BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-07-06
SAN JUAN, JULY 6, 1901.
Editorial Comment.
Some Agricultural And Indus
trial Possibilities Of
Porto Rico,

Assto the promise of profit to the sugar
planter in Porto Rico this has heen alrea
dy recently and conclusvely demonstrated
in the great plantation at Agueirre. No
where, it is believed by competent author
ities, are the conditions more favorable to
the production of cane Of high yielding
qualities. The De-FOrds at Aguerirre have
established modern plant equipped with
the latest improved machinery and with
connecting tramways leading through the
estate by means of which the expense OF
handling the crops is minimized. 1t is
stated that their profits IN this seasons
crop are more than satisfactory.
1t may be stated upon the best authority,
in part that of the governor as set forth
in press interviews during his recent visit
to the states, that several American COM
panies, acith large capital, are soon to begin
Operatio here in sugar growing
FRUIT.
Fruit growing in Porto Rico appears
never to have been Systematically entered
upon and facilities for proper packing and
safe shipment have not been provided.
There can be no reasonable dCubt that all
the elements which have united to bring
wealth to Cuba and Jamai;a through this
industry exist upon this island and only
require the introduction OF scientific methods
of cu]tl n handling to develop valuable
-zszl56!1 AZ erofit in q practically yirgii
field.
The high grade quality of the tobaccos
grown at Oomerio, Cayey and elsewhere
seems to be attained more through accident
than science as the happy go lucky prin
eiple prevails in this as in most other
branches of local agriculture. Skilled and
experienced growers from Connecticut, Vir
ginia and Florida could in a few seasons
by improved tillage and thor ugh methods
of cure unquestionably bring up the qnaily
of Porto Rico tobacco to very high stand.
ard.
This statement is not made upon more
unsupported assertion, it has been again
and again expressed by many who have
visited the island and have had life ex
perence in the various departments of the
trade. That much of the Porto Rican
product has been sent to Cuba and there
manufactured aud export as the Cuban
leaf. seems to fully cOrroborate this.
COFFEE.
Coffee culture seems TO be langIishing
for some reason and consdr rable quanti-
ties of the South American berry are C.
,ualy imported Yet the quaiy of the
For O Rico product is SO good that it has
long held high rank in the German, French
aud Span SD markets. 1t has quite unac.
countably rever found fvr in the United
States. There are iiDmsasursble sources
of profit waiting npon the iutrodnciion Of
scjput fl nd economical methods # cu ure
10 the flee industry here.
CATTLE BREEDING.
Pcrto.Rican cattle are OF flu appearance
but .ley haze b en- carpl, ssly bnd and
there is need for the infus on o; new blood
The pastures are coed aud partially reGew
tbeuseye but they could be vastly he'-
tered by mole adequate protection, by ir-
riga.icn and bv fresh seeding as is d ne
in Western America 9 IN cap be grown
well AMI cbeaply and tue necessity for i'm
porting stall I, d beef shonld not exist Some
practical growers from Montana and other
Northwes. .ern states, among them DR. Azel
Ames. who have ,xamned the field have ex.
pressed great confidence 10 the future prof |
table character of the small farm cattle ind |
ustry of Porto Rico aud of dairying when
new stock shall have been grated aud other
and better foods employed.
RICE.
Enormous quantities. OF rice are cOBsumtd |
upon the island and it may be safely Sad to
constitute the stape Iood article. A high-
land rice is grown which is excellent in qua
lity but meme Of the standard variety is cul
tiyated. The lower lands wh;c1 may in
some parts he easily. flooded it is believed,
could be utilized for the successful intrOduc-
tion of The rice plant.