Evening star., 1898-09-03

the Antlllean system, between the Allan
and the Caribbean sea, making it strategi-
eauy important as we'll as endowing it
with a delightful climate
In the second place, its physical con-
hguration is ch that though situated
within the tropics. its great mountain
range, eliminating in Luquillo, Al 900 feet
IN height, renders available the cooler
temperature of the temperate zone by
merely change of altitude AS in Mexico.
with its three different zones of climate
and vegetation, in Porto Rico we find the
same conditions prevailing. Along the coast
Is the lowland of the TERRA caIfente'' or
the hot region; next comes the "tierra
templada." or delightful temperate zone.
and lastly. well up the mountain sides. the
TERRA fria," or colder zone
TiIIabIe Land.
Not that We find in Porto Rico with its
hundred miles length and approximate
forty of average width. with total area of
500 square miles, these climatic zones so
vastly displayed or so distinctly defined as
In Mexico; but We do have here those phys
1cal continental features as modified b,,
mSuIar environment. But. while other is
landS OF the Antilles send mountains far
uleI SAY y"ard, and possess the same general
character OF soil, climate and productions
yet there Is none SO universally cuItiyabIe
as Porto Rico. From sea to mountain ton
almost; from shore to forest line, anyway
the slopes of its thousand hills NAV he cuI
uVated without interruption AS TO it's
many valleys and rolling plains: their fer
unity has long been known and appreciated
as evidenced by the investments of foreign
as We'll as domestic capital in the cuItiva-
ton of the sugar cane
IN bird s-eye view of this territory
"hIch VIII soon come within the jurisdlc-
uon OF the United States. We will begin at
QTE ~
tcnS which are not common in oi1r own
country The Gays and islets, like those
on the coast of Florida are frequently hor
uered with the curious mangrove, perched
upon It's long, spider-like legs; of no par
ucuIar use. except as a Iand-builder as
Dy means of its adventitious shoots IL ex-
tends itself in shallow waters, and is thus
al advance courier of terrene extension.
Maneroyes and Cocoa Palms.
Inc mangrove stands with its feet in salt
water, filling muddy bays and fnlcts: but
farther back on the shore, yet well within
feach OF the waves in time of storms, rising
sometimes from banks of pure sand, is the
cocoa palm' forming a living barrier be-
tween the sea and cultivable lands. Rrosd
valleys stretch along the shore and eytenj
DGck toward the hills; vast waving billCws
OF sugar cane. boTdered BY the ranks Of
cocoa palms Though sometimes straying
lEIahd, particularly ieyel plains au5
valleys with slight elevation the COCOA
pam IS usually found growing near tha
shoIe- Its range extends northward from
lhe equator y degrees, and may be found
growing IN Florida, but 1t will NOT flourish
above latitude - degrees 80 minutes nortb
II IS an exotic hare, though long accIi
mated, coming probably from Ceylon and
T sIT Edst lhdies- Growing always near the
SAT- water, its nuts fall into the waves and
are carried to every part of the world and
wren cast ashore in climates fayorahIe to
@ ansM growtn g4rminate. take root and
grow 10 sturdy trees. The cocoa palm at
tains a height, when in good co,dif.or of
from % 10 ~ feet, lives it is said a hum
EIeu years, bears hundred nuts annual
", ana mas hundred uses for man 1t is
SsSenuaIIy a poor mans tree, from which
ne deriVes not only drink and sustcr5rce
cut material for his dwelling Huts nn,de
o palm logs. thatcned with palm leaves or
n,',s ne sPaehes 1hat ove-sop the clusters of
NUS, are cool. cleanly. cheaply made. and
-sGHlce Tor tie needs of prooaply two. thirds
or the dwellers in tropic countries Or
solalefS IN Cuba have probably become ac-
qualnted with the cooling water contained
In the ivory chambers of green cocoonTtS
ana can testify to It's refreshing a;Ia;ttes
cocoa water Is the safest beverage for The
HOrh,ng Ha,i nppIe as well as for any time of
udy When one is not overheated Those
VINO nave resided a long time in tk,, IRON
les, ana have become bibulously trclirn3
max max II tneir morning "eye-opener" by
aUuhg u > of gin or native rum There
is then Negative virtue in those uuuors
inasmuch as they will not hurt Won as
H'CCh as lhouSh taken raw.
Palm Tree Bohios.
All other species of palm grow here most
OF them introduced. but some of them ma
tive The most noticeable of native species
In fact, of any species of tree whatever
Is the glorious royal palm. which is tndi-
genous here. as well as in Cuba. 1t dots
the fields and stands in groups about the
houses, and has a commercial as well as
aesthetic value. full-grown tree being
worth at least so for its lumber Most of
the native Euts are rooted with the great
boat-ike spathes of this palm. which are
sometimes six feet long and three broad
These huts by the way, are called ''bo-
hics,' to distinguish them from more pre-
tentious houses. framed and tiled, which
are known under the generic name of
casa The palm spathes which fan
from the tree after the seeds are ripe are
pressed out fiat. laid in rows over a frame
work of poles and kept in place by other
poles tied loosely together. A palm tree
bchiO costs nothing more than the labor
necessary TO make IL, assuming the trees
10 belong TO the land on which it is built
and can be erected in day or two
Another native palm. found farther I'M