The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-06-06

he usually receives about two fitGhs OF
the sugar. DR.. Knapp was informed
that in the islands of PAnay, Negros,
and Cebu the sugar farms and factories
are much m ore improved than in Lu
zoo. Sugar lands produce from 900
to 5000 pounds per acre, depending
upon the cultivation and the ectory.
The Philippines, as far as he OBJ
served, do not give as much attention
to the production of ritrogenous foods
as the Japanese, and hence are less
muscular. He was unable to visit the
tobacco section in North Luzon and
the hemp district Of South LuZ0n.
Spanish statistical reports and his in
tervi9ws with exporters at Manila
satisfied him Of the prosperity Of these
industries under normal conditions
Millet, maiz9. sago, and indigo do we'll
and are ordinarily profitable crops.
Philippine coffee, of which there were
form merly many plan tations, has a
Evidence was presented to him show
ing that the inc ustry can be made
profitBbie. Cocoanuts, pineapples,
oranges. bananas, grapes, fgs, and
many other fruits grow almost spon
taneously; with reasonable care they
would become articles of export.
The Philippine Islands abound in
valuable wood for building, furniture,
dye woods, and some yielding costly
gums. While unable to visit the
forests, DR.. Knapp saw many remark
able specimens cut from the giant
trees, among which was a section of a
mahogany tree from Mindanao, over
seven feet in diameter. Consul Will
liams shipped this to his hom9, in New
York.
According to the best authority
nearly two,thirds of the land is still
public and passes to the United States
with the title. If opened for settlement
to soldiers many of our young men
will remain AMI become permanent set
tiers. Some associations Of this kind
have already been organized. The
price of improved land ranges from 81
to $50 per acre (gold), depending upon
the location and value Of the improve.
ments. Dr.. Knapp spent several days
in a real estate Cffi;e examining plats
of plantations and discussing improve
ments and prices with proprietors of
estates from a number of the islands.
a sugar plantation Of 2. 500 &C res in the
extreme southern portion of Luzon
was offered at $50 per acre. It was
we'll situated; all arabic land; good
buildings; sugar house, modern, with
vacuum pan; 800 buffaloes and 1 200
people on the place. The proprietor
claimed to have received an annual net
income of $16 600 (gold) from the prop.
erty. He was SpaniRrd and wanted
to leave the country.
Reports of the observatory at Manila
show that the average rainfall for the
past thirty years has been seventy five
and four tenths rs a inches. 1t varied
considerably in different years In
1885 the total was 35 inches; in 1897
it was 100 9 inches. In December,
January, February, March, and April
the rainfall averages from half an inch
to two inches per month. In May it is
nearly as much as in the five months
preceding and precipitation increases
till September, during which, it amounts
on an average to % 2 inches, then it
decreases till December. The tempera
ture is quite uniform, averaging during
the past eighteen years n degrees for
January, the coldest month, and SO
degrees for May, the warmest month.
Within that period the thermometer
only once rose to 100 degrees, and once
fell to 70 degrees.
Prominent FIlippinos assured Dr.
Knapp that upon their estates the
laborers were industrious and thrifty
and if encouraged these conditions
would become general. A visit to the
carpenter shops, machine shops, and
various small factories satisfied him
that the Filippinos make good me
chanics when properly trained.
W.
ESTIMATE 0E COTTON ACRRAGR