AGRICULTUBAL EESOURCES, ETC., OF POKTO EICO. 19 



Department of Agriculture through an experiment station, experi- 

 menting in, and disseminating knowledge of, coffee production. From 

 this standpoint coffee production in Porto Rico has a hopeful future. 



The Tobacco Industry. 



Tobacco, the third chief product of Porto Rico, does not labor under 

 any such disadvantages as coffee, as the loss of a crop can be repaired 

 in one year. Aside from the temporary loss by the hurricane, the 

 chief difficulty of the tobacco industry is the change of markets. 

 Formerly a large percentage of the tobacco of Porto Rico was shipped 

 to Cuba. This consisted of the better grade of "fillers and wrap- 

 pers." In 1895 the amount shipped to Cuba was 2,160,347 pounds, 

 or nearly two-thirds of the entire crop exported. In Cuba it was 

 manufactured and sold as Cuban product. Of the remainder, about 

 1,000,000 pounds were manufactured and consumed at home. Of the 

 balance, mainly low-grade tobacco, 1,375,761 pounds were sent to 

 Spain and smaller lots to Germany, France, and other countries. 



In January, 1899, the Cuban tariff, imposing prohibitive dutes ($5 

 per pound) on the Porto Rican product, went into effect, and the 

 market for two-thirds of the crop was at once lost. The Spanish 

 market was lost by change of flag, and tobacco was compelled to seek 

 new markets. In this emergency the tobacco dealers met the difficul- 

 ties by studying the markets of the United States and producing the 

 qualities here demanded. Formerly they assorted their tobacco into 

 three grades. Recently some have employed Cuban experts and are 

 making fi.fteen or sixteen grades. 



Rorto Rican tobacco produced near the coast is of a low grade, but 

 in the interior valleys the tobacco is very superior and ranks with 

 Cuban where the seed, care, and curing have been similar. The hills 

 near Cayey are dotted with immense sheds for curing tobacco. For- 

 merly tobacco was grown in the valley only; later it was discovered 

 that the hills produced a better grade than the valleys. The plants 

 are set in August or September, and the crop is harvested in April 

 and May. At the proper time the stem of the tobacco plant is cut on 

 the two-leaf plan and hung in the sheds for about fifty days. It is 

 then taken down, stem removed, and packed in a warehouse. The 

 average production is 400 to 600 pounds per acre. Afterwards it is 

 assorted, which gives the country people employment. A majority 

 of the persons employed in the assorting were women, girls, and boys. 

 Labor in the tobacco districts is noticeably better paid than in the 

 coffee districts. As soon as it has been ascertained that Porto Rican 

 tobacco and cigars can be profitably sold in the United States, there 

 will be a large increase in the annual output, as coffee planters will 

 engage in the industry to provide an income while they are restoring 

 their coffee plantations. The following iable oliows the quantity and 

 value of the tobacco exports for the eleven years preceding American 

 occupation : 



Tobacco exports. Pounds. 



1887 - - -. - --- 7,633,000 



1888 - - 3,347,000 



1889 7,786,000 



1890 .. - 3,984,000 



1891 - -.- -- 5,387,000 



1892 - 4,307,000 



1893 ., - ---- 4,208,000 



1894..._ ---- -.-- 3,370,000 



1895 3,665,000 



1896 --- 3,230,000 



1897 - - - 6,353,958 



