THE CUBA REVIEW 



27 



HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS 



[From Popular Mcclianicsl 



A CONVENIENT LADDER 



It is often necessary for the owner of 

 a house or garden to do some work that 

 requires a ladder. Most ladders are 

 heavy and hard to handle. The illustra- 

 tion (see Figure 4) shows a light ladder 

 that can be placed anywhere alone or 

 against uneven surfaces. The two props, 

 which extend to the ground, are detach- 

 able and can be set up at any angle. The 



m 



hooks are easily made by any blacksmith 

 and riveted to the poles. They are set 

 under any rung, and when climbing the 

 ladder, it will stay where it is placed. 

 The climber need not fear falling head- 

 long, even though he may stand on the 

 top rung. When gathering fruit, this lad- 

 der can be set against any limb without 

 danger of breaking the branches. 



A CHEAP FILTER 



To make a good filter at small cost, take 

 a large flower pot and invert over the 

 hole at the bottom a saucer from a smaller 

 pot. Place over this a layer of coarse 

 sand, fine sand, charcoal and fine sand 

 again in the order named. Another 

 utensil is then placed to receive the puri- 

 fied water. 



To remove an ax stuck in a log place 

 a small chip under the cuting edge of the 

 ax on the handle end. Pressure on the 

 handle will then easily withdraw the blade. 

 When the ax is stuck so that the entire 

 edge is in the wood, raise the handle until 

 a part of the edge is out above the surface, 

 and then place the cliip as instructed. 



An ordinary gate or barndoor can be 

 kept partly open or held in any position 

 ag^ainst a wind or draft by the use of a 

 stop made from an ordinary hinge which 

 has only one wing fastened to the lower 

 part of the door or gate. The loose wing 

 catches on the floor, ground or cement 

 walk. When not in use it is turned up 

 against the gate. 



PROFIT IN CATTLE AND HOGS 



Cattle constitute by far the most impor- 

 tant class of live stock in Oriente Province. 

 No country has better cattle pasture. One 

 and one-half to 2 acres of para or guinea 

 grass are sufficient to support an animal 

 throughout the year, and, with a little pro- 

 vision for feeding during the dry season, 

 the number of head carried could be con- 

 siderably increased. During 1910 the sup- 

 ply rather exceeded the demand, and, as 

 no provision had been made for export, 

 prices of fat cattle fell off considerably. 

 With a little attention to grading up the 

 herds and to feeding, there would seem to 

 be no reason why Cuba might not compete 

 successfully in the beef markets of the 

 world. 



The breeding of horses and mules is not 

 receiving the attention it deserves. Saddle 

 horses are always in demand at good 

 prices. The native Cuban horse is small 

 and not suitable for heavy mounts or 

 work. The government has found it 

 necessary to import horses for mounting 

 the rural guard. Large work mules are 

 practically all imported, though some at- 

 tention is being given now to the breeding 

 of mules. There is always a strong de- 

 mand for mules at good prices, .and it is 

 certain that in the near future there will 

 be a larger demand for them, as it is now 

 demonstrated that they can be used suc- 

 cessfully in the cane fields, and that their 

 work is cheaper and in many ways more 

 satisfactory than cattle. 



Hogs always bring good prices in the 

 local markets and their production could 

 be profitably increased. They are usually 

 grown on the range, eating grass, native 

 fruits and palm nuts. Special crops are 

 seldom grown for them, but there are 

 many which might be profitably utilized, 

 including corn, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, 

 malangas. cassava, rape, cowpeas and 

 peanuts. While hog raising does not com- 

 mand the attention it deserves, the pro- 

 duction increases each year, which results 

 in a corresponding decrease of imports of 

 hog products, such as hams, bacon and 

 lard. — United States Cfliisiday Report. 



Commenting on the Cuban National Ex- 

 position, La Politico Comica says that all 

 the exhibitors appear to be Americans and 

 that it is lamentable that the Cuban farmer 

 does not visit the exhibition in very large 

 numbers, which he should do in order to 

 get new ideas and instruction in" methods 

 of fruit culture. It takes comfort in the 

 thought, however, that after all while ex- 

 pert Americans have been so successful 

 in raising fine fruits and vegetables, it 

 is the wonderfully productive soil of 

 Cuba that has grown the fine specimens 

 exhibited. 



