A typical Cuban plantation showing 



The following comment of J. T. Crawley, a cane soil authority, on the 

 fertility of Cuban soils is also of interest : 



"The best sugar cane soils, both of Hawaii and Cuba are those in which 

 there is a large percentage of lime. In Cuba, the lands are largely derived 

 from limestone and therefore, this element rarely has to be supplied. Indeed 

 I am persuaded that the great and lasting fertility of Cuban cane soil is due, 

 in a large measure, to the lime content and to the fact that the cane trash 

 is rarely burned off. The latter adds the organic matter necessary and in the 

 presence of carbonate of lime, the nitrogenous material is changed to soluble 

 nitrate which is so much needed by the plant." This natural fertility 

 of the Cuban cane soil, combined with the plan of leaving the cane trimmings 

 in the field makes it unnecessary for the industry to expend large sums for 

 expensive commercial fertilizers in order to produce satisfactory crops. In 

 other regions, such as Hawaii, Louisiana, and Porto Rico, much of the pro- 

 duction requires their use and hence is more costly than that of Cuba. 



Ratoon 

 Crops of 

 Cane 



The lasting fertility of Cuban soils makes it possible to grow 

 many ratoon crops of cane without the expense of replanting, 

 and this is in part responsible for Cuba's preeminence as a low 

 cost sugar producer. There is considerable variation in the number of ra- 

 toon crops harvested on different plantations, but seven or eight crops are 

 common. In the more favored parts of the island, on the better plantations, 

 the number of ratoon crops may run as high as from twelve to fifteen. Some- 

 times twenty or more ratoon crops are cut from a single planting. In Java, 

 the great majority of the crop is planted annually, while in Louisiana there 



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