The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-08-05
GRONLERS ~'''A'0

so than otherwise for, exactly the opposite OF
the case in the west, these far eastern lands need
to be reduced
They are almost too rich, and the fruit OF
trees they produce, particularly young trees, Is
apt to be coarseskinned, too big, and pithy.
These defects, nevertheless, time remedies, for
as groves age they lessen the supply of plant
food. Eventually it will become necessary to fer
tze the trees, and then growers by selecting
their fertilizer can control the quality Of their
fruit
They have, meanwhile, acquired their grove
without the expense for fertilizer the grower in
the west has been put to In order to produce his
He, on the other hand, has been to less expense
than the man in the east in the matter Of clear
ing, and he has not had to sit up nights wedding
to keep his grove from disappearing under
tangle of tropical vegetation.
The obvious conclusion, is therefore, that six
Is one-haf dozen. Groves in both eastern and
western Cuba will produce trees and good fruit,
but neither will do so for any owner not willing
to pay the price under one head or another in
cash and also in hard work
1t is conservatively estimated that no man
should undertake even fve-acre grove anywhere
in Cuba unless he has at least $1,000 where he
can lay his hands on it. If he is lively capable
money, but no matter what his ability he should
be able to command at least that sum before en-
barking in the citrus fruit business here. He may
need it all, and more
While no complete statistics are available, 1t
is the writer's impression that In western Cuba,
including the Isle Of Pines, the acreage Of or
anges is more than that Of grape fruit while in
the east 1t would seem that the grapefruit acre
age is the larger The older groves seem, usu-
ally, to be orange groves: the younger the grove
the larger the proportion of grape fruit in it.
Problems of transportation to market demand
careful study from all growers, prospective or
established. Groves situated at a distance from
railway lines are handicapped at the start for
although there are many good roads in Pnar del
Rio province, and all over the Isle Of Pines every
foot of haul counts, and where the roads are not
excellent it counts heavily, most especially in
wet weather.
Americans and Canadians have plunged head
foremost into citrus-frut culture In Cuba They
are building up against odds, by their ndomitable
courage and optimism. an industry into which
preceding owners of the lands they hold did not
venture. The Spaniards and Cubans did not so
venture may have been because they were blind
to the possibilities lacked specific knowledge
or the energy required or possibly they were
AIDES. Then again, it may be they were deferred
not by these things at all. but by true under
standing of basic conditions here by realiza.
ton of difficulties In the way of competing NOT n
say controlling In the markets where the citrus
lrut or Cuba must be sold; and especially nv q
keen appreciation Of more profit to be made mora
quickly and mexpensyely elsewhere In fine
tney may nave been governed by caution. which
ooes not notably distinguish the Anglo.Savo,
When engaged in opening up fields to him new
ne" TO him. be 1t noted, but in Cuba's case
not IN themselves either new or untried Tho
,'ianu Is hot virgin wilderness In toto. II has
peeh uhder the domination of white men for Ann
, ea's' Not all these white men were idle and
incompetent Ihey appreciated the country and
~ ue'eiopins us resources-not to the fullest ex
seN' poSsioie nowadays, to be sure but as far
ID was possiDle TO them In their times-thev
made fortunes 'nes
Inc spaniards devoted all the energies thew
n'u ~. asicuiIure IN cuba to sugar cane and to |
o'''o III the eastern and central provinces and
.'pee'ai,' W tooacco IN the west. For four cen.
.ea .ney neia last TO these two products. TINS
demonstrating that they were possessed ~ M
lnoie 'efsa'lIty than the American and the 70
..t'' "no' III ouDa insist upon discovering M
future save In citrus fruit
), FROM TOBACCO and from cane the Standard ors
Lhe Cupah with him, has wrested the "Uealtb -
-ne indies Rlch as Cuban planter"-nlantor
u cane ana tobacco. not of oranges and prora
iuit1-is significant English phrase. To attair
% 'ne wealth and the ease it implies has haan
NE anipltioh OF the adventurous and tho oxou,
eious rom 1892 to the present time