Agricultural Cuba 40 



SMALL STOCK RAISING 

 HOGS— SHEEP— GOATS 



Cuba, at the present time, is importing approxi- 

 mately ten million dollars' worth of pork and 

 pork products annually, notwithstanding the fact 

 that the Island, owing to especial conditions for 

 raising hogs economically, should not only supply 

 the local demand, but can and will, ultimately 

 be exporting pork products to all of the nearby 

 countries bordering on the Caribbean Sea and 

 the Gulf of Mexico. 



The royal palm, which covers many of the hill- 

 sides and slopes of the long mountain chains, 

 running parallel with the coast, produces a small 

 nut called *'palmiche" that furnishes a never- 

 faihng food which helps the stockman in raising 

 hogs. 



The **palmiche," picked up by the animals at 

 the base of the palms, if in sufficient quantity, 

 will keep these animals in fairly good condition 

 throughout the year. Shoats, intended for 

 market, as soon as weaned, should be turned 

 into a field planted with sugar cane, sweet pota- 

 toes, peanuts, yuca, corn, cow peas, "calabaza" 

 or any of those food crops of which hogs are fond 

 and which produce flesh rapidly. 



"Palmiche" fed pork is considered a greater 

 delicacy than turkey or chicken. The native or 

 domestic hog of the Island is, as might be 

 expected, a common or scrub product, that, 

 while healthy and prolific, puts on flesh slowly, 

 and is fitted only for fresh pork. This pork, 

 however, with its nutty flavor of the "palmiche" 

 is excellent eating, and when cooked, retails 

 during the holidays at 75 cents per pound. 



