The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-18
DR.. David Kennedy's Golden Plaaters strength
en- Muscles, remove pain anywhere. 15c each.

Importance, as all ANIMALS increase,
| thrive and fatten on the luXuriant pas
lures watered by the clear running
streams in every section. The pasture
| lands of Porto Rico are superior to
those of the neighboring islands. and
over a million acres are now devoted to
that purpose. The annual expectation
| of hides amounts to over $4,000. For
| the first ten months of civil administra-
! tion the value of animals exported was
| S469, 900.
PROFITS IN FRUITS.
One source of great potential wealth
| to Porto Rico is its rich possibilities
in the production of fruits and vegetable
| fibres. Doubtless, the n7aguey, which
| is, indigenous to the island could be
cultivated with considerable profit. Its
products are the pita, or sisal, hemp.
which is manufactured into linen, ropes,
| nets and hammocks; also puluue. an
| intoxicating liquor much used in Mex
| leo.
During the Spanish domination the
| expectation of beeswaX amounted to
considerable proportions. This would
indicate that bee culture could be made
Il very profitable industry here. With
the Italian bees and American hives,
| added to the accessories of the business
in use on the continent, the flowers of
the coffee plant and the refuse OF the
sugar mills could be laid under contrib
ution, and combined with the sweet
ness of the myriads of natural flowers
which deck the landscape, from the
peak Of Yunque to Cape San Fransisco,
tons of the most delicious honey would
be produced and yield "A golden reward
to the industry of the bee and the skill
of the bee farmer.
1t is unnecessary to mention molasses
and rum, the incidental products of the
sugar cane. though they themselves are
sufficient to pay all expenses Of the
sugar planters and leave the returns
from his sugar rs clear gain. The So
called minor crops, which embrace
corn, rice, beans, potatoes and the like,
are raised solely for home consumption.
A large amount of rice, which forms
the principal food of the poorer people,
is imported every year. 1t is unneces-
sary to import a pound of rice, the
island being capable of producing more
than enough for the use of all its mil
lion of people,
Very little attention has heretofore
been given to the culture of fruits,
though excellent oranges, bananas,
plantains, mangCes, aguacates, guavas,
grapes, lemons, Zapotes, manages, mis-
pcros, cocoanuts and other tropical
fruits grow wild in the greatest pro-
fusion. Proper culture would improve
the quality and enlarge the yield, and
with cold-storase transportation, the
markets of New York and all the con-
tinental cities could .be stocked with
them the year round. A tcn-acre Or
ange grove, when once in bearing,
gives comfortable income, sufficient
to support family in the best country
style of Virginia or Ohio. Oranges and
grape fruit set at seventy trees per
acre. will yield an average of five or
six boxes per year for each tree, after
reaching maturity. Crops of ten and
twelve boxes per tree are frequently
reported, and there are well-authenti-
catd cases of trees in Porto Rico which
have yielded over twenty boxes of fine,
sweet oranges.
II Is important to note the fact that
under free trade, which Porto Rico en-
Toys with the United States, there is
saving of one cent a pound, or eighty
cents per box, upon oranges exported
from the island to the states, as conf