Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-22

Santiago de Las Vegas, about fifteen miles
from Havana. a government experimental
farm is in operation under such manage
ment. with an American director, who
was brought here on the recommendation
of Secretary Wilson.
Cuba a Big Farm.
Before I describe the station let me say
a word about this island It is one Of the
biggest farming propositions on earth. 1t
has more good soil than the valley of the
Nile, and II promises to be the great win
ter fruit and vegetable garden of the
Unite. States. Cuba lies in Uncle Sans
front yard, with a short water road to his
kitchen door. The island Is about as big
as Pennsylvania. and, although It is noun
famous in places. the soil Is good to the
tops of the hills and almost every bit OF
II can be farmed.
Japan has q greater area, and II supports
between 10000 900 and 80, 900 600 people; but
only about 10 per cent of IT is tillable. Java
is as big as Cuba, but 1t Is largely
taken up by mountain ranges, with active
volcanoes and arid lands. Nevertheless
Java supports 25O00,Oo0.
Cuba today has less than 100000
time rival Java In its products, though 1t
Will always have a less population, for
Javapese can live where Cuban would
starve. The two islands raise about the
same crops-sugar. tobacco and tropical
fruits. with coffee on the uplands. Java Is
now growing tea and quinine, but these ar
ticles have not been subject to experiment
in Cuba.
So far less than one-third of this island
has been laid out in farms, and at the close
of the war only g per cent of its was
under cultivation There is more now, but
II is safe to say that not one-sixth of the
island is used. The best cultivation is done
In the provinces Of Havana and MatanZas,
and also in the tobacco fields of Pinar del
Rio. AT present sugar is the most important
crop. being produced In all the provinces.
chi affNr in, fnar
del Rio. and away down at the foot is cof-
fee, which was once more important than
sugar, and which now, owing to the tariff
and other conditions. will again come to the
front.
Cuba's Experimental Station.
The agricultural farm at Santiago de Las
Vegas is the center Of this new agricultural
development. 1t is run by the government.
which gives It large appropriations and
pushes its work in every possible way. The
director is Prof. F S. Earle, who was for
years connected with the United States
Department OF Agriculture, and who at the
time the Cuban government asked for a
man for this work. was about to go to
Porto Rico to take charge of our expert
mental station there. The Cuban salary
was a large one-I think $5,op0-and as
Secretary Wilson had other good men he al
lowed Mr.. Earle TO come to Cuba. This was
about year ago. The farm has been pur-
X
cultural department, with corps of scen-
lists from Washington, are now here at
work.
The farm itself comprises $50 acres. Its
buildings are great Spanish barracks, run
ming around a central patio of an acre of
flowers and plants and also many cottages
which have been erected for the farmers
The barracks are of one story. They are
OF great extent and are well fitted for gov
eminent work.
spent some time going through the
buildings and afterward took a walk
with Prof Earle over the farm The estab-
hshment IS thoroughly systemat ized. and in
II all sorts of Investigations as to plant
breeding, fertilizer testing and plant and
animal diseases are giving on. In the bo-
tanical department ! was shown about 20
oD specimens OF Cuban plants and flowers
and in the gardens near by saw many new
vegetables and fruits growing.
New Fruits for Cuba.
In the banana fields there are a score OF
varieties which have just been introduced
from Porto Rico and near by twenty va
rieties OF peaches and fifteen varieties of
japanese persimmons have been planted.
There are figs from California. Japanese
walnuts and all sorts OF grapes which grow
well in the southern parts of the United
States
Among the most important experiments
are those with citrus fruits. All the best
known lines, lemons and pomelos are now
different varieties OF oranges have been
planted for comparison and study, and also
large number Of pineapples OF different
Kinds.
The pineapple industry is rapidly increas
ing and the department Is making great e.
forts 10 get the best varieties The exports
of pines last year We're in the neighborhood
OF three-quarters of a million dollars. and
80 per cent of these went to the United
States. The two chief Cuban pines are the
Pima de Ia TERRA and the Havana white
pine. The latter is the sweeter and larger
but 1t does not keep well. There are other
pines which are smaller and less juicy, but
more hardy and better for export. The
white pineapples are consumed in Cuba.
They sell for from 40 cents to si.17 a dozen.
Vegetables for Our Markets.
Prof. Earle tells me that Cuba will large>
~ supply our winter market with vego-
tables. He has been experimenting with
lettuces and finds that they grow well.
The choicest varieties thrive and are more