25 Agricultural Cuba 



All of the six provinces of Cuba offer exceptional 

 opportunities for the growing of coffee. 



Up to the abolition of slavery, in the year 

 1878, the growing of coffee was one of the chief 

 industries of the Island, but with the increased 

 cost of labor, the culture of coffee has rapidly 

 diminished. 



Approximately 500 trees are planted to the 

 acre in starting a coffee plantation, and this will 

 yield, under favorable conditions, at the expira- 

 tion of four years, about one-half pound to the 

 tree — or 250 pounds to the acre, at a value of 

 about ^50.00 per acre. The sixth year, the trees 

 produce about one pound each, making the acre 

 produce about $100.00. Two years later the 

 trees will produce about $200.00 per acre, and 

 the tenth year, about $300.00 per acre; the 

 twelfth year, $400.00 per acre, and succeeding 

 years at least $500.00 per acre. 



Coffee is a dependable crop, since it can always 

 be stored in bonded warehouses and borrowed 

 against to almost its entire value. 



Cuba is importing about 20,000,000 pounds of 

 coffee per year, with an extensive demand for 

 their own home product. 



There is a high protective tariff on imported 

 coffees, which adds materially to the advantage 

 of the coffee grower in Cuba. 



