The Calumet news., 1913-10-13

increase the coffee yield per acre Al
the government experimental station
through seed selection, we have al
ready been able to grow 500 pounds ol
coffee TO the acre and tho natives
have quickly learned the value Of bet
ter cultural methods.
Tobacco Exports $1,000, 900.
THE value Of tobacco exported from
Porto Rico is almost s7,OOO,OOO This
industry has been rapidly developed.
There is a growing appreciation of
Porto Rican tobacco in the United
States and other countries, ana Porto
Rican cigars are now very popular.
Conditions in the tobacco factories
have been improved in every way, and
labor is better organized than in any
other industry Many new factories
Of concrete construction and sanitary
equipment have been put up. one
feature of making the work interest
ing FOR the workers In tobacco fac
tories is the employment of tlaincd
readers, who read stories to the men
while they are engaged in making ci-
gars.
There is a fine future for the fruit
industry I'm the island Porto Rico
grapefruit now tops the market in the
United States, selling as high as Sl2
per box Both grapefruit and improved
Seedless oranges have been buddcd to
the wild orange trees which have been
grown in the island for many years
Improved varieties of maugocs also Of
fer many opportunities TO fruit grow
crs. To my mind, the mango will re-
suit In the building up of one of the
Islands best money making fruit IN
dustries. There is limited competl-
ton and very strong demand for II IN
all countries where taste for the fruit
has been developed. \ number of |
improved varieties of mangocs which |
are now being experimental with aru |
rom the seeds brought from India "A |
number Of years ago by David FAR |
'hild, the chief OF the office of foreign |
'eed and plant introduction of the de |
'artment Of agriculture. Pineapple |
'ulturc has pros ressed well, and the
ruit IS both shipped and canned in
arge quantities.
Lands Made Productive.
"Avocadoes .or alligator pears grow
Wild in the island, but up to the pres
mt time no satisfactory method of
hipping them to distant markets has
cen worked out. Cocoanuts are tho
reatest revenue producers among the
miscellaneous products. Good cocoa
ut land is limited to a small area
ordering the coast line, ana IL is al
host impossible To buy q bearing
rove. Banana culture pays well in
oitO Rico, ana number of the best
lrieties are grown. The experiment.
alton is carrying on considerable
ork with sweet potatoes, yams, da-
leens and other vegetable food crops.
The keeping of honey bees Is be- /,
)mlnS Il more and more important
dustry in Porto Rico each year. A.
rcular bearing on Bookkeeping has !,
zen published i'm English and Span
H. and many of the coffee planters
e sending men to the experiment
alton To study the best methods. Our
alton proper is located near Maya.
leG and includes 2iO acres. One of
e governments most interesting ex-
Is on am additional 200 acres "
the mountains, where rcforestat!on
the land is praCticcd. The native
lhogauy, satin wood and tropical
dars are the PRINCIPAL trees uIantad
one Of the governments greatest :,
oblems in Porto Rico is that Of d
owing tho people how 10 rcpencrateI
Ose lands which are worn out. Fer
lHers for this purpose are expensive. :,
d the experiment stations are en-
lrasing the planting Of cUwpeas and ~
ler crops which restore nitrogen to ~
, soil and increase its producing
Wers. s.'--Washngtou Star "