Evening star., 1901-05-13
the Island Of Martinique in 1920 and later
on il. l.t:. from the island of Guadalupe.

| the Island Of Martinique in 1870. and later
! on. III 11t-;, from the Island of Guadalupe.
| Tobacco.
| The year 1850 shows the greatest crop
! ever attained in the island-5.540, 235 kilo-
| grams-valued at SCI, ,OS5 40 pesos. In 1897
| the crop was only of Isl ,615 kilograms,
| and. however. it rendered 1.194 80 pesos.
| The cultivation of the leaf has been and
! IS handicapped in Porto Rico by lack or
! care. The product has been pronounced su-
! perior by many an. expert, but the means
| of cultivation are recognized as poor. When
a better judgment be exercised in the rails
! ing of this plant and its treatment after it
| Is gathered doubtless the Porto Rican to-
! bacco will prove very serious rival for the
/ finest Vuelta Abajo leaf. Recently few
| large manufactures of cigarettes have been
| established which can compete with the
good shops of Havana.
! 1t is a wel-known fact that tobacco was
| largely used by the Indians. even for me-
dicfnaf purposes. The Spanish government
in Porto Rico prohibited smoking under
severe penalties Even the popes have had
to deal with this matter. There are two
old bulls communicating those members
of his church who might indulge In the
use of tobacco. A royal decree from
Madrid. dated in 1908, forbade the cultiva-
tion of this plant in Porto Rico. However.
Its sowing was again started on our soil
in 1894 put NOT until 1850 is detected any
improvement in the business that is worth
mentioning.
miscellaneous Products.
Cocoanut-This is wealth the develop
ment of which is largely confined to the
future in Porto Rico However in 1897.
cocoanuts were exported to the United
States for the amount of IA, 1852 pesos;
and for other countries some 13 ,313.0S pesos.
The sandy grounds where this palm grows
so luxuriously offer III our island a very
| large field for cultivation. One cuerda.
or nearly one acre. may easily contain 100
palms, each of which will return not less
! than s. free of all expenses year; 500
annually per cuerda. and not much work
| i'll it, while at the same time other prod
ucts can be obtained. like pineapples, etc.
The palm tree takes about five years from
sowing before it can yield any fruit.
Oranges.
Oranges were exported in 1897 to the
United States in the number of 93a, 1913 for
the amount of 40 pesos; for other
| countries. 1880 for 4o.63 pesos. This is
paying business of the future. We know
that many attempts are now being made
in order to raise the cultivation of oranges
to the dignity Of a profitable industry. We
are positive of at least one enterprising
Bostonian. who has invested $4,000 for a
model orangery near San Juan.
! Pineapples will also furnish a source OF
good returns for the fruit obtained In
Porto Rico is not eKcelled, if equaled, by
the very best that can be grown else
States have been but very scant: they did
not amount to more than $40 pesos in 1897,
200 600 fruits.
Resuming. every tropical product can be
cultivated in Porto Rico that will return a
| good profit to the enterprising man who has
| a few thousands to invest, and many that
| have heretofore been regarded as unit for
| the Porto Rican soil will attain luxurious
growth there if under proper cultivation.
! The father of the undersigned once import
| ed European plants in Mayaguez. the west
ern pearl of Porto Rico the prettiest, clean
est and loveliest town of the island. His
! attempt met with no success except in the
| case of the apple tree, This tree grew long
! and slender like oriental palm, showing
| a few proud branches in the top, and like
| the famous mountain which after much
| noise and not less pain gave birth to a
microscopic mouse apple tree produced
| only three small. although palatable ap
| pies, after which came that greatest devil.
| because it cuts off hope" death.
1t is to be observed, however, that the at
| tempt was not made for any serious bust
ness consideration but for the purpose of
making pretty forty-acre garden. rich of
| the tropical fora, more properly accord to
| the name that it bore: Europe"
ADRIANO T. LOPEZ-NUSSA.