The evening times., 1899-05-11
THE 1NsUrAn coMM1ss1oN.
Its Report to Treat Of Porto Rico
Agricultural Resources.

Its Report to Treat of Porto Rico's
Agricultural Resources.
The Insular Commission has been en-
gagged today in the preparation OF the re-
port which 1t will submit to the Secretary
OF War for transmission to the President
The report will treat at some length on the
vegetable wealth and prospects OF that
| island made a profound impression on the
members Of the Commission.
General Kennedy said to reporter for
The Times today that he considered the
tracts that lie in the uplands in the in
terror Of the island capable Of producing
the best coffee in the world. The Presi-
dent of the Commission made this asser-
tion with a thorough understanding OF the
commercial standing of the coffees of Ara
bia and Java. There remains much to be
accomplished In the way Of developing the
coffee industry in Porto Rico, the principal
obstacle being the lack Of transportation
facilities. there being only few disjointed
links of railroad along the coast. No line
OF railroad enters the coffee district. or
those parts of the island which might be
made coffee districts Nor are there any
wagon roads in the interior OF the island
that is, roads as they exist in the United
States.
Coffee cannot be profitably grown with
out intelligence and care. Like most spe-
cies OF vegetation, it has its insect enc
mics. principal among which Is the leaf
eating insect known to naturalists as
sauba. This insect has not as yet mani
Tested itself as disturbing factor in Porto
Rico, but the experience Of planters in
other coffee producing countries induces
the belief that the coffee groves OF Porto
Rico will not be always exempt from this
pest. Bates, the naturalist, in his works
on the sauba, refers to the fact that there
are vast tracts Of coffee land in Brazil on
which the fragrant berry cannot be grown
owing to the presence OF sauba. This in
sect has committed ravages in the coffee
districts of Honduras. II Is also destruc-
tive to orange. lemon, and other citrus
trees. feeds on mango leaves, and. II given
an opportunity. will denude fields OF cab
bage onion, or shallot. 1t is said that
bsuiphide OF carbon is the best agent that
can be employed for the killing of this ant,
but this is an insccticide which is so costly
that only planter capitalists can use it.
The sugar lands in Porto Rico are most
expensive. good land being worth about
$500 an acre. 1t is said that sugar cane
once planted will produce an annual crop
for from eight TO twelve years. with COM
paratively little labor. Among the native
growers the juice is converted into "dulce.
Many of the natives make their own sugar
by the evaporating pan. which is similar
to. but more rapid than, the open-kettle
process practiced in the olden time.
1t is believed that the culture OF the
cocoa will be followed in Porto Rico by
many Americans with profit. 1t is from
the fruit Of this tree that the chocolate
of commerce is made. This tree should
bear its first crop from the seed in three
years. and should continue bearing for
twenty-five years. The demand for cocoa
is steadily increasing.
II is thought that the cultivation OF ba-
nanas and pineapples will furnish oppor-
tunities for American fruit growers.
There is an irrigation problem In Porto
Rico. The rainfall is heavier on the north
coast than on the south. and it is toward
the south that the endeavors OF irrigators
have been chiefly directed. II is said that
'aone great corporation has perfected plan
for building storage reservoirs In the
mountains and digging a series OF canals
for the purpose OF supplying water TO
plantations. after the Western method. at
so much an inch.
Several of the planters there have irri-
eating outfits OF their own, consisting of
windmills and bitches.