i8 



THE CUBA REVIEW And Bulletin. 



some extent, but the lack of rain is a 

 serious injury to the country. On the 

 plains the scarcity of water is very in- 

 jurious, and seldom has there been such 

 a continuous drought as that which now 

 afflicts the isiand. 



The temperature goes up and it is very 

 warm during the noon hours, although at 

 night and in the early morning hours 

 it is very cool — cool enough to wear 

 wraps and overcoats. 



Frequent fires, whether intentional or 

 accidental, have also done much damage. 

 Since 1844 there has not been such a 

 severe drought. In Alacranes and some 

 other places the cattle have to be taken 

 to some distances from the farms in 

 quest of water, and in Manzanillo they 

 take the cattle to the hills in search of 

 good pasturage. The tobacco is feeling 

 the ill effects of the drought in Vuelta 

 .\bajo, and also in Vuelta Arriba, and 

 the only hope seems to be to gather a 

 good crcf) in the Moron and Mayari. 



Milk is very scarce and poultry and 

 eggs as well. The land is Covered with 

 thick dust and vegetation is parched and 

 dry. 



Dr. Crawley, in charge of the experi- 

 mental station in Santiago de las Vegas, 

 reports improvements. New sheds have 

 been built and pipes for water supply 

 have been laid. 



A hitherto unknown insect has made 

 its appearance in Santiago de las Vegas 

 and is making ravages on the onions 

 there. 



THE FINE ORANGES OF DENIA IN SPAIN. 



A»ic)icaii Consular Service. 

 Valencia, Spain, February, 1907. 

 Fditor The Clisa Review and Bulletin. 



Dear Sir : — The fruit described as Denia 

 oranges on British markets is not pro- 

 duced bj' a special variety of orange tree, 

 hut its peculiarities are entirely due to the 

 conditions of climate, soil and cultivation 

 under which it is grown. The district of 

 Denia is tne center of production and ship- 

 ment of the famous muscat raisins, which 

 although grown in other sections of Spain 

 and prepared in the same way, are never 

 equal to the best Denias. The same oc- 

 curs with the Valencia orange, which finds 

 in the hilly slopes around Denia almost 

 ideal conditions — a light loamy soil, prox- 

 imity to the Mediterranean Sea, a moder- 

 ately moist atmosphere, a mild to warm 

 climate, seldom subject to extremes, and 

 plenty of sunshine, averaging about nine 

 hours daily for the whole year. The best 

 oranges of the Denia region are remark- 

 able for their fine silken skin, juiciness, 

 flavor and rich color. This orange, how- 

 ever, is so much a product of Denia and 

 similar favored spots in this region that, 

 when transplanted to the orange-growing 

 district of Castellon de la Plana, some 

 eighty miles further iiiorth, it acquires, 

 after one or two years, the rough skin, 

 coarse texture and extra acidity peculiar to 

 the fruit raised in that section. I am of 

 opinion that the average heat of Cuba is 

 considerably in excess of what the Valencia 

 orange requires for its growth and perfect 

 development. I am, dear sir. 

 Yours very truly, 

 H. A. Johnson. American Consul. 



military 



reorganizing the MII.ITARV forces of CUBA. 



One of the difficult questions to be 

 solved in restoring the Cuban republic is 

 how and in what form to reorganize the 

 military e tablishment of the island. One 

 party favors a regular army composed 

 of 2,5Co infantry and 1,500 artillery, to- 

 gether with a Rural Guard numbering 

 about 3,800 officers and men. The other 

 party contends that the military needs 

 of the country can all be met by in- 

 creasing the Rural Guard to about 12.000. 

 The opponents of this plan insist that 

 the Rural Guard, being a civilian corps, 

 and in close contact with the people, can- 

 not develop the true military spirit or ue 

 made amenable to the thorough disci- 

 pline upon which efficiency depends. On 

 the other hand, it is pointed out that it 



would be a mistake to create a mixed 

 force consisting partly of guards and 

 partly of regulars, such an arrangement 

 being likely to lead to confusion and' 

 extravagance in administration and prob- 

 ably to friction and jealousy between 

 the two classes of troops. The whole 

 military question in Cuba is confused 

 and disheartening, but it must be settled 

 before the withdrawal of the American 

 forces. In adjusting that difficulty and 

 turning over to the Cuban people a mili- 

 tary organization able and ready to pro- 

 tect tjieir liberties and rruaintain law 

 and order in the island, the officers of the 

 United States Army will again disclose 

 to the world their constructive energy, 

 tact and fidelity to duty. — Army & Navy 

 Journal, New York. 



