T Hi: C i B \ R E v I E \\* 19 



mer lime and the heavy demand for them, resulting in prices :is high as $60.00 per 

 1,000 being frequently paid by middlemen for oranges on the trees in Hi'' groves, in 

 many cases the producer is nol even obliged t<» cul and deliver the fruit, though many 

 do this from choice. 



These favorable conditions naturally point to further plantings of citrus fruits, 



especially of oranges, bj far-sighted agriculturists, and, therefore, s suggestions 



regarding the Localities in which plantings should be made, the character of the soil 

 which should be used, the preparation thereof, the varieties which have given the 

 besl results, and the cultivation and general attention to the groves after planting 

 will be in order. 



In the flrsl days of citrus plantings, as we have already indicated, groves were 

 set out very largely upon soils and in localities selected from the map withoul actual 

 practical knowledge thereof. Experience 1ms shown, however, that the lochtion has 

 a greal influence upon the success of the planter. In the case of grapefruit only 

 the possibility of Obtaining labor and the reduction of transportation charges are to 

 be considered, as this fruil musl !><■ exported; but in the case of oranges it has been 

 the universal experience that plantations situated not very far distant from large 

 centers of consumption meet with a competitive demand for their products which 



causes higher prices always to be received thi re received for the fruil from those 



groves in isolated locations of more or less difficult access. Soil conditions being 



favorable, the location of a grove can be recommended wherever g 1 sized towns 



exist, the grove being located as near as possible to a main thoroughfare; or the grove 

 may be planted in any locality which is in the midst of a large sugar producing area. 

 As instances of such localities, we have the district lo the west and south of Havana, 

 in a region to which access can he had by a number of first-class macadam roads 

 which allow the fruit to he brought lo Havana, Guanajay, to Artetnisa, and to a 

 hundred smaller towns by either purchasers, or, if the grove owner wishes thus to 

 conduct his business, by the grove owner himself. Another instance of favorable loca- 

 tions is that of the groves near San .Marcos to the south of Santo Domingo in Santa 

 Clara Province, situated just on the outskirts of a district in which some seventeen 

 or more lai"ge sugar mills are located. The groves of Ceballos in the western portion 

 of the Province of Camagiiey are another instance of a good location. Progress here 

 has broughl this result about, for during the early days of production of these 

 -roves manj difficulties were met in the profitable disposal of their product, hut since 

 the advance eastward of the sugar industry and the establishment and enlargement 

 of the many mills now seen around Ciego de Avila. a change has taken place which 

 has made these groves, once almost failures, very valuable properties. 



The party, therefore, who intends planting a citrus grove should take time to 

 examine various localities, should always endeavor to secure lands near a good 

 means of communication, preferably a macadam road, should seek districts of con- 

 siderable population, and, id' course, should select that class of soil which is adapted 

 to his needs, lie should also, if possible land the advisability of a water supply in 

 sufficient quantity for irrigation is becoming more pronounced each year), he located 

 near a good water supply. 



Experience with citrus trees in Cuba indicates that they will -row on practically 

 any kind of soil found in the Island. Groves are planted and doing well on the poor 

 sandy soils of western Cuba, on the deep yet worn-out vvi\ soils of central Cuba, and 

 on the heavy black soils occurring in bodies throughout the Island, but the prospective 

 grove owner should consider not only that the tree will grow on nearly any kind of 

 soil, hut also the ease with which the cultivation of the grove can he done, and for 

 this reason should select as light a soil as can he found in the location that he has 

 chosen. The sandy soils of western Cuba are good and are very easily cultivated, 

 though they require constant fertilization to secure the best result. This region is, 

 however, unfortunately subject to cyclones, and these are very frequently a source 

 of complete loss of the crop and of severe damage to the trees constituting the groves. 



