THE CUBA REVIEW 23 



ing and raising the "plow point", thus enabling deeper and shallower plowings to be 

 effected. By means of this instrument excellent plowing can be done, and the writer 

 knows of no other so thoroughly capable of producing the very best of seed beds, 

 but the work is very slow and entirely inadequate to the preparation and planting of 

 the tremendous areas required for replanting cane each year. The introduction, 

 therefore, of the modern American plow was a boon to the sugar planter. The ex- 

 tremely heavy soils utilized for cane planting in Cuba rendered it necessary to use 

 from two to three pairs of oxen on each plow, requiring two men to each outfit. 

 Also even with this instrument the preparation for planting was slow, though much 

 more rapid than with the native plow. Consequently, it was quite natural that 

 shortly after the American occupation the idea should be conceived that the tractor 

 as used in the United States should be introduced into Cuba. This was done, and 

 after years spent in remodelling and adapting both tractors, plows, and harrows, to 

 the tremendous strains caused by the intractable nature of our soils, instruments 

 have been perfected by means of which satisfactory work can be done. In addition 

 to, in fact preceding, the introduction and successful use of the American tractor, 

 there was employed here an English system, expensive and heavy, it is true, but pro- 

 ductive of good results, and enabling the planter to plow to practically any depth 

 that he might desire. The system referred to consisted of two tractors, each contain- 

 ing a large drum around which is drawn a cable extending to the gang plow, usually 

 made up of three shares, from which the cable continues to the other tractor on the 

 other side of the field. Thus these tractors practically stand still, the plow being 

 pulled alternatively from one side of the field to the other, while the idea sought in 

 the American tractor is to produce an instrument which, drawing the plows after it, 

 would work economically and successfully. 



These American tractors, and also smaller ones hardly capable of turning over 

 the soil, have been utilized for harrowing and cross-plowing, and, where special 

 machines have been adapted to this purpose, for cultivation of the growing cane, as 

 also for drawing the wagons and carts loaded with cane at the harvest time, and their 

 work has proved to be labor-saving and very economical, so we predict a great 

 future for them in our cane fields. 



Besides the means of hauling already mentioned, other improvements on the old 

 carts and oxen, such as four-wheel wagons drawn by both oxen and mules; portable 

 tracks laid down at intervals in the cane fields, over which small cars are drawn by 

 animals; and four-wheel trailers to be drawn by the tractors have been introduced 

 with success. 



A further step, still rather in the experiment stage, although practical and very 

 advantageous results have been secured with the one machine of this nature which 

 has been introduced, has been taken through the invention of a tractor with which a 

 number of demountable beds are employed. The tractor is made in such a way that 

 the power required for its movement from place to place can be thrown out of gear 

 with the rear wheels, and thrown into gear with a set of winches which control and 

 operate a cable which, when fastened to the demountable bed after the same is loaded 

 with cane, raises and drags it upon the body of the tractor. Trials made with this 

 machine at "Manati" last year demonstrated that as many as 10 loads per day could 

 be made with a 2% kilometer haul, at a cost per 100 arrobas of cane of about 25c, 

 but we understand that the same machine this year has shown a cost of 21c, these 

 figures comparing with costs by oxen varying from $1.00 to as high as $2.00 per 100 

 arrobas. That this machine has a great future if present indications regarding its 

 advantages prove true, there can be no doubt. 



Under the present system of cane growing in Cuba, by which fully nine-tenths 

 of the product is produced by colonos who are paid in sugar a certain percentage of 

 the weight of their cane, it is essential that the cane coming from each planter's 

 property be weighed. As the railroad cars are loaded many times with cane coming 



