28 T HE Cr B A REV lEW 



thirds will drop out, leaving only some 50 caballerias which will not give over some 

 30,000 arrobas per caballeria thenceforth, and then, in order to once more have cane, ; 

 the heavy expense of planting must be repeated, instead of merely continuing the 

 cultivation work (maintenance) by effective, economical methods, for six to eight 

 profitable cuttings. 



As to the cultivation or maintenance expense after planting. It is obvious that 

 land properly prepared can be easily cultivated (weeded, etc.) by mechanical means, 

 with mule-drawn disc gang harrows, or other suitable implements, at far less expense 

 than by hand, a gang of laborers with hoes, and that the results obtained in production 

 and in yield by the former methods are bound to be higher than by the latter. As for 

 the treatment of the marshy lands, a ditcher was purchased, which, with a couple 

 of yokes of oxen and two men, would put in more ditches and as well made, in two 

 or three days, than a gang of laborers with pick and shovel could do in as many 

 weeks; and again the saving in expense is obvious. 



The lethargy, if such it may be termed, of the planter in Cuba, his opposition 

 to the adoption of progressive agricultural methods, is a matter of comment, and 

 the central "Highview" presents a most striking instance. 



Shortly after the commencement of the work of installing these progressive 

 methods of cultivation, as have been described, in this central, a change of manage- 

 ment took place and the new incumbent argued so strongly against such methods 

 that those controlling the mill changed the original plans completely, stopped all 

 such work, discarded the large equipment of modern farm implements with the 

 exception of the plows, and reverted to the ancient method of the hoe. The main 

 argument advanced by the new management was that the central needed all the cane 

 possible in the shortest time possible, therefore to plant anywhere, everywhere and 

 any w^ay. In other words, there is to be a repetition of the experience of the year 

 in which the mill ground the 81,000 bags planting anywhere, even on top of hard 

 pan, where the cane springs, but is dwarfed at a height of about three feet, planting 

 in marshy land without drainage, or liming, and planting in all the impoverished 

 lands controlled by the central without the proper preparation and amelioration; 

 planting densely, which the soil cannot support; and this to obtain perhaps one 

 fairly large crop two years hence, and then failure again, a repetition of the history 

 of the place, one crop that unless the price of sugar should again soar to fabulous 

 heights cannot possibly compensate for the failure of the other years; and the money 

 so spent sacrificed. A casual but unbiased investigation by competent persons would 

 immediately reveal the truth of the situation. In the provinces of Oriente and Camaguey 

 there is still ample room for expansion, for abandoning so-called worn-out fields and 

 developing virgin lands; in Santa Clara province, and in others of the "older" parts 

 of Cuba, there is not an inch of virgin land left that can be developed profitably, 

 and the industry must either continue the practice of scrimmaging for cane, each 

 mill vying with the other to take colono's canes away by fair means or foul, or else 

 resort to modem progressive methods of cultivation to build up their lands and 

 increase and maintain a good production — and this thev seem determined not to do, 

 WHY}— Sugar. 



Temporary Increase in Production Tax for an "Ordinary tax'' of 10 cents per 

 on Raw Sugar bag irrespective of the price of sugar, and 



Raw sugar having been quoted and sold 



a surtax of 30 cents per bag when, and as 



. ^^ , , ., . long as, the price is 6 cents or more per 



m Habana on April 19, 1923, at six cents ^^^^^ -^ ^^^ warehouses of Habana. The 



per pound, the surtax of 30 cents per bag proceeds of this sugar tax are to be ap- 



of 320 pounds became effective on all pijed toward the $30,000,000 internal war 



sugar put in bags after that date. loan of 1917. — Commercial Attache Paul 



A Cuban law of July 1, 1920, provides L. Edwards, Habana. 



