1900. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



183 



most all parts of the world. Slow grow- 

 ing or fast growing seems to be, to a cer- 

 tain extent at least, an inherent specific 

 quality. The rate of growth may be 

 slightly changed by changing the environ- 

 ment, but ordinarily a slow grower is a 

 slow grower even under the most favor- 

 able conditions. There are in Cuba a 

 large proportion of rapid growers, quite as 

 many I believe in proportion to the num- 

 ber of species as exist in temperate cli- 

 mates. 



The soil of Cuba is fertile, her climate 

 is good, and her location is excellent. As 

 an instance of the productivity of the soil 

 I might mention that cane once properly 

 planted is good for twenty years. In 

 Louisiana it is planted almost every two or 

 three years. 



Her beauty and quaintness are equal 

 to that of southern Spain and Morocco. 

 The north shore, which is the pleas- 

 antest part, is within seventy hours of 

 New York City. The northern shore of 

 Cuba will some day be the Riviera of 

 America. The amount of material which 

 has been produced in Cuba in times past is 



immense. The surface of the soil has 

 been merely scratched wirh imperfect 

 ploughs. A large proportion of the land 

 is level or rolling and easily cultivated. 

 In addition there are vast mountainous re- 

 gions capable of supporting magnificent 

 forests. In the Tropics however it is more 

 difficult to classify land than in the tem- 

 perate regions. The choicest fruits are 

 often produced in the unlikeliest spots. 

 The soil is generally good. A soil which 

 is barren in the North may be exceedingly 

 productive in the Tropics. Humification 

 is also much more rapid. Peat never ac- 

 cumulates owing to the rapidity of the de- 

 composition of organic matter. This is 

 due of course mainly to the climate but 

 also to an abundant fauna of the soil which 

 ventilates it, and thus hastens humification. 

 What Cuba needs above all things is a 

 botanic garden and forestal and agricultural 

 experimental station to demonstrate her 

 possibilities. Although no longer the 

 brightest jewel in the crown of Isabella 

 she is still the gem of the Antilles, the 

 most promising island of the American 

 Tropics. 



