Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-19
CLIMATE AND CROPS
First Bulletin Porto Rican Section
Weather Bureau.
Issued From Central station MT San
Juan and EmbOdyfnx important
Information About tho Climate
= nnd Crops of the Island.

Norfolk division. called the attention of
the Virginian-Pilot reporter yesterday
| 10 the first issue of the Porto Rico Sec
ton bulletin OF the climate and crop
service of the Weather Bureau just
| issued. This is a very important de-
| parture from the old boundary lines of
the service and promises to be of great
benefit to the people of Porto Rico. as
we'll as those of the United States, and
the Weather Bureau is justiflably proud
OF its latest achievement. The first
bulletin. which follows, is issued in San
Juan. Porto Rico. in Spanish and at
washington in English. a number of
voluntary stations have already been
established and these will be increased
as rapidly as possible until the territory
is FULLY covered. In brief time a
like branch section will be established
IN Cuba and that islands condition
equally opened up to public knowledge
while the observation stations will
prove OF inestimable value in assisting
the prediction of the dreaded hurri-
canes and tropic storms which. to so
iarge percentage, have their origin In
these localities. The average merchant
farmer and transportation man of this
region, since the development of the
service attendant on the work of Mr.
Gray and his associates, have come to
value the results of that work highly
and this new field OF the bureau will
De appreciated by them. The follow
ing Is copy OF the bulletin:
Puerto Rico Section, Central Station.
san Juan, Bulletin for the Week
Ending January 2. 1899:
COFFEE.
The harvest ended early In Decem-
Der and produced average of-fou,,-
quintals per cuerda. On the coast near
Guayama the yield was scanty, owing
10 the want of rain and to the inter.
ruptions caused by the war In the
district of CaEuas II was better than
usual and in the department of Arecibo
IL was very bad on account of the ban
dts The future crop looks we'll: the
weather is favorable. and there is moth
ing injurious to the plants worth not
ing.
SUGAR CANE.
The cutting season is approaching
experimental cutting having already
peen finished. 1t is believed that the
yield will be much less than the aver
age. In Guayama it is hoped that IL
VIII be better than usual In Arecibo
IL is good. In Humacao and Caguas
less than in other years.
TOBACCO.
In Caguas the plants are developine
-, 10y oh account OF frequent Show
ers: The crop will be gathered IN April
ana 1t is calculated that the yield will
be four Quintals per cuerda.
RICE.
The quantities sown in Corozal was
small. but the yield Is good. Harvest
ended In December: yield four Quintals
per cuerda.
MINOR PRODUCTS.
The harvest In Corozal was ex
tremely abundant
REMARKS OF CORRESPONDENTS
Humacao-Sr. Alcalde ]. Masferrer:
On well known plantation the yields
are less than in former years on ac-
count of drought and nsects."-Decem-
Der 81.
Guayama-Don Domingo Pales: The
coffee plant may be said to have here
Two zones of CIVILIZATIONS: the cold or
elevated zone, which produces a large
Derry Of dark slate color; and the tenn
perate coastal zone, which furnishes a
small berry of lighter color, but with
a richer aroma" 90.
Gurabo-Don Fernando Gonzalez.
me greater part OF the cane is of the
second crop. According to an approx
innate calculation the plantation near
est the city will yield from 1000 to
1000 hogsheads. December %.
Caguas-Dr. D. Manuel Gimenez
Cruz: This year the planting of to-
bncco- was only about one-haIf OF last
years acreage. Merchants dealing In
leaf tobacco have large stock in their
storehouses from last year, and the
creditor planter Is sustained by them
at an usurious rate OF interest. the pro-
duction being regulated according to
their whims. The sugar cane that is
being ground to-day to supply the
needs of the planter produces a syrup
of seven or eight degrees of sweetness.
IN the spring this rises to nine or ten
degrees. The cane which is ground
inns month belongs to the long growth
ID TO ~ months from seed time to ma
turity. That which is left until March
or April, II the plants be young. has
from II to ii degrees of sweetness. The
want OF more perfect machinery for
pressing the juice from the cane d.
unfinished the yield on many planta-
tons. '-Decembcr 81.
Mato- Grande 0 San Iorenzo-Sr n
jose Cordoves Y Berries: THE seed
beds of tobacco are sewn principally in
september, but some planters SOW then,
in August lest the 'Changa' or grass
hoppers oblige them to sow over again.
The transplanting takes place from tho
middle of November till the middle OF
December. which is the best season for
this work. There are some who con.
tinue sowing until January. but they
expose themselves to the risk of small
crops if they hold over till Nav. Those
who SOW in time to gather in their
crops from the end of March to the
beginning OF April secure a leaf of SUI
perior quality. %.
Bayamon-Dr. ID. Enrique Rodriguez
v Pomalaes: agriculture in this coun-
Try is languishing and decaying on ac-
count of the little protection afforded
to it by the old regime, the numberless
taxes which burden 1t, for the want
perhapc of scientific methods: the diff
r l1I inS "a n in, ~