THE CUBA REVIEW 19 



It is also good practice to place a couple of palm leaves on the southeast side of 

 the plants to protect them from the hot rays of the sun, until the surrounding plants 

 become tall enough to give the necessary protection. 



CULTIVATION 



Cacao is seldom cultivated in some parts of Cuba in the sense in which that term 

 is usually applied. In many plantations the cultivation consists entirely in cutting 

 the weeds with machetes or cutlasses, although the more progressive planters fork the 

 soil occasionally. Such a thing as plowing and cultivation in a cacao plantation in 

 this Island is practically unknown. This is of course natural in view of the methods 

 employed. It would be impossible to plow land full of stumps and roots, and by the 

 time these obstructions have disappeared the soil could be plowed without doing great 

 injury to the roots of the cacao trees. 



In new plantations planted on level land and with the trees planted 20 feet apart 

 the conditions are different. The soil may be plowed and cultivated year after year. 

 In such plantations it is good practice to plant le gumes such as sword beans or cow 

 peas at the beginning of the rainy season. Plow these crops in before the dry season 

 begins, and after that, keep the soil pulverized and loose on the top by frequent stir- 

 ring with a cultivator, such as the well known "Culte Packer." 



As to fertilizer, it depends on the soil conditions, the location and rainfall, etc. 



The there elements used are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. 



TREATMENTS 



When the fruit has been picked it is broken open on the field and the beans are 

 taken out. These are placed in heaps in so-called "sweating rooms." Every day the 

 heaps are turned over with a wooden shovel in order to let sufficient air in, so that the 

 sweating may be thorough. After being treated in this way for four or six days, the 

 beans are laid in the sun to dry, during which process they must be regularly turned 

 over and then, after five days, if the weather is good, they are ready for shipment. 



Many plantations are also provided with drying machinery which, in the rainy 

 season, is an absolute necessity when a large area is under cultivation. 



Up-to-date plantations have washing machines for the washing of beans. A well 

 cultivated plantation under good management, should produce from 500 to 600 lbs. to 

 the acre of cacao. 



cienfuegos to fomento railroad graphic picture is painted of life in Mex- 



The construction of a railway will soon j co during the chaos following the fall 



be commenced, to run from Cienfuegos to f the Diaz regime. Mexico's new con- 



Fomento. stitution and her international relations 



This line will unite the following places anc i attitude toward foreign capital are 



with Cienfuegos: Guaos, Cumanayagua, reviewed, and the financial, agrarian and 



Barajagua la Mosa and Manicaragua, educational problems which face her gov- 



which is a rich mineral zone. eminent are dealt with at length. The 



publications received work is of timely interest as an up-to- 



"Mexico To-Day and To-Morrow", by date study of Mexican affairs. 



E. D. Trowbridge. Published 1919 by the The New Revenue Law, published 1919 



Macmillan Co., New York. Price $2.00. by the Guaranty Trust Company of New 



This is a comprehensive statement of York. This booklet contains 221 pages 

 the general situation in Mexico — political, and gives the full text of the Act, to- 

 social, financial and economic — with an- gether with a summary of its various 

 cient Mexico and the Spanish conquest as provisions, and examples of the assess- 

 the background. The events leading up to ment of income and excess profits taxes, 

 the recent revolution, and the social and The Guaranty Trust Company of New 

 economic troubles following the political York will furnish copies of this booklet 

 upheaval are clearly set forth. A upon request. 



