New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-13

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the southern slope of the coast range northeast
of Monte Christi.
2. The extensive prairie region of the Llanos
lying east and north Of San Domingo City
south of the Cibao range. This is all admira-
bic pasture land.
3. The rolling plain Of the Vega. which is
generally wooded, and is the finest body OF
agricultural land on the island.
4. The dry lands, like portion of the plain
of Aqua and the valley of the Yaqui, where rain
is partly or wholly wanting, from Topographic
cal causes.
>. The red clay lands, mostly along the coast,
underlaid by coralline limestone. These are
usually covered with timber They are not
generally very rich or deep. but are susceptible
of profitable cultivation.
PROPORTION CAPABLE OF CULTIVATION.
Although San Domingoco almost every
variety of soil, there is very little swampy or
sandy land. The eountry'is varied in surface.
unusually well watered, and exeels in natural
drainage.
There is hardly any portion Of the island
where the land is not capable of cultivation.
The mountains support vegetation widely
differing from that of the lowlands, but they
nowhere rise SO high as to be covered with
snow. -
Taken as a whole this Republic is one of the
most fertile regions on the face of the earth.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
On the rich lowlands and valleys sugarcane
yields the most profitable returns. The extent
and average richness of the tracts suited to
this purpose are unsurpassed in the West
Indies.
In many parts Of San Domingo the canes do
not need replanting for many years. Fifteen
successive annual cuttings from the original
root are common, and upon the richest lands
excellent cane is found of much greater age
The greater abundance of fuel would appear to
give San Domingo additional advantage
over adjoining islands in this branch of in
dustry.
The mountain regions are especially suited
to the culture of coffee and cacao. The soil
of the hills is usually rich even where too steep
and strong to be plowed. they can be cultivated
with the hoe. The salubrty of the climate and
the beauty of the scenery make them exceed
ingly attractive. To persons unacclmated and
accustomed to the northern atmosphere these
mountain regions offer peculiar inducements.
Native chocolate, prepared from the cacao-
bean, is of excellent quality and in general
| use.
There are number Of plants, varieties Of
the genus agave, which produce valuable fibres
already employed to some extent in San Do
mingo for domestic purposes. With suitable
machinery it would form an important article
of export.
The product of wax and honey is surprisingly
large. The honey is so cheap and plentiful
That comparatively little of it is saved. Thou
sands of hives are destroyed for the sake of
the wax alone
Wild ginger and indigo grow everywhere in
protuslon. The tree-cottOn grows even on the
dry lands, and bears abundantly. The Anne
lean cotton shrub is also raised successfully
near Aqua. Almost every tropical production
would seem possible in a soil 50 rich and eli
mate so genial.
At still higher point upon these mountains
the culture OF clnchona, or peruvian bark can
be made profitable branch Of industry The
BRITISH Government seem TO have considered
tins production matter Of national import
ance, and have carefully fOstered it,
Potatoes, cabbages, cauEtlOwers, celery
lettuce, and radishes were seen in perfection
In Portau-Prince peaches were found, raised
on the neighbOrng mountains. Pineapples
grow luxuriantly in man g5arts of the island.
In the valley Of Cotanza, southwest of Santi-
ago, at an elevation of 1000 feet, wheat has
been raised.
The country is everywhere well adapted to
the culture Of tobacco. Almost every garden
contains enough for the use of the family, and
it furnishes the principle article of export
Maize or Indian corn is raised easily, but is of
inferior quality, and does not flourish as in the
Il
raised.
Tropical fruits are numerous and excellent
More than forty distinct species have been
found growing wild. Oranges, bananas lines,
citrons, pineapples, maDgoes, tamarinds, qua
vas melons, Dreadful &c. abound.
Vegetables of many varieties are found at
all seasons IN the markets of the principal cities
OF San Domingo. They are tomatoes, sweet
potatoes, corn, peas, beans, lettuce, radishes,
naGba e,,lo
&c. also, yaIns, cassava, plantalns, and many
other products unknown in the North.
San Domingo has always been noted for the
comparative variety and abundance of its
grasses. TO the abundance of these grasses is
owing the pre-eminence of San Domingo over
the adjacent islands in the raising of cattle.
The vast sayanOas, called llanos, on the east.
ern end of the island, are intersected in all
directions by belts of timber with a luxuriant
underground. The cattle are in size little
less than good grade in our own country.
They are mostly of tawny or Alderney color,
well made up, and long -horned. As their food
Is perennial, and as they require no shelter in
winter, the chief business of the herdsman is
TO brand and to count them. They can be
bought for about cent pound Oh the hOof
In the more arid districts goats abound, and In
the forests swine thrive in great numbers.
Sheep are now very few. Poultry is plentiful.
many parts of the island
For travelling and transportation horses are
generally used. They are raised in great num-
bers. They are smaller than those common in
our own country, but are strong and docile, of
great endurance and thrive upon a scanty
subsistence.
One of the most remarkable agricultural fea-
, lures of San Domingo is the diversity of natu-
raj growths in different localities. This arises
| frnm of Itu md
perature The landscapes of Maine and
: Louisiana scarcely differ more widely to the eye
than do the lower portons-of the adjoining
/ valleys of the Yuma and the Yaqui. This
diversity will give rise to an active internal
t commerce, and will prove beneficial to the
health, comfort, and material interests of the
inhabitants.
The Commissioners expected to find an
, abundance of those insect and reptile pests
which constitute such serious drawback to
comfort In most tropical countries but they
were agreeabIy disappointed.
PRODUCTS OF THE FORESTS.
The most striking characteristic of San Do.
mingo, at first sight, is the wonderful luxuri
ance Of its forests.
Near the coast various species of palm are
| abundant, and very valuable in constructing
such houses as have been generally found best
r suited to the climate.
{ On the mountain slopes, at different heights,
grow in abundance both the choicest cabinet
, woods, as mahogany, sstn-wOoa, &C., and a
| great variety of timber especialiy yaInabIa -,