Dried fruits and nuts.-Raisins and prunes are the chief dried fruit items imported into Cuba. Spain is the leading source of the raisins, but since the war the United States has supplied the major portion of the prunes. The relatively large imports of raisins in 1923, amounting to 712,000 pounds, of which 84 per cent came from Spain, is worthy of notice.

Nuts are classified with dried fruit in the Cuban statistics. Almonds are imported in considerable quantities and come chiefly from Spain.

IMPORTS OF DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS INTO CUBA

IMPORTS OF DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS INTO CUBA-Continued

Canned and preserved fruit.-During 1920 and 1921 large amounts of canned and preserved fruit were imported into Cuba. In 1922 there was a large falling off due chiefly to overstocking in the previous years. In 1923, however, imports amounted to 5,810,000 pounds. The United States is the principal source of canned fruit as well as of other preserved fruit, as may be seen in the following table:

CUBAN IMPORTS OF CANNED AND PRESERVED FRUITS

80, 800

57,558

81,308

$1,500

1,291, 569 5, 339, 529 576, 540 78, 424

134, 945

235, 243

23,469

241, 710

5,552, 305

4,838, 912

3,844, 106

7,527,772

$829, 692

$349, 482

$248, 594

$521, 659

The principal canned fruits imported into Cuba from the United States are peaches and pears.

VEGETABLES

Potatoes. In point of value, potatoes are the most important of the vegetables imported into Cuba. The outstanding features are, first, the increasing importation from Canada and, second, the increase in total imports in late years over 1913. In 1913 Cuba imported 2,224,000 bushels of potatoes, of which the United States supplied 53 per cent and Canada 37 per cent. In 1923 the total imports amounted

to 3,992,000 bushels, with the United States and Canada each supply ing about 46.5 per cent. Countries other than these furnish relativel small amounts.

A presidential decree is in effect which prohibits the importation o potatoes from all European countries where "potato wart" prevails and all potatoes imported must be certified as free from disease. The following table shows the imports of potatoes into the island:

Beans, onions, and chick-peas.-Cuba's imports of beans, onions, and chick-peas for five different years are presented in the following table CUBAN IMPORTS OF BEANS, ONIONS, AND CHICK-PEAS

Beans are a favorite item of diet in Cuba, and large quantities are imported into the island. The imports have been somewhat larger in postwar years than in 1913, when they amounted to 43,335,000 pounds. In 1923 the total imports were 65,054,000 pounds. Before the war Mexico was the leading source of supply, but during late years the United States has supplied about 85 per cent of the imports, although Mexico showed a notable increase in 1923 over previous

years.

Onions are imported into Cuba in large quantities. Postwar imports have averaged much higher than in 1913. The sources of imports show a noteworthy change. In 1913 Spain and the Canary Islands were the principal sources, with the United States as a poor third. Since 1920, however, the United States has supplied the largest part of the imports.

Cuba imports between 20,000,000 and 30,000,000 pounds of chickpeas annually. Mexico is practically the only source of supply, although a considerable amount of chick-peas produced in Mexico find their way to Cuba by way of New Orleans and other United States ports. Chick-peas are of a light brown color, and are somewhat larger than the peas grown in the United States.

Canned vegetables and pickles and sauces.-The following table shows the quantity and value of Cuban imports of canned vegetables and of pickles and sauces:

CUBAN IMPORTS OF CANNED VEGETABLES AND OF PICKLES AND SAUCES

Spain is Cuba's largest source of canned vegetables, although in recent years the United States has been a close competitor. In 1913 Spain supplied 9,934,000 pounds out of a total importation of 12,788,000 pounds of canned vegetables. The United States' share for that year was 1,202,000 pounds. Only in 1922 did imports from the United States exceed those from Spain. France, China, Belgium, and Italy are responsible for the remaining receipts. Total imports 35438-251-3

in 1923 amounted to 20,960,000 pounds, of which Spain furnished 57 per cent and the United States 37 per cent.

Canned tomatoes, peas, and asparagus are the principal canned vegetable items obtained from the United States. Among the most important canned vegetables imported from European countries are tomatoes and tomato paste from Spain and green peas in small cans from France.

The United States and Spain supply most of the pickles and sauces imported into Cuba. With the exception of 1922, the imports from the United States have been larger than in 1913.

MISCELLANEOUS FOODSTUFFS

Confectionery.-Cuba imports an average of over 2,000,000 pounds of confectionery annually. The United States is the principal source of supply, followed by Spain, the United Kingdom, and France.

IMPORTS OF CONFECTIONERY INTO CUBA

Before the war the United States and the United Kingdom supplied about equal amounts of chocolate candy, France being the only other important source. Since 1920 the United States has dominated the trade in chocolate. For all other kinds of candy the United States also supplies the largest percentage of the total, although Spain, France, and the United Kingdom are important sources. The increase in imports of confectionery from the United States in 1923 was particularly noteworthy.

Coffee.-Coffee is the favorite drink of Cuba, and an average of over 20,000,000 pounds is imported into the island annually. It is stated that the land available for profitable coffee culture is practically unlimited, but at present only about 40 per cent of the amount consumed is grown on the island. Porto Rican coffee is preferred to all others, and imports from Porto Rico are much larger than from other sources. The following table shows that the imports of coffee into Cuba have averaged considerably higher since the war than in 1913: