180 SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS 



on the Islands who has anticipated the demand for a fancy fruit. He has 

 employed the best methods of cultivation from the beginning. Holes were 

 blasted out of the rock- in which to set the trees, and these were filled with 

 soil. The trees then received close attention, were carefully cultivated, appli- 

 cations of fertilizer were made, the trees kept pruned, and, by spraying, freed 

 from fungus diseases and insect pests. As a result, large crops of fine ffiiit 

 are obtained. The fruit is gathered carefully and assorted to certain standard 

 sizes, wrapped in tissue paper, and packed in crates. It is shipped by steamer 

 to New York. An agent is there to receive the shipment, and with instruc- 

 tions to either sell or hold in storage, depending on the state of the market. 

 Unlike the pineapple growers, this grower has found a particular market for 

 his product, and is receiving fancy prices by filling the demand for a fruit 

 having certain characteristics as to quality, color, size and shape. A fruit of 

 medium size, slightly flattened, of pale yellow color and thin, polished rind, 

 was found to be preferred. Thus this grower is receiving good returns for 

 his efforts, and has shovm the practicability and profitableness of growing 

 only the best grade of fruit for export, and of marketing his fruit in an enter- 

 prising manner. If such methods were generally practiced, the condition of 

 the fruit industry would be greatly improved. 



Bahama Hemp or Sisal. 



The fiber industry of the Bahama Islands promises to become of great 

 importance. If the industry suffered during its early days through lack of 

 knowledge and experience on the part of those who attempted to cultivate sisal 

 without a proper knowledge of the conditions existing in the Islands, such 

 an undesirable state of affairs is gradually being overcome by those engaged 

 in the fiber business at the present time. Experience has shown that with 

 proper management and care, sisal cultivation can be carried on at a good 

 profit. At the present time there is a large acreage under sisal cultivation, 

 which is for the most part cleaned by machinery, and fourteen mills are at 

 the present time operated for this purpose. The market for the Bahama sisal 

 is America, but the obstacles, such as a protective tariff and inadequate ship- 

 ping facilities which are so detrimental to fruit culture, do not exist for the 

 sisal industry. The fiber does not deteriorate with shipping, is subject to no 

 duty, and is in steady demand with an established reputation for excellence. 



