Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-10-04


circumstances which do not prevail In
this country unless in the extreme
southern sections. Different methods OF
agriculture must Of necessity be- adopt
ed, and the excessive heat would be- not
tho least Of the disadvantages a north
ern farmer transported to Cuba would
have to contend with.
In elevated tablelands and in noun
tain valleys wheat can be successfully
grown, as indeed il can. though less
plenteously. in other parts Of the island,
but the lack Of railway facilities places
n fatal bar against growing this grain
for export or even for home consump-
ton. That the island has capabilities
so far as this cereal is concerned was
evident for a long time, owing to u
piece Of paternal legislation on the part
Il Spain. This, IL may be remarked,
was thoroughly in keeping with her
unvarying policy in fostering her colo
MES. Ignoring the duty she owed to her
children in Cuba, the cultivation OF
wheat was prohibited there, SO that the
fields Of the mother country might sup
ply the colonists with bread. In conse-
auence Of this American wheat was
often shipped to Cuba by way OF Spain,
IL cost the Cubans much more to get II
in this roundabout way, but the reve-
nue. of Spain was benefited. This was
the all important consideration. for the
Spanish in dealings with their descend
ants across the water never Thought OF
the reciprocal duties involved in the re-
lationship. When -four was sent from
New York direct TO the island, the
tariff on it was s4.20 sack of 200
pounds. This prohibition of wheat cui-
ture, with the inevitable increase III the
price Of bread, was one OF the causes
that led TO the insurrection, which has
resulted in the loss Of Cuba and SO
much more to Spain.
But even under q milder rule and
with freer advantages Of trade 1t is
doubtful if wheat will be produced in
considerable quantities in Cuba, for the
simple reason that sugar and other
crops can be raised more proftably For
many years TO come the island VIII
probably he dependent upon this coun-
try for its supply OF flour
About Santiago as elsewhere through
out the island there are numerous cocoa
nut groves. The tree grows readily and
speedily, and its nuts may be gathered
cheaply. for agile Cubans climb up the
smooth stems like monkeys and strip
the tree Of its fruit in short time.
Oranges Of exquisite flavor grow spon-
taneously in oil parts Of the island,
though no attention is paid to their cul'
tivation for expectation. There are SIX
kinds Of bananas, and such delicious
fruits as guavas, manages, zapotas,
tamarinds, etc.
AS an evidence Of Cuba's great pro.
ductive wealth may be cited typical
peasants home and surroundings visit
ed during the recently ended insurrec-
ton. The family consisted of mother
and her numerous offspring and an in
valid husband The family almost en-
tirely depended upon the labor OF
grown son for subsistence, which was
obtained from the land, scarcely more
than an acre OF which was cultivated
Her land supplied her with all the
necessaries of life excepting clothing
and salt. OF the former the family re-
auired but little and wore less, and In
cases of emergency fair substitute for
the latter could be obtained from the
royal palm by particular process OF
boiling. The products Of her small farm
as enumerated ut the time consisted OF
coffee, sugar, molasses, beans, rice,
honey. wax, sweet potatoes, vans, yuc'
cas-. bananas, corn, poultry, pigs, two
cows several horses and tobacco. The
family could also raise its own cotton
and make its own cloth, as was done by
the aborigines, only that cotton spin
ming and weaving are lost arts in Cuba.
Moreover all the vessels and utensils
used by this family, with the exception
of pots, were the product Of the i'm
mediate neighborhood.
Nothing could perhaps better illus
late the variety and richness OF Cuban
productions than the foregoing exam
Pile Life under such circumstances
presents few incentives for industry.
The vast expanses Of natural pasture
land in the island ought to prove
great attraction to farmers and others
who have devoted much attention to
the raising of cattle. But little atten-
ton was given by the Spanish govern
ment to this source Of wealth, for
SPANS political economy never consist.
ed SO much in direct land tax as in
tax upon industry and commerce. Con-
sequently a ranchman or landed pro-
prietor might be the owner Of extern
siye pastures and large herds of cattle,
but the government took no account OF
1t until the owner began to dispose OF
his stock in the market.
With perpetual summer, or at least
no snow and frost to constitute win
ter as known further north, the cattle
industry can be conducted at the mini
mum of cost. The stock never need
housing, and the grass is as luxuriant
In the winter months as in the summer
time. Western men who fought in the
ranks Of the rough riders In Cuba were
enkh0 sisskin ovef tha froape0ta A held