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THE CUBA REVIEW. 



MULE RAISING IN CUBA. 



The Old Reliable Missouri Mule Will Supplant the Oxen — Mules Especially 

 Adapted to Tropical Countries — Good Prices Prevail. 



BY DR. N. S. MAYO 



Chief of the Department of Animal Industry, Republic of Cuba, 



CUBA is undergoing a rapid economic transformation. Instead of the easy going 

 land of "miamaiia" (to-morrow), it is steadily but surely becoming a land of 

 to-day. The rapid extension of the fine macadam roads built by the govern- 

 ment, the building of railroads and increase in coastwise transportation has opened 

 a large amount of virgin territory that a few years ago was practically inaccesssible. 

 Great sugar plantations are being built and large districts of rich agricultural lands 

 are being opened and made available for the actual farmer. The present industrial 

 progress is probably only a harbing&r of what the next ten years will bring forth 

 along these lines. 



The opening up of new territory, the introduction of foreign capital and the 

 renewed interest in agriculture have been very important in stimulating the intro- 

 duction of modern methods and modern agricultural machinery, for Cuba is, andl 

 always will be, an agricultural country. With the introduction of modern methods 



has come a strong demand for a more 

 efficient motive power for use on the 

 farms and sugar plantations than the 

 native oxen. This is found in the mule 

 — "the old reliable Missouri mule." 



The following figures taken from the 

 reports of the Cuban Treasury Depart- 

 ment show the number of mules import- 

 ed into Cuba from 1902 to 1505, the fig- 

 ures for 1906 and 1907 not being avail- 

 able at this date: 

 For the fiscal year 1902-03, 2,128 mules 



were imported. 

 For the fiscal year 1903-04, 3,454 mules 



were imported. 

 For the fiscal year 1904-05, 6,801 mules 

 were imported. 

 These figures show in a striking man- ' 

 ner the increasing demand for mules, 

 the importation having doubled in the 

 last year reported. It seems certain that 

 the demand will continue for many years 

 to come. Most of these mules were im- 

 ported from the United States, Mexico 

 and the British West Indlies. 



' Mules are especially adapted to trop- 

 ical and semi-tropical countries. They 

 withstand heat and hard work better 

 than horses, are less liable to injuries and ■ 

 diseases of the feet, and are more easily 

 handled by unskilled drivers. 



Mules Can be Raised Cheaply in Cuba. 



With the excellent climatic conditions, 



extensive areas of splendid pastures andi 



fine water there is no reason why mules 



cannot be raised as cheaply in Cuba as 



in any other country, and at the prices 



that they bring on the Cuban market 



HEAD OF CUBAN MULE. the' busincss, in intelligent hands, should 



Bedecked with brass-mounted harness, great red nrove verv profitable 



plumes and bells, all of which must weigh many r^ j t '1 n- 



pounds, the patient mules plod along Havana . Good large young mules are now selling 

 streets. in the Havana market for $250 (Ameri- 



