Iron County register., 1899-05-25
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
What Our New Possessions at the Antipodes
Produce and What They
Consume.

| Washington, May GA report OF
the plant products of the Philippine
islands, just issued by the agricultural
department, is authority for the state
ment that the Philippines, although
an agricultural country, do not pro-
duce enough food for the consumption
of its inhabitants. In order to supply
the deficiency, it is the custom to draw
upon other rice-producing countries
notably the French colony of Cochin
China. No explanation of this condi-
ton is offered, the report dealing ex-
clusively with the agricultural re-
| sources of the island as they now ex-
list.
| The report was compiled by Mr..
Frank III. Hitchcock, chief of the Sec
ton of foreign markets, and issued by
the division of botany. a predatory
note explains that it has been issued
to meet popular demand for such in
formation, and says that the main
! facts presented have been drawn from
report made by the French consul
at Manila. The report shows that OF
| the area of the Philippine islands, one
ninth, or about 100000 acres, is de-
voted to agriculture. Taking into ac-
count the natural fertility of the soil,
and the vast portion of these rich lands
not yet under cultivation, it can safely
be assumed, it adds, that with better
methods of exploitation the total ag-
ricultural production of the islands
| could be increased to ten or fifteen
times the present amount.
| One of the mostimportant food prod
ucts of the islands is rice, which forms
| the staple food not only of the native
population, but also of the numerous
Chinese inha abitants. More than 100
varieties are grown, and by planting
alternately an early and a late variety
two crops a year can be secured. The
ordinary price Of rice in the husk is
from 60 to 65 cents per bushel, while
shelled rice brings from 90 to 9j
cents. The annual production of this
commodity is about 36,O00,00o bushels,
an amount far below the actual re-
quirements of. the population, even
when supplemented by maize, sweet
potatoes, bananas and other native
fruits and tubers. In some years the
quantity of rice imported into Manila
from Saigon has exceeded 100000
bushels, with value of nearly So, ,0OO,-
900.
Maize, next to rice, is the most i'm
portant of the grain products of the
Philippines, the report stating that in
several provinces it is the chief sub
sistence of the natives. Tuberous
roots also constitute valuable source
of food. Among these the sweet pota-
to occupies first rank, with an annual
production of about 9s,000,O00 pounds.
The common, or white potato, al
though of an inferior quality, comes
next in Importance. Then follows the
camoteng-cahoy, or maniho.
Fruits grow in great abundance,
bananas heading the list, while other
varieties are the mango, pineapple,
tamarind, orange, lemon, plums, bread
fruit and pawpaw.
Large quantities of sugar cane are
grown, but owing to crude methods of
manufacture, the sugar made in the
Philippines is inferior in quality and
consequently brings a low price. About
500,000,000 pounds a year are exported,
exceeding in Importance all other ex-
ports except those of Manila hemp, of
which nearly the entire crop is mar
keted abroad. The average yearly
shipments amount to nearly 100000
long tons.
Cotton has recently lost much of it's
former Importance, partly because of
the excessive taxation, but principally
because of successful competition of
British fabrics.
Years ago indigo was one of the
principal products of the island, and
there are many other kinds of dye
plants grown.
Coffee is grown successfully in the
Philippine archipelago, but the planta-
tions are not nearly SO well managed
as they might be. AS a general rule
Philippine coffee is not of the best
quality.
Tobacco grows to some extent in
most of the islands of the archipelago.
Over 10O,000,00O cigars are exported
annually from Manila, and the ship
ments of leaf tobacco average about
20, 100000 pounds.
Of spices the Philippines furnish Gin
namon, nutmegs, pepper, ginger and
marioram.
Medicinal plants are abundant, but |
most of them are little known.