16 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Date Bananas. 



round in shape, of delicious flavor and without the objectional shred of the native fruit, sells in 

 the local markets of Havana, together with the Chinese, at from 25.^. to 50c. each. 



VEGETABLE GROWING 



With the advent of the American colonies in 1900, truck gardening sprang rapidly into 

 prominence, until today, it forms quite an important part of the small-farmer's revenue. Most 

 of the well-known vegetables of the United States are grown here, not only for the local markets, 

 but for shipment abroad. They are usually planted at the close of the rainy season in October 

 or November and are brought to maturity in time to reach the North during the winter and 

 early spring, when high prices prevail. 



Those vegetables from which the best results have been obtained are sweet peppers, lima 

 beans, okra, white squash, tomatoes, egg-plants, string beans and early potatoes. 



The above mentioned vegetables may be grown in the rich soils of any part of the Island, 

 but are seldom profitable when not cultivated close to railroads, or within a radius of 100 miles 

 of Havana, whence steamship lines have daily sailings to ports in the United States. Profits 

 depend on location, soil, water supply, intelligent cultivation and success in reaching markets 

 in which there is a demand for the product. 



W^ith irrigation, which insures absolute control of the crop, these profits may run an3rwhere 

 from $100 to $400 or even $500 per acre; the latter figure of course being an exception which 

 occurs only when all the many conditions necessary to vegetable growing happen to be favor- 

 able. 



GRAPES 



In spite of the fact that the grape is indigenous to Cuba, prohibitory laws on the part of 

 Spain during the regime of that monarchy forbade the culture of grapes outside of the Peninsula, 

 and vine culture in this Island had no opportunity to thrive. And yet the few that are planted 

 in gardens and on hillsides, have produced as fine fruit as can be found in any part of either 

 Europe or America. There is no reason why many of the high mountainous districts of this 

 country should not be converted into immense vineyards. 



With the influx of Americans and Canary Islanders familiar with grape culture, it is quite 

 probable that the industry will soon assume an important place among horticultural products. 



