20 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



cane. This would beyond doubt give excellent results. The use of lertilizer has just begun, 

 and the ordinary farmer knows little of how to use it, and would secure much better results 

 if he had more knowledge. The use of cover crops to restore the humus to his soil is another 

 means that is unknown to him, as is also the use of lime. Irrigation, obtainable with ease at 

 many localities, has been tried out by only one or two very strong companies, but the generaliza- 

 tion of the use of water would l)ring very favorable results. Deeper plowing, better prepara- 

 tion of the seed bed before planting, and the more frequent cultivation of the fields would be 

 helpful. But to secure these it will be necessary that our native farmers have to go through 

 some very hard experiences, thereby learning that they must assist nature instead of standing 

 idly by while she does the whole work. That on the area now planted to cane Cuba could pio- 

 duce a much greater crop is very true, and if to this were added the crops obtainable from the 

 remaining uncultivated and virgin areas suitable for cane culture, it would be necessary for 

 many of our present competitors to cease production or else a surplus would be caused that 

 would send the price of sugar below any figures yet recorded in the sugar markets of the 

 world. 



No article regarding the sugar industry of Cuba would be complete without figures showing 

 the progress in production made by the Island and the comparisons existing between the total 

 cane sugar production of the world, the total sugar production of all classes in the world, and 

 the cane sugar production of Cuba. We can thus more readily appreciate the position held 

 by Cuba in the world's sugar industry, and her consequent importance thereto. We there- 

 fore insert the following tables: 



Tabic showing cane sugar pi-oihiclinn of Cuha and its percentage of the total cane sugar pro^luction 



of the world. 



Total World Cuba's Cane Percentage 

 Cane Sugar Sugar Produc- Cuba's Pro- 

 Production, ductjon. duction to total 

 Year Tons Tons 



1852-53 1,260.404 322,000 25 .6 



1859-60 1,.340,980 447,000 33 .3 



1864-65 1,446,934 620,000 42 .8 



1869-70 1,740,793 726,000 41 .7 



1874-75 1,903,222 718,000 37 .7 



1880-81 2,027,052 493,000 24 .3 



1883-84 2,210,000 558,932 25.3 



1884-85 2,225,000 631,000 28.4 



1885-86 2,300,000 731,723 31 .8 



1886-87 2,400,000 646,578 26.9 



1887-88 2,541,000 656,719 25 .9 



1888-89 2,359,000 560,633 23 .8 



1889-90 2,138,000 632,368 29 .6 



1890-91 2,597,000 816,980 31 .5 



1891-92 3,501,900 976,000 27.9 



1892-93 3,040,.500 815,894 26.8 



1893-94 3,561,000 1,054,214 29.6 



1894-95 3,531,400 1.004,264 28 .4 



1895-96 2,839,500 225,221 *7.9 



1896-97 2,841,900 212,051 *7.5 



1897-98 2,868,900 305,543 *10.8 



1898-99 2,995,400 335,668 fH -2 



1899-00 2,880,000 283,651 J9.9 



1900-01 3,646,000 612,775 16 .8 



1901-02 4,079,000 863,792 21 .2 



1902-03 4,163,900 1,003,873 24 . 1 



1903-04 4,244,206 1,052,273 24.8 



♦Rebellion. fReconstruction. {Droutli. 



