Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-07-16
PortcsRiCan Crop Wanted Abroad
But Not in United States.
Grapefruit and Cocoanuts offer Big
Opportunities for investment, Al
though syei and Tobacco Still
LII az Exports.

Washington, D. C.-The coffee raised
in our island possession, Porto Rico
is in great demand abroad and the for
eign market places it at the top of the
price list of coffees from all over the
world, according to experts at the
United States department Of agricul
lures Porto Rican experiment station
However, the people of the United
States have developed a taste for q
different kind Il coffee. and thspref
erencs Of a g. many pego 81 viii
ha9 q i r.: -s-rheek 9 ana that am
fee )" IN I SlIa A country 46ssA Aqua g1s.l Ne
changing the acquired taste o. ~
American seems too great to justify
the attempt so long as such excellent
prices are obtained elsewhere foFsthe
product.
During the past year, says the new
ly-issued annual report Of the depart
ment's station in Porto Rico, the
value OF the exports of coffee amount
ed to a great deal more than they
ever have since the American occu-
patton. Better cultivation and higher
prices have enabled the coffee indus
try to show great progress, and plant
ers are now following better prac,
tises in the selection OF their seed for
planting. The departments station Is
introducing the so-called Java" and
other coffees which are yielding bet
ter than native coffee and giving
higher percentage of large and uni
form grains. The coffee is grown Tor
distribution to planters on the island
and has been resulting In greater
yields as well as in better prices for
the planters.
OF the coffee exported during the
past year, $8,378.346 worth went to
foreign countries, while only S132,97c
worth went to the United States. Al
though today there exists benefit OF
tariff, the coffee is still following the
old lines of trade established by tarin
laws during the Spanish regime. II
Is A marked indication Of the truth
that trade established upon preference
of taste for a certain product Is
most difficult one to change. How
ever, associations and individuals are
still striving to extend the market and
to gain even higher reputation for
the coffee of Porto Rico a
The grapefruit industry which start
ed from nothing ten years ago is now
thriving In Porto Rico and promises
good returns to the man with perse-
verance, industry, and personal super
vision. Porto Rico Is safe from frosts
that threaten the industry on the
mainland and at the open door OF the
best market in the world-New York
and the eastern seaboard. The grape
fruit industry represents the hlghest
tyre of intensive farming, and is sure
to increase to a much greater extent
in Porto Rico as the trees which are
already planted come into bearing.
The value Of the exports OF grape
fruit last year ($726.6sO was exceeded
by the exports of two other fresh-fruit
industries which have been estab-
lished for a much greater period In
the island. Oranges were exported TO
the value Of $4,000, and pineapples
10 the value OF $1.142,0O7; $l51.6S1
worth of canned pineapples was also
There is considerable planting of
in Porto Rico and there
are extensive areas yet where these
trees may be profitably set out. A
cocoanut grove, properly cared for,
Yields a sure and steady income. Bet
ter cultivation, the growing of vegeta. !