THE CUBA REVIEW 



25 



ISLE OF PINES NOTES 



Soils, Fertilizers and Costs 



From an article on "Citrus Fruit Cul- 

 ture," name of writer not given, in the 

 June Bulletin of the International Bureau 

 of South American RepubHcs we take the 

 following regarding the Isle of Pines : 



"In the Isle of Pines, which was formerly a 

 cattle and hog country, producing especially val- 

 uable draft oxen for sale in Cuba proper, xVmer- 

 ican citrus fruit growers consume large quantities 

 of canned condensed milk at high prices, as well 

 as large amounts of tenued meats and vegetables, 

 despite the fact that some good pasturage exists, 

 while still more could doubtless be planted, and 

 the fourth fact that fine vegetables in remarkably 

 large variety can be grown along the river banks, 

 or really, almost anywhere else when irrigation 

 is possible. They also import hay and feed at 

 ridiculous cost. All this into a region where 

 corn at least can be grown and large herds used 

 to find themselves." 



Regarding the question of fertilizers, the 

 writer says that some land companies deny 

 the need of fertilizers, but no prospective 

 owner of a citrus grove in Western Cuba 

 can afford not to include this item in his 

 estimate of expenses, and should figure on 

 fertilizing early and often. This he says, 

 is also the situation in the Isle of Pines, 

 and quotes Mr. H. C. Hendrickson, secre- 

 tary of the Cuban National Horticultural 

 Society, who says as follows : 



"The soils (of the Isle of Pines) are 

 all poor in plant food compared with the 

 average soils in the United States and the 

 gravel ridges are especially so, but I have 

 never seen the effects of good fertilizers 

 so sharply outlined as in these very soils, 

 and from experience in Florida and in 

 Porto Rico I would predict an abundant 

 crop of fruit of superior quality wherever 

 the groves are properly treated.." 



Transportation facilities for the fruit en- 

 gages the writer's attention and he finds 

 that, "despite the fact that there has been, 

 until very recently direct steamer connec- 

 tion monthly with Mobile and other places, 

 the only practicable way to get fruit to 

 American markets is to send it to Bata- 

 bano and thence to Havana. Transporta- 

 tion costs from the Isle to aboard ship in 

 Havana harbor foot up 16 cents per crate 

 as per figures taken from the books of 

 Mr. Fred C. Mason, a shipper whose groves 

 are at La Cuba." 



The News calls attention to the necessity 

 for a large and pure water supply for 

 Nueva Gerona, as a question which should 

 occupy the attention of every resident and 

 visitor. "The growing population," it says, 

 "will make it imperative that the wells now 

 in general use be filled up, and soon at 

 that." 



Siguenea Wharf Now Building 



A two thousand foot dock is now in 

 course of construction on Siguenea Bay, 

 near the Los Indies River. The actual 

 work was begun in the latter part of May, 

 and much has since been done, but further 

 progress is suspended because of the scar- 

 city of rain, as the driving machinery re- 

 quires considerable water, but other work 

 is going on without delay. 



Siguenea Wharf Building. Picture taken 

 after the first five piles had been driven. 



This spring many who have bearing 

 groves became somewhat worried over the 

 eft'ect of the long dry spell. It was noticed 

 that some trees did not bloom at all this 

 spring and many of those that did dropped 

 their blossoms. This presaged a rather 

 light crop and the outlook was anything 

 but encouraging. But in looking over 

 these same groves now, new blossoms are 

 found in abundance which assures not only 

 a large crop, but a late one, the latter 

 being as desirable as the former. 



Launch Cafiada is now in commission 

 and will make her usual trips, coming to 

 Nueva Gerona from the West Coast 

 Wednesdays and Saturdays and returning 

 Sundays and Thursdays after the steamer 

 from Cuba arrives. 



A new industry has come to Santa Fe 

 in the form of a furniture factory. A 

 factory is being constructed. 



"Quite a number," says the News, "are 

 budding their oranges to grape-fruit, the 

 latter, it is conceded, being the more prof- 

 itable." It further says that "there will 

 be fewer orange trees planted hereafter." 



Dr. Codina, chief of the isle's sanitary 

 forces, closed the American drug store at 

 Santa Fe, because Dr. Perry, the owner, 

 did not possess a Cuban certificate as an 

 apothecary. This is essential under the 

 Cuban law. 



