THE CUBA REVIEW. 



23 



CUBAN TOBACCO RAISING. 



■The cost of labor and equipment in relation to final returns has been investi- 

 gated by United States Consul Max J. Baehr of Cienfuegos. He found exact infor- 

 mation difficult to procure, but his deductions, he states, come near to showing the 

 average cost of labor and other requirements. His figures, which follow, are based 

 on Spanish silver. A dollar, or peso, is worth 86 cents United States currency 

 at this time. His basis is one acre of land in Santa Clara Province capable of 

 producing 900 pounds of tobacco, and he finds as follows: 

 For the preparation of sufficient ground to produce enough young plants for 



1 acre of land $13 



For their cultivation, weeding and watering 10 



For preparing the soil of 1 acre of land for the reception of the young plants.. 14 

 For the planting of the young plants 5 



This figure is based on the fact that 1 man can plant 2,400 plants per day, 

 that 1 acre takes 12,000 plants, thus necessitating employment of 5 men in order 

 to plant this quantity in one day, at the rate of $1 per day. 

 After the planting, the weeding and cultivation of 1 acre up to the cutting 



time comes to 50 



For cutting the tobacco crop of 1 acre 30 



Explained as follows: An acre of land is supposed to yield under ordinary 

 conditions 300 cujes, or poles from which the tobacco leaf is hung, and to fill 

 each pole costs 10 cents labor. 



Now the tobacco is ready for the drying house, and after being cured awaits 

 the final work of selecting, heading, bundling and baling. 

 Tehese 300 cujes should yield under ordinary conditions 6 bales of 150 pounds 



each; they are headed, selected, bundled and baled at the rate of $10 per bale 



or 60 



Total cost of labor $182 



Then there are the poles to consider; 300 will be required which cost $4 per 

 hundred, also a drying house costing $50. A yoke of oxen and implements are 

 figured at $100 and $20 respectively, or an additional $182. But at these last at 

 least four years, one-fourth alone is calculated, making an additional expense of 

 $48.50, including $3 for seed. 



ThesQ figures represent the total cost of production of tobacco on 1 acre of land; 

 the yield is 900 pounds of tobacco — 6 bales of 150 pounds each — and the cost $^30.50 

 Spanish silver, or 25.61 cents per pound. 



Time occupied in the production of tobacco from seed to bale, six months. 



The present price for good light tobacco is $70 Spanish gold, and if it is of 

 heavy material, or what is called "tobaco de partido," $50 per bale, so that for the 

 sake of calculation the medium price of $60 per bale should be taken, all of which 

 points to satisfactory profit per acre. 



Cuban Tobacco 



According to the statistics published by 

 El Tahaco, of Havana, the year 1908 shows 

 a gain only of 1^ per ceni. in exports of 

 cigars from the port of Havana, as com- 

 oared with 1907. The United States, which 

 country was ahead of Great Britain the pre- 

 vious year, fell back into second place again 

 last year. 



The principal eleven countries, which re- 

 ceived above one million cigars within 

 the twelve months showing the follow- 

 ing differences: 



1908. 1907. 



Great Britain . . . 70,677,528 56,699,274 

 United States .... 47,669,742 61,869,131 



■Germany 24,183,131 23,205,411 



France 11,418,782 10,638,875 



Canada 7,084,020 10,271,013 



Australia 6,906,042 4,261,173 



Spain 5,548,745 3,119,836 



Argentine Rep... 3,893,745 3,166,168 



in 1907 and 1908. 



Chile 2,636,963 3,524,752 



Austria 1,151,815 1,784,051 



Belgium 1,124,183 1,097,762 



The tremendous falling off in exports 

 from Havana to the United States is un- 

 doubtedly owing to the financial effects 

 of the late panic. The exports of leaf 

 tobacco to the United States increased 

 heavily. The total excess of exports 

 of leaf tobacco in bales in 1908 is 65 per 

 cent, greater than in 1907, or 131,655 

 bales. The six chief countries taking 

 Havana leaf compares as follows: 



1908. 1907. 



United States 236,849 180,274 



Germany 51,590 6,945 



Spain 18,720 2,950 



Austria 6,901 2,930 



Argentine Republic . 6,555 1,671 



Canada 3,563 3,361 



