The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-05-25
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
rroduee and what Thsy
Consume.

Washington, May ga report on
the plant products Of the Philippine
Islands, Jus! issued by the agricultural
department., H. authority for the stale
mcnt that thu Philippines, although
an agricultural country, do not pro-
lucc enough food for the consumption
oi its inhabitants. Ia order 10 supply
the deficiency. Il In the custom 20 draw
upon other ricc.produCing countries,
notably the French colony OF Cochin.
Chinn. No explanation Of this condi.
iion j. offered, the report dealing ex-
clui,cly with the agricultural re.
sources Of the island as they now ex.
ist.
Tho report was comriied by Ay.
Frank II. Hitchcock, chief Of inc scC-
lion Of foreign markets, nnd igurd by
the division Of botany. \ predatory
nutc explains that IL has been issued
tn meet a pnprlnr domand far such In
formation, and says that the main
facts presented have been drawn from
report made by the French consul
NJ Manila. The report shows that Of
the area Of the Philippine islands, one.
ninth, or about s,DD0,ODU acres, ~ de-
voted tp agriculture. Taking into nc
count the natural fertility Of the soil,
and ih" vast portion ~ these rich lands
not yet under cultivation, II can safely
BE- assumed. II ndds, that with better
methods Of exploitation the total ag.
ricultural production Of the islands
could boz increased 20 ten or hftecE
times the present amount
One OF the most important 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 inhabitants, More than lGg
varieties are grown, and by planting
alternately an early and late variety
two crops r. year can hc secured. The
ordinary price ~ rice in the husk iF
from 90 Ia G5 cents per bushrl while
shcllcd rice brings from 90 20 9s
cents. The annual production Of this
commodity is about $4,000, 900 bushels,
an amount !sT below :hg actual rg-
quirvmcnts 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 a,eUO.O
bushels, with value of nearly $4,000.
DaO.
Maize, next 60 rice. IN the most I'm.
portant ~ the grain products OK the
Philippines, the report stating thnt 10
several provinces IL Is the chief sub.
sistcucr OF the natives. Tubcrout
roots also constitute a valuable source
Of food. Among these the sweet puta.
to occupies first rank, with an annual
production Of about 9s,O0O, 600 pounds.
The common, or white potato. al.
though Of I'm inferior quality. comes
next In importance. Then follows the
camoteng-Cahoy, or mapiho.
Fruits grow In great abundance,
bananns heading the list. while other
varieties are the mango. pineapple,
tamhrind, orange, lemon, plums, bread
fruit and pawPaw.
Large quantities Of sugar cane are
grown, but ewing to crude methods OF
manufacture. the sugar made IN the
Philippines Is inferior in quality and
consequently brings "a low price. About
500. .OOO, 600 pounds year are exported,
exceeding In Importance all other ex.
ports except those Of Manila hemp, Of
which nearly the entire crop Is mar.
ketcd 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 taXntiOn, 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, hat thr plnnta-
tions are not nearly So well managed
ns they might he. As a general rule
Philippine coffee ia not of the best
quality.
Tobacco grows to some extent in
most Of the islands OF the archipelago.
Over l0O,0O0,OO cigars are exported
annually from Manila, and the ship
ments Of leaf tobacco average about
20, ,400. 900 pounds.
or spices the Philippines furnish elm.
namon, nutmegs, pepper, ginger and
marjoTam.
Medicinal plants are abundant, but
rrn.i nf thrtri nrn litiln LnnArn