16 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



A Ramon Tree Left in a Clearing. 



miles in extent present the appearance of dead waste. It is during this period of the 

 year that only a few plants remain green and fresh. The ramon tree, however, which 

 produces an abundance of dark green leaves, remains green and continues to thrive 

 even throughout periods of drought, and use of its green foliage in the dry season often 

 saves horses and cattle from want and starvation. 



While the ramon tree loves a loose and moist soil, it frequently occurs in well- 

 drained soil where it continues to grow and throw out new leaves all the j-ear round. 

 Cattle and horses are very fond of the leaves and young twigs, and the farmers drive 

 their stock, especially their oxen, into the bush and fell a ramon tree, the leaves of which 

 provide his stock with nourishing food for several days. The leaves are sweet and con- 

 tain all the nourishment that cattle require. Thej' can subsist on these leaves for 

 several months without an}' other food. 



As a rule, the trees are felled and their places are soon occupied bj^ other and gen- 

 eralh' useless trees. Instead of conserving this tree, it is being rapidly destroj-ed by 



