41 Agricultural Cuba 



The population of the Republic is two and a 

 half millions, increasing at the rate of seventy-five 

 thousand per year. The demand for fresh pork 

 in Havana is constant at from 8>^ cents to 9 cents 

 per pound, gold, on the hoof. Hams, at whole- 

 sale, sell at 26 cents per pound, and other 

 pork products in proportion. 



Hogs breed twice a year in Cuba, and the 

 climate, free from extreme heat or cold, enables 

 probably a larger percentage of the young to_ be 

 brought to maturity, with less care and less risk, 

 than in any section of the United States. Science, 

 today, has rendered it possible to eliminate the 

 danger from contagious diseases to pork, hence it 

 is that the raising of "small stock," especially 

 hogs, under supervision of intelligent manage- 

 ment, will prove to be one of the most remunera- 

 tive industries of the Republic. 



SHEEP. Owing to the genial climate, sheep, 

 lacking the necessity for wool with which to 

 retain warmth, very naturally lose it within a 

 comparatively few years. Mutton, however, 

 always commands a good price in the local 

 markets, hence it is that the raising of sheep for 

 food, especially by those small farmers who are 

 close to large markets, will always yield a satis- 

 factory return. 



Up to the present time, little discrimination 

 has been used in introducing those breeds of 

 sheep that are best adapted for the production 

 of mutton. That which they have is usually 

 tender, and of excellent flavor, and if the small 

 farmers would take the trouble to import good 

 rams from desirable breeds in the United States, 

 the raising of mutton, even as a side issue, would 



