Evening journal., 1901-10-28

citrus fruits; coffee, rubber, plneap
pies, bananas, sugar cane, tobacco,
dates, grapes, figs, cOcoanuts-and
nearly all kinds of field and garden
products raised in the Northern coun-
tries. There are also many varieties Of
native fruits but little known outside
of the tropics, but of rare flayor-some
of them of great Importance and COM
mercial value for the Northern mark
cts.
Grass in the Isle of Pines, from the
standpoint of cattle raising, is the sal
vation of the country. 1t has a Won
derful growth green all the year and
very nutritious. So nearly does every
thing run to grass that land left un-
cultivated for only a few months will
have "A thick growth three feet high,
and it is not of the class which grows
upon uncultivated land in the North,
commonly known as wet-weather grass.
From the crop growing standpoint the
grass is something of a pest taking the
place of weeds IN Northern countries.
Cattle raising has always been the chief
industry of the natives, who have a
natural disinclinatiOn to do the neces-
sary work incident to the cultivation
of crops. Large numbers of cattle in fine
condition and of good breed are found
in all sections of the island. Havana
and other places in Cuba furnish the
market the prices being higher since
the war between Cuba and Spain than
in the United States.
man with no means at all should
not go to the Isle of Pines or any other
new country, but any intelligent per-
SON, with sufficient means to purchase
teams, implements, ETC., and to pay
necessary living expenses until a crop
can be raised cannot make a mistake
by emigrating to the Isle of Pines. and
by expending the same amount Of en-
ergy necessary to make only a moder-
ate living in any of the Northern States
can lay by considerable money each
year, and, at the same time that he
cultivates his crop of winter vegeta-
bles, he cultivates his orange, lemon
and other citrus fruit trees, which
should in five or six years make him
quite we'll off.
1t is claimed by people thoroughly
reliable, who have recently investi-
gated the matter that the Isle of Pines
will raise all kinds of tropical products
as well as anywhere else on the Ameri-
can continent. and better than they
can be raised in any other section with
in the jurisdiction of the United States
and it is believed there is no other
place in the country where all sorts Of
citrus fruits of as good quality can be
grown in such abundance and market
ed in the great cities so cheaply. The
oranges are as fine as were ever pro-
duced in the Indian river district Of
Florida. and that is claiming a great
deal. as the varieties from that section
were (until frost interfered) considered
the best in the world. As an indication
of the value of the fruit grown in that
section and of the value of good orange
land in any section, we call the atten-
ton of the reader to a recent article
in one of the leading magazines giving
an account of the methods used by
some of the growers to protect the trees
from the frosts by the use of tents. A
separate tent is used for each tree, and
the article shows illustrations of the
tents in use. The Isle of Pines is much
beyond the frost line and will produce
better oranges than have ever been
lgrOwn in California Irrigation is not
necessary as in California: by growing
the different varieties the crop can be
extended more nearly over the entire
year. and can be marketed quicker and
at one-half the expense of the Califor-
MIA product
It. is claimed that the Isle of Pines
will produce better tobacco than any
known section on the globe except a
few favored localities in Cuba, and re-
cent investigations show that with
proper cultivation will produce as good
tobacco as can be grown even in such
favored sections of Cuba.
If the quality of the Cuban article
will Justify the payment of the enor-
nous import duty evidenced by month
ly importations into the United States
of both tobacco and cigars, the Isle of
Pines grower, with an article equally
as good and with absolutely no duty to
pay. has boundless opportunities for
profit.
Last. but not least, the Isle of Pines
is destined to be one Of the greaest
winter-vegetable growing sections in
the universe. Even if it did not pro-
duce single variety of the citrus
fruits. it would still become a very rich
agricultural community. Nearly all
garden products do well on the island
the quality is fine. and more is grown
to the acre than in the North. because
the growing season is longer. In some
cases two and three crops can be raised
in single year, while the most bOun.
tiful crops are harvested in the win.
ter months beginning with November
or December, giving the grower severa'
months advantage over the Southern
. States. Without presenting a table o.
figures as to the probable or possible
profits per acre for the grower wher
. Icultivating the land under the condi
3 tions mentioned. If he will deduct tn,
/, price he receives for his summer gar
/ den products raised in the North from
the value of the same kind Of products
: in midwinter he will find the margir
IS somewhat startling.