THE CUBA REVIEW 15 



A "lAve-at-Hovie" Propaganda — Poultry Raisers' Association. 



The fact that Cuba annually spends vast sums for foodstuffs (in 1914 foodstuffs, including 

 meats, fish, cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk products, oils and beverages, formed $46,867,795 

 of Cuba's total imports valued at $119,001,410) has caused a "live-at-home" propaganda to be 

 started, which is now much in favor in the pubhc press. The first evidences that the movement 

 is taking definite shape are seen in a considerbable interest now displayed as regards poultry 

 raising to supply the home market. 



There is a poultry raisers' association in Cuba, of which Senor D. Noguer, Calle Mercaderes 

 No. 11, Cuarto No. 7, Habana, is the secretary and treasurer. (Mention of the organization 

 of this Society was made in Daily Consular and Trade Reports for Nov. 11, 1912). Senor 

 Noguer is the owner of a poultry farm at PuertaBlanca, Guanabacoa, where he has over 2,000 

 hens, mainly white Leghorns, obtained from dealers in the United States. The Cuban Experi- 

 ment Station (Estacion Experimental Agronomica, Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba), under the 

 direction of Mr. J. T. Crawley, is also experimenting with various breeds, and has brought a 

 considerable number of fine chickens from the United States, particularly 400 white Leghorns, 

 150 Rhode Island Reds, and 100 Langshans. 

 Experiments Undertaken by President of the Republic. 



President Menocal in May last bought a 210-acre ranch near the httle town of El Cano, 

 10 miles from Habana, and has fitted it up as a model poultry farm. He, too, is experimenting 

 with various breeds of chickens, among them being white and buff Leghorns, Rhode Island 

 Reds, buff Orpingtons, black Game, a very thrifty Spanish chicken called "Prats," Langshans, 

 and others. The farm which is in charge of a poultry expert, is also stocked with many fancy 

 varieties of chickens, pheasants, and the like. 



President Menocal has primarily the patriotic intention of ascertaining which is the best 

 all-around chicken for the use of the ordinary Cuban family; the best layer and the one most 

 productive of flesh. This determined, he plans to distribute eggs of the variety so selected 

 throughout the island at actual cost of production, in order to help establish a good strain of 

 chickens and to encourage the people to raise more poultry and eggs at home. The concensus 

 of opinion of chicken men at this time appears to be that the Rhode Island Red is perhaps the 

 best all-around fowl, with buff Orpingtons as second choice. The Leghorns are not considered 

 as they are strictly a laying fowl and do not readily become broody, and hens that set are 

 necessary to the country raisers of chickens who have neither the money to buy incubators 

 nor the abiUty to operate them. 



During the week of November 15-20 President Menocal received 700 white Leghorns 

 from two New York State dealers. The fowls cost him on an average $2.25 each in New York, 

 and when transportation, duty, and handling had been paid the average cost was about $3 

 each. Out of one shipment 69 per cent of the fowls were suffering from bad colds; some of 

 them were very sick. The other shipment contained a large percentage of sick and droopy 

 chickens also. 

 Should Offer Opportunity for Sale of Supplies. 



Interest in poultry raising in Cuba is on the increase and apparently the Repubhc offers a 

 fine field for exploitation by poultry dealers of the United States. Literature in Spanish, 

 nicely illustrated, should be used. There is no benefit whatever in sending catalogues or 

 letters in Enghsh. It is a waste of time, postage, and material. Along with this opportunity 

 for the sale of birds, which wiU become increasingly large, is that for the sale of combination 

 and prepared poultry feeds, small grain, poultry remedies, incubators, brooders, and suppUes 

 of every kind from leg tags to crushed oyster shells. The poultry business is new to Cuba, 

 and there is no well-defined business of handhng either the fowls or the supplies. (A hst of 

 Habana dealers who carry a partial line of supplies may be obtained from the Bureau of Foreign 

 and Domestic Commerce or its branch offices by referring to file No. 777. Further information 

 may a' so be had relative to the poultry raisers' association.) 



Aside from supplying fine eggs for hatching there is a very considerable futxire in the 

 poultry-raising business in Cuba to furnish eggs and chickens for the local markets. The 

 Cubans, in common with most tropical peoples, prefer to eat eggs and chickens rather than 

 meat, and there wiU not be for many years a glutted market or a material decrease in prevaiUng 

 prices for either eggs or poultry. A pullet ("poUita") for eating purposes brings 70 to 80 cents, 

 and a grown hen 90 cents to $1. Turkeys and ducks are also expensive food, and share with 

 the chickens the opportunity for profitable returns. — Special Agent Garrard Harris. 



