The evening times., 1899-08-08


Rico section of the climate and crop sery-
ice of the Weather Bureau, that for May,
| 1899, has been received at the central Of
fee in this city. II has been prepared un-
der the direction of Prof Willis L. Moore,
Chief of the Weather Bureau, by Section
Director r. NJ. Geddings, stationed ct San
Juan. The publication is issued in quarto
| form, and contains two charts illustrating
the mean temperature and distribution of
rainfall respectively, with tables giving
the detailed observations, several pages
being devoted TO a discussion of the eondi-
tions.
A very interesting article on coffee cul-
tivation, by Capt. Arthur c. Hansard, Lu-
ouiIlo. is also presented. The report is
printed in both Spanish and English, and
is the first publication of its kind to be
issued for Porto Rico. The fact that this
interesting publication has been made pos
sible shows that great deal of energetic
and effective work in securing observers
and organizing the service has been per-
formed by the Weather Bureau during the
past year.
For the week ending May 27 dry and hot
weather prevailed throughout the island,
proving Injurious to corn, rice, and the
crops recently planted In addition strong
easterly winds proved injurious. The con-
ditions have been, however, favorable for
field work. The grinding of cane is still
going on in some districts, the density OF
the Juice running between IL and 10
degrees The dry weather is affecting the
cane recently planted. The yield of to-
bacco is reported as generally satisfactory,
but the prices obtained are low Coffee
does not appear To have been injuriously
affected by the drought and a large yield
is indicated. Vegetables ana the hllhof
fruits need rain.
The following climatic summary is CIV
en-: The monthly mean temperature OF
the island, deduced from the reports OF
nineteen stations is 7S.1 degrees. Com
parsons with former years cannot be
made, as normals are not obtalnapie Ihe
mean temperature at San Juan, 1871 de-
grees is but 0.6 degree below the normal
. for twenty-five years. The highest tenn
perature for the month was 80 degrees, at
: Bayamon on the 23d, oath, 26th, and 2Ith.
. and at Corazal, on the 2.th; the lowest
temperature for the month was 81 degrees.
: al Adjuntas on the lst: the absolute range
|. being 3S degrees"
The report upon coffee raising by Capt.
> Arthur c. Hansard. is extremely inter
: esting and gives an excellent idea OF the
. industry in the island. II is in part as
follows:
: Lands selected for the planting of coffee
! are usually virgin forest, and of this there
. remains very great extent in Porto Rico.
!. hut if this is not desired, there are many
> parts in which partly cleared and improV-
: ed land can be bought al moderate prices.
. But the former is better in many respects.
HiIiy land should be selected. for while
coffee will grow on the low-lying land, no
great results can be expected. AT an ele-
| yation of over / 500 feet the necessary
. amount Of moisture and GOODNESS may be
: obtained. and ct such elevations also the
? | necessary and suitable trees for shade will
| also do we'll Having selected the site
. for a plantation, all unsuitable trees
| should be felled, thereby at once and for
| ever ridding yourself of what in after
. ! years may be found a great nuisance.
. | am very strongly of the opinion that all
| standing timber be cleared of and plan
? tans and bananas, as temporary shade,
! with properly selected shade trees planted
! at regular intervals. There is very great
. ! diversity of opinion on the subject OF
| shade many going so far as to say mo
> | shade" but ii is much a matter of ele-
| Iation. At low latitudes heavy shading
! | is of great Importance whereas at 2,cOO
. feet above sea level, young plants would
: | require a tair amount, which should be
: | cleared out and lessened as the plants
! have gained some knowledge as to the
: | amount rquiTed. a rocky soil is suitable
: | Il as is generally the case, a porous soil
> with good depth can be had between the
: rocks. A heavy soil retaining water like
. a sponge is quite useless for coffee plant
ing but the red clay so often found in our
high hills has proved itself most excel
lent in every respect.
THE land should be prepared and holes
dug during the dry months of January
and February. the holes filled in agan in
/ April. and the planting should take place
| at any time when dry and hot weather
is not to be expected. Very young and
small plants give the best results; they
i are cheaper and can be easily removed with
a ball of earth. thus securing their taking
loot quicker, they can be kept in better
\ shape. and give a crop as soon as often
sooner than, larger plants. plantation
: TO look WELL and for the great convenience
of wedding and gathering the crop. should
be laid cut in straight lines, and holes
should be dug for the plants at six or
eight feet apart, with shade tree in every
fourth or fifth hole, and in every fourth
row. From the time of planting till the
plants are sufficiently expanded to keep
down weed by their own shade, constant
wedding is very necessary. After the first
year or two a hoe should not be used for
this for while the work will be much
cheaper, lne SOIL is continually worn away
from the roots of the trees and is washed
away. Burying the weed between the rows
is good method, but it may also be bank
ed or scattered, each system having its
advantages.
Two years after planting, under favora.
| bic circumstances, the plants may give Z
few flowers but crop from such would
not half pay its gathering and to prevent
= the plants from exhausting themselves. dur
ing the second and third year. the flower
I should be picked off The loss from such
procedure may appear heavy but it is NOR.
| imaginary than real, and moreover is ampl,
: compensated for in following years. Thougl
the plant is very hardy one, it has man!
: enemies. However, except in the older dis
tricts of the island where crop after cro]
5 has been taken off for unknown ages with
out any thought of manuring or pruning
| We are practically free from any pest tina
care and attention will not eradicate. Ii
: the month of June good many ripe berrie
can be picked. Such a picking however
would be expensive. Ripe coffee at thi.
: season is known as San Juanero" Th
crop commences at the end of September, il
> in full swing a month later, and may b.
= said to be over the first week in November
: though ripe berries may be gathered as lat
as January.
gathering a large percentage of green Der
ries at each gathering. This is done fo
economy, as to leave ripening fruit, woul,
= necessitate more frequent expense But tn
t coffee when gathered green does not attai
| that well-known and very desirable dul
v |