Agricultural Cuba 



It will be noted that there has been a general 

 increase in production since 1897, when 212,000 

 tons were produced, as against 3,000,000 tons, 

 estimated, in 1916. 



The value of Cuba's sugar crop forms an accu- 

 rate index to her commercial prosperity. ^The 

 average annual value for some years past has 

 been in the neighborhood of $165,000,000.00. 

 The first year of the European War raised this 

 figure to $204,000,000.00, and with the increased 

 acreage of cane, which high prices naturally 

 brought forth, some 3,000,000 tons have been 

 produced in 191 6, at a value of over $250,- 

 000,000.00. In all Latin-American countries, 

 there is no one industry that yields comparatively 

 anything like this sum for export, and when one 

 considers that the area of Cuba is but 47,000 

 square miles, and that her population is but 

 2,500,000, a clear conception can be formed of 

 the importance of the sugar industry in Cuba. 



This industry alone produces an average of 

 $100.00 for every man, woman and child in the 

 Republic. 



Every acre in cane in Cuba means $90.00 to 

 $100.00 of wealth, and only about one-fifth of 

 the available land is utilized for sugar growing. 

 Many an estate, during the last year, has yielded 

 a return that more than equals the full value of the 

 property, including land and implements. 



Because of the careful method of handling, 

 both by individual owners of plantations, and 

 for the purpose of recording the shares of "Col- 

 onas" or tenant farmers, it is possible to definitely 

 publish a table of costs which may be taken 

 as authentic in sugar production: 



