Evening star., 1925-05-03
the most difficult of Porto Rico's in
dustrial problems.
Coffee Cultivation.

the most difficult of Porto Rico's in
dustrial problems.
Coffee Cultivation.
Coffee was formerly a relatively more
important crop than it is at present.
This is due in chief to the very heavy
increase in sugar cultivation. In part,
however, it is the result OF disasters
that have wrecked the coffee planta-
tions The great hurricane of 1893
destroyed several millions of dollars
in property, chiefly coffee trees. as well
as several hundred lives. 1t took a
long time for the coffee growers Of the
island to recover from this blow. The
coffee tree requires five seasons to
reach the berry-bearing stage.
Coffee is grown mostly in the up
lands. Guava and guiana trees and
also bananas are planted to afford the
shade which the shrub requires. 1t is
estimated that about 200, 900 acres are
devoted at present to coffee culture.
about the same space as that given to
cane. But cane is a closely growing
crop and yields much more to the
acre than coffee. The advantage of the
latter is that the grower can handle
his own crop, which requires but little
machinery and manipulation, whereas
the cane grower Is dependent upon the
central.
In the fiscal year ending June 30,
1924, the coffee production of Porto
Rico, as measured by the exports, was
a little short of 1000. 900 pounds. and
the selling price was about $4,000 900.
Thus it is to be seen that 200 900 acres
of cane lands yielded little less than
S4S,000,000 in export values, and the
same acreage in coffee yielded less
than one-tenth as much. But cane can
not be grown on lands which sustain
the coffee tree. otherwise the 100000
acres Of coffee lands would have been
turning out the largervalued product.
Seeking Larger Market.
A diligent effort is being made
to secure larger market in the
States for Porto Rican coffee, which
is of excellent quality. in fact being
preferred by many persons of cult :
waited coffee taste to the product OF
any other country.
The coffee picking season begins
in July and lasts for six or seven
months. The coffee pickers are
almost exclusively mountain people
the true jibaros. They are paid by
the piece, at the rate Of few cents
for each "almude' or box of berries
picked. During the harvest season
women and children pick coffee, and
the higher earnings are those of the
taller stronger workers.
Coffee planters have found it ad-
vantageous, indeed essential, to in
sure dependable forces Of pickers by
giving these people free quarters and
free bananas. During the dull sea
son they are paid about so cents q
day, for which they do such work as
may be necessary around the planta :
tions to keep the coffee plants in
good order and TO trim and care for
the shade trees. which are as essen
tial TO the coffee planters prosperity
as the coffee bushes themselves.
OF all the agricultural workers in
Porto Rico the coffee pickers are
probably in the most difficult posi-
ton. They have been the chief suf-
ferers from uncinariasis, or hook
worm disease. and their mode of liv-
ing renders them subject to other all
ments. The intensive sanitary work
of the department of health, however
is making headway against these
Affections, and the lot of the coffee
pickers is becoming easier.
Tobacco is at the present the sec
ond money crop of Porto Rico. Its