the men stand several feet
away from the barrels or hampers i'm
which the fruit Is to be packed and ac-
ually throw IL into the mouth OF the re-
eptacle, hit or miss, and in either event
Idding to the bruises that the poor fruit
lad received. When the barrel was full
he lid had to be got on, and IL It didn't
uite fit a little physical force would
make II. Have you seen an obstreperous
runk lid forced to close by being sat
pom? Well that is actually what | have
cen done with the oranges and pineapples
Rat were shipped from Cuba to this
ountry. After the box or barrel was
acked the next thing was 10 roll IL down
D the steamer. No care was taken to
AIRY it gingerly. II a barrel. it was
oiled down the gang-plank and thrown
lto the hold OF the vessel. If a box, il
las carried down, If that way Of getting
there was the easier, and then dropped
n top Of the others.
1.-THE inevitable result OF all this rough
'eatment was that the fruit had become
)tten for the most part when 1t arrived
America, and half OF il was wasted |
is not TO be supposed that this sort OF
ling could continue. American planters
ecided that they could beat the Cubans
growing. They tried It, and the q,
ubans speedily found that there was no
niger a market for their bruised and rot I
ng oranges and pineapples.
'As I said before. the market will be
uba's again. when Americans have I
ught them how TO handle the fruit so /.
mill ranch The tn lar In, o.nol oo., | :