136 CUBA A\D POETO BIOO 



vegetable garden ; besides, the island has considerable 

 opportunities in the way of supplying 1 hese to the Northern 

 United Stairs in winter. The fruit industry is bound to 

 become one of the most important, as the island is pecu- 

 liarly adapted for the growing of oranges, lemons, bananas, 

 pineapples, and such other tropical fruits as find a laig- 

 consumption in this country; and this industry, when 

 stimulated by the removal of tariff restrictions, will un- 

 doubtedly attain in Cuba even larger proportions than 

 recently shown in the instances of Florida and the Pacific 

 coast. The cultivation of coffee, sugar, and tobacco will 

 also be extended and improved with the removal of the 

 tariff duties, and in all of these fields there is room for 

 abundant profit and pleasant occupation. 



The mountainous eastern end of Cuba will be the field of 

 most profitable fruit- and coffee-culture. This highly fa- 

 vored region is the only one, outside the Mediterranean shore 

 between Marseilles and Genoa, that will produce lemons 

 equal to those grown in Sicily. Properly conducted, the 

 lemon-culture, with that of peaches and superb nectarines, 

 that begin ripening in May (both these fruits are superior 

 to the same kind grown in southern California), would 

 become a great source of wealth to the United States. 

 Lemons and limes are more easily grown than oranges, 

 and as the area of their production is limited, there would 

 be no surer agricultural road to fortune than their cultiva- 

 tion presents. The eastern end of Cuba is one of the finest 

 regions for coffee-culture in the world, particularly that 

 portion of the island from Santiago to Gruantanamo, and 

 from Cape Mayci to Baracoa, over on the northern side. 

 If Americans ever possess this island, its ores, fruits, 

 healthful climate, and fine mineral springs will make it 

 one of the richest countries in the world. Oranges, too r 

 grow without cultivation in all parts of the island ; but no 

 pains have been taken by selection or otherwise to make 

 them equal to the product of Florida. Pineapples are grown 

 in and exported from western Cuba and the Isle of Pines. 



