The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-06

Even naive indigo, a common weed DY tne road
side, is supplanted by an adulterated foreign ar
ticle. SO far as known 10 agricultural implements
of any value are used. Not even a plough was
anywhere to he seen. The country is everywhere
well adapted to the culture of tobacco. Almost
every garden contains enough for the use of the
family, end It furnishes the principal article OF
export. There seems reason why It should not
equal the quality raed in cuba, If equal skill and
industry we're applied At present both are want
ing. II is raised carelessy, cured imperfectly,
TaCbtd roughly in ceioons Of palm leaf, and trans
Iotted over mountains, upon the backs Of donkeys,
TO the seaboRrd, where a. is sold at about six cents
Ter IouId TO foreign merchants, and exported prin-
CUBlly 70 Germany.
Maize. OF Indian corn, is raised easily, but Is of
inferior quality, and Goes not flourish in the
UnitCd States Three crots year can be raised.
The summer crop s said to be the best in quality.
Only the winter crop wss ssen. The most valuable
native grain is spec es Of rice which grows upon
the uplards 1t Is darker and smaller than the rice
Ct commerce but OF excellent quality ana It enters
largely into the food of the inhabitants. Tropical
fruits are numerous and excellent. More than
forty distinct species have been found growing
wild. Oranges, bananas, lines, ciirons, pine
sIplCs, manEols, tamarinds, guavas melons, bread
lIultsi &c, around WIN cbeap ana rhplu com
muricstion the markets of the United States could
lie supplied with theFe more perishgble fruits in
great quantities and at very low price. AT present
hey are ursalable.
Vegetables of many varieties are found at all
sessCus at the markets of tho principal cities of
san d. miuFo. They are tomatoes, sweet potatoes,
corn, eas, beans, lettuce, radishes, kidney beans,
squasbes, egg plants. peppers, &c. Also, yams,
cessBva, Tl9intain and many other products un-
kI own in the north. San Domingo has always
teen noted for the comparative quality and abund-
OF its grasses, which add greatly TO its agri-
cultural capacity. The "grama," as it is com
mCnly csllec-a brOad-leaved grass which takes
root at every joint-Rrows abundanty and be-
comes thicker IL proportion as IL is cropped.
still more valu BILE grass called 'tgrama del pals"
or grass of the country, furnishes forage. The
Guinea gress, which has proved 90 precious in Ja-
aiCa, Goes well.
The prairie grass Of the savannas is said not to
hear close cropping, but gives place to Others. To
the abundance OF these grasses is owing the pre-
emineLce of San Domingo the adjacent
islands in the raising of cattle. For centuries the
DeighboriDg agricultural colonies have depended
upon the Spanish portion of this island for their
SUI plies of horses, cattle and hogs. The vast sa
yarras called llanos, on the eastern end of the
island, ntersected in all directions 10y belts of
timber, with luxuriant underground. Travelling
ever these savaDras at midday, the Commission
fCuTG what emed 10 be a solitary prairie, with no
signs Of human habitation or animal life; but as
the sun decline there came out from the groves
all SIDES thousands OF CATTLE spreading themselves
| over the plains.
Thee cattle are in size little less than a good
| grade in our own country They are mostly of a
| tswny or AldcIney cocr, well made up and long
bONtd AS their food is perennial, and as they re-
quire shelter in winter, the chief business of the
| heIdsm8n il to brand and to count them. They
lie bought for about cent pei pound on the hoof
Vast are the herds on the eastern llaros. They do
rot excel in number or quality those in other parts
CT the island, but were they multiplied ten-tod they
could / OF exhaust the abundant pasturage. In the
arid districts goats abound, and in the forests
swine thrive in great numbers; sheep are now very
| few; poultry is plentiful
Fiocfs of wild guinea fowls may be seen in many
parts Of the Island For trading or transportation,
horses generally used; they raised in great
TumbeTs they are smaller than those common in
| our country, but strong and capable OF great en-
| dur&Hce, aud thrlve uTon scanty subsistence.
| The great drawback TO stock raising has arisen
| from narauding expeditions during various insur-
rectons and revolutions and the frequency of these
| has prevented an immense development of this
| branch Of national wealth. One of the most re-
| maIkable agricultural features of San Domingo is
the diversity OF natural growthS in different locai-
This arises from differences of SOIL humidity and
| temperature. Tie landscapes of Maine and Louis
lana scarcely differ more widely to The eye than do
the lower portions of the adjoining valley of the
| Yuma ard Ygqui, flowing respectively into the bays
! OF Ssmana ana Mansillo between the same ranges
| Of Mountains The palms and plantains of the one
| bear little resemblance to the cactus and accacas
| OF the other The high smountair slopes and pla-
reaus of the interior differ equally from both of
these, and have fora of their own. 1t is safe to
predict that when culture aud civilization have de-
| veloIed the various capabilities of each the con-
tTasts Of climate and production will be still more
| pTOI CunCCd.
This diversity will give rise to an active internal
commerce, and Will prove beneficial to the health,
| comfort and material interests of the people. The
! Commission expected to fird an abundance of the
insect and reptile pests which constitute such
! Tious drawback to comfort in most tropical cOun-
| tries, but they were agreeably disappointed.
Snakes seem TO he about as common as in the in
| terror OF cur own states, but no venomous on IS
! were heard of. Scorpions and tarantulas are
found. but they are not common, aud the effects of
| their bite are not serious.
Tie testimony of the heads of a thrifty New
| England family, who had resided in the neighbor-
| hCCd Of Samana bay nearly two years, to the
effect that there was little difficulty in keeping
house clear from troublesome insects as in our
The most striking characteristics of San Domingo
at frat sight Is the wonderful luxuriance OF its
forests. In many parts, and pecially in the neigh
! bcIhcod OF the Bay of Samana, although there are
abrupt ridges, perpendicular cliffs and bold head
| lanes, no bare rocks can be seen. Ali are hidden
| by mass of strong vegetation. But Oh close OBJ
seIvation another and not less striking character
! isic is reveaed-au astonishing variety in forest
products The cause of his variety is to he found,
doubtless, in the great difference in the elevation
OF the surface exposure and character of soil These
| are various. Species of palm are abundant and
very valuable in constructing such houses as have
been generally found best suited to the climate.
| On tht mountain slopes, at different heights grow
| In abundance both the choicest cabinet wood, as
! mahogany, satin wood, etc, and great variety of
timber especially valuable in house building and
ship building. The roble or Dominican oak, and a
hard pitch pine were fonnd in abundance in various
| parts of the country.
In the more dry districts flourish several valuable
woods the best known of which, perhaps, is the lig
! numviR, OF which the quantity is very great.
There is also an apparently inexhaustbe supply of
the most valuable woods which enter into manufac-
tures or which have medical value, as logwoOd, fus
| tic, aoes, &c Great as are the quantities OF wood
that have already been cu5 down, there remains an
| abundance. The mahogany trees have been cut of
| TO some extent along the coast and the nayigabe
streams where they were accessible but In the in
teriOT where the simple methods of transportation
in use were insufficient, wide forests still untouched
await the construction Of roads to render them
| available.
In various places the Commissioners saw houses
constructed chiefly of mahogany. The want OF
Toads has prevented any approach TO an exhaustion
OF the products OF the forest. striking proof of
| this was noted by those who crossed the island.
| Within thirty miles Of the principal northern sea-
| port were frequently seen large logs OF mahogany
OF the best qualities, evidently left to decay by the
| roadside for lack of means of transportation The
ain transportation OF these WOODS, noted In these
expeditions, was by means OF panniers slung upon
the backs OF horses and mules: hence, only small
| pieces could be brought out Notwithstanding the
! abundance of valuable timber no sawmill was
found in the country.
The details of forest products and botanical dis
tTbutions will be found IN the special accompany