and are quite numerous in all parts of the island. Wild fowl, especially ducks and pigeons, abound, the former crossing from the Southern states during the winter season, the latter remaining in the island the year round. Pheasants, quail, snipe, wild turkeys, and wild guinea fowl are also numerous, with several varieties of game birds, such as the perdiz, tojosas, rabiches, and the guanaros.

Cuba has more than two hundred species of native birds; many possess the most beautiful plumage, but those with song are rare.

The only distinctive native animal is the jutía, or hutía, which is rat-like in appearance, and grows to a length of from 16 to 18 inches, not including the tail. While edible, it is not especially palatable.

In swampy localities crocodiles and American alligators are found, and although these frequently grow to an enormous size, but little attention is paid to them by the natives. Chameleons, small lizards, tree toads, and similar harmless reptiles of diminutive size are very common, while occasionally the iguana and other large varieties of the lizard species are seen. Few varieties of snakes exist in Cuba. One variety, the maja, from 10 to 14 feet in length, is most frequently found about the huts, farm houses, and small villages, its favorite living place being in the palm leaf thatches of the older buildings, while its favorite food is poultry. Another snake, named the jubo, is more vicious in disposition than the maja, although never reaching more than one-third its size. It is not poisonous. The other varieties are still smaller in size and are not venomous.

NATURAL RESOURCES.

By FRANCISCO I. DE VILDÓSOLA, Secretary pro tem of Agriculture, Labor,

and Commerce.

The principal element of the strength of Cuba is in the productions of the soil. This has been the condition in the past and will be the condition for a long time to come. The productions are far in excess of the amount of effort put forth, and are so out of proportion to the number of inhabitants that the problem of a permanent market and the difficulty of securing it are questions of the utmost importance in their bearing upon Cuban wealth. Although nearly all the new sources of riches are at present in embryo, they are so numerous and so varied that it seems advisable to classify them.

PRODUCTS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

The productions of the animal kingdom which are utilized in Cuba are of two origins: those which live on the land and those which are obtained from the sea, the rivers, and the lakes. The principal land products are cattle, horses, swine, poultry, and bees, while sheep and goats are raised in small numbers. During the past months an experiment has been made in an industrial way in the raising of ostriches, but as yet we have no data and the experience has not been sufficient to judge of this new industry. Fish and sponge form the leading water products.

Cattle. The position of the Island of Cuba makes a veritable Eden of this country for the raising of live stock. Herbiverous animals multiply so rapidly that notwithstanding inadequate methods for the breeding and betterment of the cattle, and notwithstanding the fact that they are cared for in the rudest and most primitive way, not only are those necessary for agricultural work and for the slaughterhouses obtained, but the production is rapidly surpassing the needs of the Nation.

Under the Intervention of the United States restrictive laws were promulgated in regard to the slaughter and exportation of cattle, and, in addition, a department was created which publishes and distributes gratuitously vaccine virus for epizootic diseases.

The following table shows data concerning the number of cattle and the number killed in the slaughterhouses since the Independence:

From these figures it will be seen that the increase in the number of cattle in 1906 as compared with 1902 was 158 per cent, while the corresponding increase in the consumption of cattle in the slaughterhouses was 28.9 per

cent.

Considerable quantities of salted and canned meats and even live cattle are imported into Cuba.

Only a small portion of the offal of slaughterhouses is used in Cuba; the greater part is exported as raw material. Hides are included in the exports, since the tanning industry is unimportant.

In agriculture, oxen are used almost exclusively for ploughing and hauling, for as yet the use of mules has been quite limited, and all the experiments which have been made with steam implements have resulted unfavorably.

The milk industry, notwithstanding the great quantities of cattle raised and the large number of milch cows of good breed that have been imported from the United States, is not a lucrative source of wealth, and its products are so insufficient that in most of the cities condensed milk is imported from the United States and England.

Horses. The trade in horses, mules, and asses has not been developed in Cuba as extensively as might be expected from the natural conditions of the country.

The actual statistical distribution of this source of wealth on December 31, of each year from 1902 to 1906, is as follows:

The increases in 1906, as compared with 1902, have been: for horses 139.7 per cent; mules, 65.9 per cent; and asses, 43.4 per cent.

Swine. It is apparent that Cuba is the natural home for this class of animals. A litter is produced in so short a time that it is difficult for the owner to know how many swine he has; and the ability to reproduce is almost incredible.

The spotted fever epidemic is apt to cause an enormous mortality, but generally many years elapse between the appearances of this epidemic, and a sufficient number of animals survive to reproduce the herd in a short time. Although there is a virus for spotted fever, and the Secretary of Agriculture distributes it gratuitously, it is not always efficacious. The mercantile method of breeding swine consists in leaving them free in the pasture to provide for their own wants.

Poultry. Poultry is raised with the greatest ease and profit, but poultryraising on an industrial scale does not exist; each rural breeder can succeed without effort and can sell his products to speculators, who transport them to the merchants of the towns. Despite the lack of more efficient methods the production is sufficiently great for home consumption.

Bees. A country like Cuba, with an exceedingly mild climate, with fields continually decked with flowers and with no natural enemies capable of producing havoc among the hives, is a country in which apiculture should flourish. Because of the scarcity of population, however, and the facilities for making money in other industries, apiculture has not received sufficient attention to make it a source of wealth. At present there are 4,200 apiaries having over 120,250 hives, producing for the market 470,000 gallons of honey and 31,000 arrobas (775,000 pounds) of wax.

Fish. The seas which surround Cuba constitute an immense natural maritime fish hatchery, on account of the temperature of the water and the many keys and shoals. For this reason fish products have always been exceedingly abundant.

Although the coasts of Cuba have lacked until now maritime police for the protection of their fisheries, and although the most reprehensible methods have been constantly employed, the wealth in fish is very great.

In addition to the fish, caguamas are gathered in the Cuban seas in small numbers; turtles to the number of 500 or 600 a year; and the rich tortoise shell in such quantities that the total amount for the past year was more than 1,000 kilos.

Another exceptional source of wealth of the sea is the sponge; 310,000 dozen were procured in 1907. Among the Cuban sponges is one which is believed to have no equal in the world and the exploitation of which would be of an enormous mercantile value; this is the sponge called "machito del calvario," found near Brabant.

PRODUCTS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM.

Each of the three geographical divisions of the Island of Cuba has essentially its own agricultural productions as well as products that are common to all. Thus, in the Eastern division, the coconut produced in the district of Baracoa has no rival in Cuba for quality and abundance, nor can it be easily excelled outside of Cuba. In the extensive Central division, especially in the rich province of Matanzas, sugar cane is cultivated under favorable conditions. In the Western division, the Vuelta Abajo tobacco is cultivated.

Sugar cane. Of all the sources of agricultural wealth of the Island of Cuba, that which should be considered first is the sugar cane, since it is that which covers the greatest extent of territory, employs the greatest number of men, and has the greatest commercial importance.

The climatic conditions and the nature of the soil are so favorable for the cultivation of sugar cane that the sugar production has been steadily increasing for many years, in spite of the fact that the lack of economic methods is ruinous to the engines and retards the work. At times political crises have diminished the production, but the industry has soon recuperated and produced an output greater than before. This fact shows that the production of sugar cane in the Island of Cuba is so in accord with natural conditions that it seems probable that the definite issue in the world wide sugar war will finally be with Cuba.

Tobacco. This solanaceous plant, whose rich leaf as produced on Cuban soil is reputed to be the best in the world, is indigenous to the island and occupies the second place among the Cuban plants. Although it is not cultivated as extensively as sugar cane, it is used in two important industries, one of which is engaged in preparing and packing the weed for export, and the other in manufacturing the millions of cigars and cigarettes consumed in the country or exported. The latter industry, representing considerable wealth and giving employment to an increasing number of skilled workmen, contributes largely to the welfare of the laboring classes of the cities.

Tobacco requires for its cultivation a loose, rich, sandy soil, the best for the purpose being found in some localities in the province of Pinar del Río, especially in the southern portions, where the land produces the fine tobacco that brings the highest prices paid, particularly in England and the United States.

A plant of fairly good quality is produced in the central and eastern portions and even in the western portions of the island, especially on the northern watershed of the Siguanea river in the province of Santa Clara, on lands east of the Arimao river in the famous Manicaragua vegas.

Notwithstanding its well earned fame, the Cuban product can not reach the development it should, inasmuch as all countries consider tobacco an assessable article and endeavor, besides, to protect their home product by burdening the imported article with high import duties, which in some cases become almost prohibitory. One of the nations in which the conditions are most favorable for the consumption of Cuban tobacco without injury to its own products is the United States, and it is certain that quantities of Cuban tobacco will be consumed there when the effects of the recent reciprocity treaty between the latter nation and Cuba become thoroughly known and the advantages are fully appreciated by both sides.

Many tobacco planters are adopting the system of cultivating the leaf under cover or with mosquito nets, as the natives call it, which merely means that they place an awning of cheese cloth 2 or 21 meters above the plants. This