Note 53 — Part II History of the Industry (continued 2)

A well-known authority on sugar culture states that ratoons constitute about 90 per cent of the Cuban crop, and that it takes twelve months for ratoons to ripen. Primavera, or cane planted in the spring, is cut when twelve months old, and caña fria, or cane planted in the fall, is cut when it is between fourteen and eighteen months old. The industry has been greatly extended during 1915 and 1916, and consequently much new planting has been done. These plantings will be ratooned after the first crop is taken off.