10 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME TROPICAL FRUITS. 



CITRUS FRUITS. 



Prior to the American occupation of Cuba nothing had been done 

 toward taking advantage of the great opportunities for raising citrus 

 fruits. During that period a considerable quantity of Florida orange 

 stock was imported, and during the past year (1903) some oranges 

 have been exported. The industry is important on account of its pos- 

 sibilities rather than because of its present condition. As the United 

 States would constitute the principal market, the methods of selection, 

 grafting, and curing, and tariff conditions would determine largely 

 whether the Cuban fruit could compete with that of Florida and 

 California. 



While grape fruit and limes grow in a semicultivated or almost wild 

 condition and find a read} T sale in the markets of Cuba, no effort is made 

 to export them or to increase the volume of the output. The lemon 

 (Citrus limon) grows onhy in a few private gardens, and the native 

 fruit is never offered for sale, although there seems to be no reason 

 why it should not be cultivated to advantage. 



