23 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Gardens and Residence, Central Gertrudi 



The approximate number of acres under cultivation in the different Provinces follows: 

 Pinar del Pdo, 22,777; Habana, 153,835; .Matanzas, 270,400; Santa Clara, 404,000; Camaguey, 

 183,000; and Oriente, 350,800; making a total of 1,384,812 acres. 



The average yield per acre under favorable conditions is about 21^ tons. 



Efject of High Prices on Sugar Grinding. 

 The high price of sugar at present permits the mill to grind at a profit, cane j-ielding only 

 8 per cent, of sucrose, allowing for a loss in grinding of 2 per cent. The percentage reaches 

 as high as 20 per cent, imder exceptionally favorable conditions, usually in February-March, 

 but is generally 12 to 13 per cent. At this time of the year (.May-June) it is between 11 and 

 13 per cent. It is stated that sugar can be obtained from cane containing not more than 7 per 

 cent, of sucrose without loss, and the production could therefore be considerably increased 

 if this class of cane was crushed, but as there is no profit at this percentage the cane is not cut 

 but is allowed to remain in the field for the next year's grinding. 



Losses Due to Dislurbances. 

 The destruction of cane caused by disturbances in the Oriente district from Alto Cedro to 

 Santiago and from Bayamo to Caimanera makes it certain that next season's crop in this 

 territory will not exceed that of 1917, because not more than 10 per cent, of the cane fields 

 destroyed by fire have been cleaned, and the new crop on this area will be from 15 to 25 per 

 cent less than it otherwise would have been. While the seed in most cases has not been de- 

 stroyed the ratoon shows evidence of being several months behind in its growth, and the cane 

 that would have come to maturity in December cannot be harvested until April or .May,- 



