1 9 oo. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 179 



however is only a little larger than the Isle quence a scarcity of labor. Planters were 

 of Pines, which is a very small and un- searching in vain for laborers in the to- 

 known part of Cuba. Although it is a bacco fields last spring. Fortunately for- 

 separate island I call it a part of Cuba be- estry requires a small amount of labor per 

 cause it belongs to the Department of acre in comparison with agriculture. 

 Havana. The Isle of Pines alone is 160 Cuba is well located. It is the largest 

 square miles larger than the state of Rhode of the Greater Antilles. It is near to the 

 Island. Cuba is as large as the State of Mexican and American coast. It corn- 

 New York. It is almost four times as mands three important gate-ways, the 

 large as Holland and three times as large straits of Florida, the Windward Passage, 

 as Switzerland. It is 730 miles long and and the Yucatecan Channel. The con- 

 from 90 to 20 miles wide and contains struction of an inter-oceanic canal \vould 

 over 45,000 square miles. The English add much to the importance of the island, 

 island of Barbadoes contains only 166 In riding through Cuba one is not very 

 square miles and supports a population of favorably impressed with the appearance 

 170,000, almost i,oooper square mile. If of a large part of it. Cuba looks forlorn 

 Cuba is capable of supporting only half and devastated. Bloodshed and oppres- 

 that number she will hold over 20,000,000 sion have not affected her fertile soil. The 

 of people. Java is only a little larger deep rich red earth is resting, waiting for 

 than Cuba. It supports 20,000,000 and the influx of new blood and new ways, 

 is still under-populated, although more It responds to the slightest touch of culti- 

 densely peopled than Belgium. Cuba is vation. Its possibilities are indeed un- 

 in need of people of the white race known and almost limitless. In addition 

 people from Southern Europe. Pros- to many native West Indian trees, there 

 perity in the Tropics is dependent upon ai'e many more in other tropical regions 

 workers. They must exist in proportion of the globe which might be profitably in- 

 to the natural resources of the country, troduced. One of the greatest benefits 

 The great influx of peasants from Spain ever conferred by Great Britain in her 

 is of great benefit to the island. The colonial work was the introduction of 

 Portuguese are unexcelled workers in the seeds of many trees from the East Indies 

 Tropics. These people can stand an im- into her West Indian possessions, 

 mense amount of heat, and can work in I have no doubt also that many of our 

 the tropical sun to much better advantage northern species will grow well in Cuba, 

 than the negro. The statements that the In fact it is more than likely that several 

 white man cannot live and be healthy in of our northern tree species will not only 

 the Tropics is a great mistake. The con- grow but grow better than in their native 

 dition of Cuba has been unsanitary, but land. The Poplars, Chestnut, Locust, Wal- 

 the climate aside from man's interference nut, Willows and other trees of other coun- 

 is on the whole more healthful although tries may flourish in its fertile soil. They 

 not as varied and perhaps not as pleasant will grow in southern Italy. Why not in 

 as a temperate climate. One must sweat Cuba? In fact Cuba is peculiar in this 

 in the Tropics to escape lethargy which respect. Northern crops such as potatoes 

 leads to unhealthfulness. When the grow well by the side of pine-apples and 

 population becomes more dense, and na- other tropical products. Here is an ex- 

 ture less bounteous, men will have to cellent field for experimentation. For this 

 work for the necessities of life. The gen- purpose a botanical garden and experi- 

 eral tone and healthfulness of the country mental station are necessary. The sooner 

 will then be better. The statement that a the better, for every year means much to 

 high state of civilization cannot be reached the prosperity of this island. In this re- 

 in a tropical climate is contrary to the spect we should emulate the Dutch in 

 records of history and archaeology. The Java and the English in India and Jamaica, 

 main difficulty to-day in the American I say " we " because I believe and hope 

 Tropics is under-population and in conse- at least that American influence has come 



