THE CUBA REVIEW 



legumes such as sword beans or cow peas at the beginning of the rainy season. Plow 

 these crops in before the rainy season begins, and after that keep the soil pulverized 

 and loose. This is great benefit to the cacao trees. 



In reference to fertilizer, it will depend on the soil conditions, the location and 

 rainfall, etc.; elements used in fertilizers are — nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid. 



Again, in growing cacao for commercial markets, the planters must select seeds from 

 vigorous, disease resistant, prolific, cacao trees — ^producing beans of good quality. 

 The trees from which the seeds are selected should be surrounded by no other cacao 

 trees, except those of the same variety and they should fill the requirements as set forth 

 above. If a tree is surrounded by other trees, the flowers should be hand pollinated 

 and covered with cheesecloth to exclude pollen. 



The fruit is picked by natives and broken open on the field and the beans are 

 scooped out by hand. The beans are placed in heaps in so called "sweating rooms." 

 Every day the heaps are turned over with a wooden shovel in order to let sufficient 

 air in, so that the sweating may be thorough. After being treated in this way for four 

 or six days, the beans are laid in the sun to dry, during which process they must be 

 regularly turned over and then, after five days, if the weather is good, they are ready to 

 sack for shipment. The larger plantations are provided with drying machinery which 

 in the rainy season is an absolute necessity when a large area is planted to cacao. 

 They are provided with washing machines for the washing of beans. A cacao estate 

 under scientific methods should produce from 500 to 600 pounds of cacao to the acre. 



Cacao and chocolate are both prepared from the cacao bean — one being made 

 from the "powder mess" and the other from "the fat." The cacao beans are roasted 

 before made into commercial products. 



Cuba Railroad 



It is reported that work on the Cuba Railroad extension from Camaguey to Santa 

 Cruz del Sur is progressing rapidly and will be completed by December 15, at the latest 

 according to Chief Engineer B. B. Shaw. It seems probable that the extension will be 

 opened for public service on January 1, 1924. 



Initial work on the station building at the "Playazo," and the water tanks which were 

 started last week is already well advanced. The dock has been finished and is being 

 used for the lonloading of materials. Track has been laid from Santa Cruz del Sur up 

 to the farms at Las Minas and San Augustin and simultaneously work is being carried 

 out from Vertientes. 



Commerce Section Established National City Bank 



In accordance with a recent presidential It is reported that the National Citv 



decree, a section of commerce and indus- Bank of New York has purchased a half 



trial expansion has been established at the block at O'Reilly, Compostela and Progreso 



agricultural department in charge of Sr. Streets, for the purpose of erecting a bank 



Pimentel. This section will be constantly building. The site is that of die old 



in touch with commercial and industrial Santa Catalina Convent, in the heart of the 



expositions being held in foreign countries business district. Deed conveying the 



and has a large number of reviews, maga- property was signed September 12th. It 



zines and other data on hand for Cuban is understood the purchase price was 



merchants and manufacturers. $450,000. 



