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majority of the groves the trees are set out 25 feet apart, making 

 about 70 trees to the acre. One advantage of this system is that 

 pineapples may be planted between the rows for the first two or 

 three years. The principal drawbacks with which the orange 

 growers here have to contend are the wind, scale and ants ; the 

 former may be overcome by a wind-break, and the scale and ants 

 can be kept within bounds by constant spraying and washing. 



The Porto Rico citrus fruit proposition is an enticing one and 

 there is apparently little risk in the venture. It does not require 

 a large capital, as nursery trees of all kinds can be bought in 

 Porto Rico at $25.00 a hundred ; land, according to location, from 

 $20.00 to $100.00 per acre, and unlimited labour can be secured 

 at from 30 to 50 cents a day. There is absolutely no reason why 

 a grove that has received careful and intelligent cultivation should 

 not return to the grower a net profit of $200.00 per acre at the end 

 of the fifth year and a proportionately greater profit in the suc- 

 ceeding years. 



PINEAPPLES. 



Pineapple culture has been taken up largely by the orange 

 growers as a means of deriving some income while waiting for 

 their groves to come into bearing. When planted between the 

 rows of trees, about 4,000 pineapple plants can be set out to the 

 acre without interfering with the trees, and when planted by them- 

 selves from 8,000 to 10,000 pines can be set out to the acre. The 

 pines which appear to grow best in Porto Rico are the Red Spanish, 

 the Cabezona, the Pan de Azucar and the Smooth Cayenne. Red 

 Spanish is the favourite with the planter as it has shown good 

 keeping qualities and shipments have brought on an average of 

 $2.50 per crate, thus allowing a handsome profit to the grower. 

 The good returns from last season's crop has resulted in the plant- 

 ing of a greatly increased acreage and it is estimated that at least 

 4,000,000 plants have been set out this year. 



The climate of Porto Rico seems to be peculiarly adapted to 

 the raising of pineapples and careful cultivation and a little fertil- 

 izer show a corresponding increase in the size of the fruit. Several 

 canning factories are now in operation and as a good supply of 

 fruit is now assured, more factories will soon be erected. 



COTTON. 



Forty years ago the cultivation of cotton in Porto Rico had de- 

 veloped into an important industry, the larger portion of the crop 

 being planted in the southern districts. From 1879 to 1903, how- 

 ever, the cultivation of cotton was practically abandoned. In 

 1903 interest in cotton was again revived and some few farmers 

 planted small tracts as an experiment. The quality of the fibre 

 obtained was so desirable that the acreage has been gradually in- 

 creased and it is estimated tliat there are now about 6,000 acres 

 under cultivation. The quality of the fibre of the crop of 1904 met 

 with favour both in the United States and in Europe, but this year 

 the fibre has been found to be very weak and inferior and the 

 planter has been discouraged by the low prices obtained. It is 

 claimed by the cotton experts on the island that the inferiority of 



