Agricultural Cuba 



SUGAR THE LEADING CROP 



The production ofcane sugar represents seventy- 

 seven per cent of the agriculture of Cuba. 

 CHmate and soil make Cuba the natural sugar 

 growing country of the world and a reading of 

 the following will demonstrate the importance 

 of this crop in international commerce. 



AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY 



An acre of ground in Cuba ordinarily produces 

 about ten (lo) sacks, but the average for the 

 Island is about twelve sacks, since considerable 

 of the new land will produce far more than the 

 average. Twelve sacks per acre represents 3900 

 lbs. of sugar, each sack weighing thirteen arrobas 

 of twenty-five pounds each, or a total of 325 

 pounds per sack. Thus, even under minimum 

 conditions, a sack of sugar is worth approximately 

 $8.50. If the grower plants on land belonging 

 to the mill his share^ is from forty-five to fifty 

 per cent on the *'first" sugar, that is, the first- 

 grade sugar. This is about four and one-half or 

 five per cent of the weight of the cane, and at 

 twelve sacks to the acre will amount to from 

 $45.90 to 1^51.00 per acre. If the owner plants 

 on his own land, he receives from fifty-five to 

 sixty per cent of the first-grade sugar, or approx- 

 imately five and one-half to six per cent of the 

 weight of his cane in sugar, which would amount 

 to from $56.00 to $61.00 per acre; the remainder 

 going to the mill. The mill receives the benefit 

 of all second grade sugar, which is from one and 

 one-half to two sacks of sugar to the acre. It 

 also receives all of the molasses. 



