THE CUBAREVIBW 



25 



cipally in the low flat lands of the river valleys and the coast. It seldom attains a 

 diameter of more than 12 inches and is more frequently found from 4 to 8 inches 

 through, hut usually the sap is very thin, and the heart of very dense reddish wood 

 is sound, and in contact with the earth lasts for a very long time. Its growth is 

 usually straight, and the trunks are long and slender, thus offering advantages for the 

 making of fence and telegraph posts, and corner posts for the medium sized native 

 covmtry buildings, sa that it is much sought for- these purposes. The "jocuma" is a 

 large smooth barked tree, found, however, only rarely. The heart is of yellowish 

 color, differing only slightly from that of the sap, but the wood is dense, heavy and 

 (luite resistant to decay, even when in contact with the soil. It, therefore, is sought 

 after for cross ties and bridge timbers. • 



We could continue with detailed descriptions of the other timbers which we have 

 mentioned and of many other woods of minor importance, but we believe that in what 

 has been written a pretty good idea of the most important hardwoods of Cuba has 

 been given. 



GRAPEFRUIT CROP ON THE ISLE OF 

 PINES 



As predicted in the previous report on 

 grapefruit made by Consul W. Bardel, 

 Nueva Gei-ona, Isle 'of Pines, this year's 

 crop, thanks to the most favorable weather 

 conditions and to the arduous labor of the 

 planters of this Island, with plenty of 

 fertilizing, even at the present high cost, 

 has ripened at least two weeks sooner 

 than the usual time and the gathering, as 

 well as the packing of the fruit, is now 

 well under way. 



In 15 packing houses, some of which 

 are equipped with the most modern im- 

 l)rovements, the sorting and packing of 

 this fruit gives ample occupation to hun- 

 dreds of hands. Grapefruit is graded into 

 eight ditferent sizes, fi-om 36 to 112 in 

 the regular crates ; it is the medium size, 

 however, which at present is being mostly 

 packed. From the packing houses trucks 

 after trucks leave on their way to the 

 steamer pier during day and night. 



Consul Bardel states that it is of vital 

 importance that proper transportation be 

 arranged for in order to avoid delays in 

 the shipping of this fruit, so that it may 

 arrive in prime condition for the Americr.n 

 markets. All this has been properly at- 

 tended to this year, and unless another 

 hurricane of the violence of the one which 

 devastated this district in 1917 strikes this 

 Island this year, nothing should blight the 

 great hopes and bright outlooks of the 

 fruit growers, nearly all of .whom . are 



American planters, who will reap the 

 greatest commercial and financial benefit 

 ever experienced before. 



SANTA CLARA CONVENT 

 The Havana Post reports that the old 

 Santa Clara convent, situated in Havana 

 at Sol and Luz streets, and formerly 

 owned by the Clare sisters, was recently 

 purchased by Lezama and Garrido, local 

 brokers. 



The property which is in the heart of 

 the business district, comprises 12,150 

 square meters, and was sold for .$1,000,0'JO. 



CUBA RAILROAD COMPANY 

 It is reported that the directors of the ' 

 Cuba Railroad Company have decided tq 

 convert the 169 locomotives of the com- 

 pany into oil burners. The cost of the con- 

 version and of suitable oil storage facili- 

 ties is estimated at $600,000. The opera- 

 tion will be completed by December 1, 

 1920. 



SIGNOR STEFANO CARRARA 

 Signor Stefano Carrara, former Italian 

 Minister to Cuba, was given an enthu- 

 siastic ovation on his departure for Mex- 

 ico, where he will represent his country. 

 During his stay in Cuba, Signor Carrara 

 made many friends, and was held in high 

 esteem by all who knew him. 



