THE CUBA REVIEW 



33 



CUBAN COMMERCIAL MATTERS 



bined, provided this does not exceed the ac- 

 tual tare, is 35 per cent. 



The question of credit terms with well- 

 established houses is easily arranged at pres- 

 ent, as money is plentiful in Cuba, and most' 

 firms are ready to take advantage of cash dis- 

 counts. Shipping and banking facilities are 

 excellent. — Consul Henry M. Wolcott, Habana, 

 Cuba. 



DAIRYING UNDEVELOPED AS CUBAN 

 INDUSTRY 



During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1915, 

 Cuba imported butter to the value of $408,- 

 185, and cheese valued at $417,011. Although 

 chmatic conditions are not favorable to their 

 production here, it is believed that under a 

 proper system of management of dairy stock, 

 the business would be profitable. PrevaOing 

 prices of butter and cheese range from 25 to 

 40 per cent higher than in the United States. 



The Estacion Experimental Agronomica 

 (Agricultural Experiment Station) at San- 

 tiago de las Vegas, Habana Province, has for 

 some time been making an effort to improve 

 the breed of cattle in Cuba, and the station 

 has also made extensive experiments in the 

 growing of grasses and stock feeds. The 

 Cuban Department of Agriculture is showiag 

 special interest in encouraging farmers to 

 produce more of their food supphes, and also 

 to produce a surplus for the city markets. 

 It is probable that before long interest will 

 be awakened in the butter and cheese 

 industry. 



Under the usual management of dairies 

 here, the milk produced contains a very low 

 percentage of butter fat, and butter has been 

 made only by a few American farmers. There 

 is no fresh cream on the market except that 

 occasionally imported by some of the local 

 cold-storage concerns. — Consul H. M. Wol- 

 cott. Habana. 



CENTRAL TAYABA 



Annovmcement has been made of the forma- 

 tion of the Central "Tayaba" Sugar Com- 

 pany. It is sta|;ed that a sugar central will be 

 built a short distance from Trinidad, Santa 

 Clara, with ap estimated capacity of from 

 50,000 to 100,000 sacks of sugar. 



CUBA CROPS 



The last Central working, the Sa7ita Lucia, 

 has finished grinding and the harvesting of 

 the 1915-16 Cuba crop is now over. The 

 dates of finishing of the Cuba crops for the 

 last few campaigns are: 



1915-16 October 9, 1916 



1914-15 November 8, 1915 



1913-14 September 18, 1914 



1912-13 October 22, 1913 



1911-12 October 23,1912 



According to a special cable received by us 

 from Messrs. Guma-Mejer, the final outturn 

 of the 1915-16 Cuba crop was 3,007,915 tons, 

 against 2,592,667 tons for preceding crop. 

 On October 21, 1915, we estimated this crop 

 at 3,000,000 tons, and which estimate we 

 maintained throughout unchanged. The 

 final result, so close to our estimate, proves 

 the excellence of our sources of information. 

 This is the second Cuba crop that we have es- 

 timated almost exactly. On October 22, 

 1914, we stated that indications pointed to a 

 Cuba crop for 1914-15 of 2,600,000 tons, and 

 which estimate we also maintained through- 

 out the season imchanged, and the final re- 

 sult of the 1914-15 crop was 2,592,667 tons, 

 or only 7,333 tons less than our estimate. 



Receipts for the week are 833 tons, against 

 1,755 tons last year, when one Central still 

 continued work. Total exports for the week 

 are 38,187 tons, which is moderate considering 

 the amount of sales consununated during the 

 last two weeks. Distribution of exports are: 

 27,209 tons to U. S. Atlantic Ports, 5,535 tons 

 to New Orleans and 5,443 tons to Em-ope. 

 Stock in the Island is 259,788 tons. Pro- 

 duction to September 30th is 2,978,855 

 tons, against 2,532,978 tons last year. Visible 

 production to October 7th is 2,979,688 tons. 

 Copious rains are reported throughout the 

 week. — Willett and Gray. 



NEW FERRY STEAMER 



On Sept. 25th, at the yards of the William 

 Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Co., 

 Philadelphia, the SS. Joseph B. Parrott, was 

 laimched for the Havana-Key West service 

 of the Florida East Coast Railway Co. The 

 sponsor was Sra. Laura Bertini de Cespedes, 

 who is the wife of the Cuban Minister to the 

 United States. It is expected that the steam- 

 er will be put into service in January, 1917. 



