PORTO RICO 



PORTO RICO 



1413 



larly the orange and other citrous fruits, and the pine- 

 apple. The growth of the trade in tropical fruits from 

 the British West Indies, chiefly Jamaica, williout any 

 help from tariff legislation, would show wliat cau be 

 done in Porto Rico under present circumstances. In 

 1895 these islands shipped us fruits and nuts to the 

 amount of $1,810,751, and in 1899 to the amount of 



in the Yearbook of the Department or Agriculture for 

 1895, that "The best pineapple regions in the world 

 liave a mean temperature of from 75 to 80°," which is 

 that of Porto Rico. Fig. 1923. The varieties grown are 

 the Pan de Azucar, Sugar Loaf, a very sweet yellow- 

 fleshed variety, and the Cabezona, Porto Rico, the 

 large and vigorous sort which originated near Lajaz. 



1920. Outline tnaD of the island of Porto Rico. 



$3,783,488. Costa Rica in the same interval increased 

 her trade with us in these products from $362,945 to 

 $972,098, and Santo Domingo from $16,684 to $152,535. 

 The increase in the value of oranges shipped by the 

 British West Indies, chiefly Jamaica, was from $173,396 

 in 1895 to $553,751 in 1899, and this in spite of the 

 increase of the adverse tariff, raised to a cent a pound 

 in 1897. It is a significant fact that this great business 

 in tropical fruits, scarcely more than begun twenty years 

 ago, is conducted by Americans and under stable Brit- 

 ish rule rather than in the Spanish Antilles. 



Porto Rico produces some oranges as fine as any 

 grown in Jamaica, but not in the same quantity, as the 

 Spanish authorities have not been as assiduous as the 

 British in fostering desirable fruits in their colonies. 

 Then, too, a regular service of well-ventilated banana 

 steamers was established in Jamaica when the great 

 Florida freeze of 1894-5 gave her an opportunity in the 

 orange business. The conditions are now all favorable 

 in Porto Rico for the growth of citrous fruits in their 

 perfection. Repeated destructive freezes in Florida 

 have ruined the hopes, once entertained, for that state 

 as a sure orange-producing section. Floridians are re- 

 moving to Porto Rico, and this movement will increase 

 now that Porto Rico is sure of a just, progressive gov- 

 ernment and a stable market. 



Two lines of steamers furnish excellent weekly 

 communications in both directions, between San Juan 

 and New York. Better transportation facilities between 

 the seaports and the interior are required before the 

 fruit industry can prosper there. The highways build- 

 ing and to be built and the extensive system of trolley 

 railroads now projected, will supply this missing condi- 

 tion as fast as the fruit can be produced. 



Oranges thrive in all sections of Porto Rico, a shelter 

 from the prevailing winds and a well-drained soil being 

 the favoring conditions. They are most plentiful in the 

 Mayaguez district. Several Americans are engaged in 

 this business near Bayamon, and also in the vicinity of 

 Toa Alta, Fajardo, Humacao, Jobos Bay, Panuelas, and 

 in other sections with encouraging prospects, and a 

 considerable acreage will be planted in 1901. 



Pineapples . — Porto Rico is justly famed for the ex- 

 cellence and size of its pineapples. Webber writes, 

 in "Pineapple Industry in the United States," published 



Grawn upon virgin soil on the rich but stony hillsides 

 of its native habitat, the last pineapple is a revelation 

 to the eye and delight to the palate. 



Some difficulty has been experienced in carrying pine- 

 apples from Porto Rico to New York. This is due to 

 rough handling, carting over infamous roads, poor 

 packing and inadequate ventilation on ship. More 

 carefully handled shipments made during the past year 

 turned out well. 



Bananas and PZaM/ains.— This noble race of tropical 

 fruits grows upon the island in great variety and lux- 

 uriance. Among the forms seen are the Apple, the Fig, 

 the Date, the large red, and our common yellow banana 

 known as the Aspinwall or Johnson, as well as the large 

 plantains, which are chiefly used for cooking as vege- 

 tables. There is no strong probability of a large export 

 trade in bananas being developed in Porto Rico in the 

 near future, as they are admitted to the United States 

 free of duty. The best banana lands must be compara- 

 tively close to the coast, and such lands are likely to pay 

 better in sugar cane. Some of the rarer sweet varieties 

 may be handled to advantage, particularly the Fig and 

 Apple varieties. In connection with coffee-growing, if 

 the grower is close to a good market, the sale of ba- 

 nanas might be made the source of a good revenue. 



The Cocoannt Palm.— This graceful and valuable tree 

 grows abundantly along the Porto Rican seacoast. The 

 ripe nuts are exported to a limited extent. Cocoanut oil, 

 cocoanut butter and desiccated cocoanut are valuable 

 products easily prepared. From the fiber paper brushes 

 and mattresses are made. The wood, after hardening, 

 makes excellent canes. From the half-ripened fruit the 

 "coco de agua," or water-cocoanut, a clear drink, is 

 obtained, which taken direct from the shell is a health- 

 ful and refreshing beverage. 



Other Fruifs. — There are numerous tropical fruits of 

 greater or less value, some of which will ultimately be- 

 come articles of wide consumption by the fruit-lovers 

 of the North. Mangoes, pomegranates, aguacate or alli- 

 gator pears, are already sold in the fruit stores of our 

 large cities. The luscious "anones" (^^iOHrt squamosa 

 and A. mnricata) , the pink-and-white-fleshed star ap- 

 ple, and the large "corazones" {Anona reticulata) are 

 delicious fruits, especially with a touch of lime or lemon 

 juice to give them life. Somewhat similar in taste, but 



