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Plate V. Porto Rico. Typical mountain farming lands and village

the south. There are two good macadamized roads crossing the island, one from San Juan to Ponce, built under Spanish occupation, and one from Arecibo to Ponce, built since American control began. Several millions of dollars have been spent for roads since the American occupation. There are electric railways in San Juan and Ponce.

Under Spanish rule, landowners paid no taxes on their ownings and, as a consequence, there were many large tracts that were not cultivated but were devoted to grazing. Since American occupation, in 1898, the areas under cultivation have increased very greatly, especially those devoted to cane-growing. Thousands of acres have also been planted to the orange, pineapple and other fruits. The tax on land requires that it be put to some use or be put on the market, and there has been a tendency for lands to change hands. As the island is thickly populated, the prices are necessarily high, especially near good roads and towns. Coffee-lands, the highlands in the interior, are comparatively cheap, however, and a great many of them are mortgaged. Some of the mortgages have been handed down since Spanish rule. The change from the double to the gold standard caused great hardship to many of these planters, together with unfavorable crop seasons, and the fall in price of coffee. Land-titles are often defective and limits are not clearly defined. There are about 100,000 acres of public land which have been turned over to the insular government by the United States. Under the Spanish, most of the revenues of Porto Rico were raised by consumption tax. Under American administration, the revenues are raised by a property tax, which will probably result in more land being put under cultivation.

The industries of Porto Rico are necessarily agricultural, exports running a little over 90 per cent in agricultural products. The chief exports in point of value, are sugar, coffee, cattle, molasses and tobacco. All of the crops go to the United States ex

present is a promising line of work. Better transportation is needed with the States, as the ships now coming to Porto Rico are not equipped for the handling of fruits and other perishable products. There is great need of capital for developing the resources, and also for enterprising men to handle the problems. Labor is plentiful and cheap, being readily obtained at forty to fifty cents per day.

The crops of Porto Rico.

The lowlands are devoted to the cultivation of cane, which, since the American occupation, has been very profitable, the sugar being admitted duty-free into the markets of the United States. These lands vary in price from $100 to $200 per acre. The interior lands are devoted largely to coffee, and range in price from $5 to $50 per acre. A great many acres are being devoted to growing citrous fruits and pineapples. No orchards were planted until the American occupation, but at the present these groves are coming into bearing and the outlook is promising.

Coffee is the leading crop of the island. The Porto Rican product has for a long time been sold in the markets of Cuba, Spain and France, and is an excellent variety of after-dinner coffee. It has not secured much foothold in the United States, as the public taste has not been cultivated for this variety. Since the American occupation, the established mar

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Fig. 123. Porto Rican landscape.-Valley of the Rio Grande.

cept coffee, which is shipped largely to Cuba, France and Spain and elsewhere. Of the imports, rice is first, nearly all being shipped from New Orleans. Meats and flour are also largely imported. The agriculture of Porto Rico is very primitive, but since the American occupation great progress has been made. An agricultural experiment station has been established at Mayaguez, under the Hatch act, which has many lines of work under way. Many progressive planters have come from the United States, especially from Florida, and have taken up cane,-orange- and pineapple-culture. Some market-gardening has been attempted, and at

kets of Porto Rican coffee in France and Spain have been cut by the tariff. Efforts are now being made to reach the market in the United States with Porto Rican coffee and to grow those varieties that are acceptable to the American palate. Porto Rico is peculiarly adapted to growing coffee, especially on the high land of the interior, and it is not likely that any other product will supplant it in these regions. The more progressive planters that are using improved seed and have their nursery beds, and who give the very best attention to their crops, are making progress in this industry; but a great many of the planters are burdened with debt and are dis

couraged, and, as a result, their plantations will ultimately pass into other hands. The coffee tree in Porto Rico comes into bearing in about three years and attains its maximum at about twelve years. Under good conditions it will continue to bear to the age of fifty years. The average production per tree is under one pound, but, under proper care and cultivation, it can be largely increased. The coffee crop needs the attention, also, of the plant-breeder.

Cane-growing in Porto Rico is very profitable at present, it being especially favored by coming within the tariff law of the United States. There is a marked increase in the production per acre with improved methods. The old plantation mills have given way to large mills with the very latest improved machinery. Planters now find it more profitable to sell the cane to the large "centrals" than to grind it in their old-time mills and boil it in open kettles. The plentiful supply of labor has

Citrous fruits have been extensively planted in Porto Rico since American occupation. For several years large shipments have been made from the island, but they are of oranges that have grown wild. The plantations that have been set are just coming into bearing and, judging from the yield and quality of the fruit, this industry is a very promising one. There are some serious insect and scale pests, but with due care they can be kept under control. The planting of citrous fruits has been done altogether by Americans, a great many Florida men especially having come to the island for that purpose. Lemons and grape- fruits are also being planted to some extent, and both do very well. Next to the orange, the pineapple is being extensively planted. This fruit is largely canned on the island, but it is probable that the greater part in the near future will be shipped to the market in the Fig. 124. The open country of Porto Rico near the sea.-Vicinity of States. There is a Martin Pena. Porto Rican pine known as the Cabezona, which is very large and of good quality. This is the variety used by the canneries; some shipments have been made to the States. Care must be used in packing, as it does not stand shipment so well as some other pines. The Red Spanish is also being extensively planted, especially for shipment. This pine is not so large as the Cabezona, but is of delicious flavor and good keeping qualities, making it well-adapted for shipping.

been of great advantage to the cane-growers, and this, being cheap, has been employed to a great extent in cultivating this crop. However, more improved machinery is being brought in and a number of steam-plows are in operation. The wooden plow has given way to the steel moldboard, and the importation of mules is supplanting the oxen. Planting of cane is usually done in the spring months, the cane being cut a year later. There is a tendency, however, for a longer period of growth, about fifteen months, known as gran culture." The grinding season extends from January to July, a period of about six months.

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The areas suitable for tobacco-growing are somewhat limited, but this crop has not been very thoroughly exploited. The valleys of the interior, as a rule, are devoted to this crop, and leaf of very good quality is produced. A number of companies have been formed in the last few years for growing cigar tobacco and have been very successful. A great deal of wrapper tobacco is grown under cheesecloth, and the filler tobacco that has been properly fermented is of very fine quality. This is a crop that under the best conditions is very profitable in the island; but the methods of growing, and especially of curing and fermenting, are very crude, as a rule. There is a tendency for the curing and fermentation processes to pass into the hands of large manipulators, who buy from the small growers. In this way a more uniform and a better product is obtained, as the curing is kept under definite control.

The avocado, or alligator pear, is found in all parts of the island, and is a delicious fruit that is hardly known in the States. It is easily grown, but is a poor shipper; however, with the selection of better-keeping varieties and with improved shipping facilities, this fruit can undoubtedly be placed on the market in the States, and will be extensively grown. The native mango is found in all parts of Porto Rico, and is very plentiful in season. The fruit, however, is of inferior quality, and efforts are now being made to introduce the improved Indian mango. This kind is destined to become a very profitable fruit, from a commercial standpoint.

Bananas grow very readily in nearly all parts of the island, but at the present time form no part of the exports. They are consumed locally in immense quantities, and form a very large part of the food of the poor people. Their cultivation can be greatly extended.

Coconuts are grown near the seacoast, often being found on lands that are not adapted to any other purpose. A coconut plantation in bearing is

very profitable. Cacao is grown to a limited extent and could very readily be made one of the leading industries of the island.

Small crops of rice, corn, sweet-potatoes, yams, bananas, tomatoes and melons are grown in all sections of the island for home consumption. These can be greatly improved by selection of better seeds and following better methods of culture. Potatoes are very largely imported, as are also onions; both can be grown on the island. Rice is raised on the highland, practically no lowland rice being grown.

Porto Rico was formerly heavily forested, but at present there are no woods of economic value, except a tree here and there. Some cedar is cut and brought down from the interior; all other lumber is imported. Coal is imported for the railways and electric plants, but the cooking is done on open charcoal fires. The hills are kept denuded of trees by the charcoal burners. The charcoal is brought down to the towns on mules and sold from house to house.

Live-stock industries.

The live-stock of Porto Rico consists of the descendants of animals brought in at an early date by the Spaniards. No care has been exercised in selecting and breeding this stock, and the result is a very inferior lot of animals. The horses are game, but small and incapable of much labor on the farms. Mules brought from the United States are used to some extent, but work on the plantations is largely performed by oxen. Considering the care that has been taken of them, the cattle are very good, some of them being of large size. They are, however, very slow in maturing, and the cows are very inferior as milch animals. A great many cattle are shipped to Cuba, where they are used for work animals on cane plantations, or are slaughtered for

and not very thrifty. Poultry does well, though there is much to be desired in the improvement of the kinds, especially as regards size.

Future of agriculture in Porto Rico.

Porto Rico is destined to bear the relation to the United States that the Channel Islands now bear

Fig. 126. Plowing in the native Porto Rican fashion.

to Great Britain. Horticulture will be the leading industry, followed by stock-raising. When agriculture is more fully developed, products will be shipped into New York and other markets in kinds and at times to bring the highest prices. These products will consist largely of fruits, followed by vegetables; in addition, certain animal productions will be exported, especially poultry. The system of farming will be intensive and land will be made wonderfully productive.

The number of tourists coming to the island is increasing yearly, and land is being purchased for investment. It is probable that homes will be built by persons who desire to escape the rigors of the northern winters. The winter months of Porto Rico are delightful. The nights are cool and the days not excessively warm. The island is a place of great natural beauty, excelling in that respect the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. With the coming of capital and increase in the thrift of the inhabitants, Porto Rico will become prominent. The means of reaching the island from the

Fig. 125. Huts as seen in the native villages of Porto Rico.

beef. The swine are very inferior, and for improvement the island must look to the importation of better animals from other countries. A great many goats are kept for producing milk. Sheep are scarce

eastern cities at present is inadequate, and ships are slow, requiring four to five days. With the increased production of fruits, faster ships will be put into the service that will make the trip from New York in three days. After passing Cape Hatteras, the trip from New York is through very delightful waters. At present, tours are arranged on ships which touch at San Juan and later make a tour of the island, affording a very pleasant way of obtaining a general view of Porto Rico. Trips into the interior may be readily made from the ports, over the excellent macadamized roads.

Since the American occupation, the island has not made the progress that was expected of it, but there now seems a turn in affairs that is leading to better things. The industries are getting on a paying basis, capital is receiving remunerative profits, and people of enterprise are coming in. The future seems bright for this newly acquired gem of the United States, set in the southern seas.

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