The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-27
DR.. KNApP'S REPORT
On the Agricultural Conditions of
China, Japan and the Philippines
Important Dissertations.


On the Agricultural Conditions of
China, Japan and the Philippines
Important Observations.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 26.-Dr.
S. a. Knapp, who was cent by the de-
partment OF agriculture to Japan, China
and the. Philippines as an agricultural
explorer, has returned to Washington
and reported to Secretary Wilson the
results Of his labors. He was instructed
TO investigate such products OF the
farms. fields and forests OF those coun-
tries as might be of advantage to the
agricultural industries of the United
States.
Some OF the observations OF DR..
Knapp relating to the products of ia
pan already have been published In a
preliminary report.
On this branch of investigation, how
ever. he has the following additional 10
say:
IAN fear of competition from Japan
along agricultural lines may be dis
missed. On the contrary. It must be-
come a large consumer Of farm pro-
ducts drawn from the United States.
The diffusion OF knowledge and the in
troduction OF new industries in Japan
have had the effect OF more than doub-
ling the cost of labor in the last ten
years. and, In proportion, of stimulat-
ing consumption By the common people
Future progress must be mainly made
In the direction OF manufactures. In
GtrHh tI, e. ~,
the cotton and other fiber material for
the fabrics, the lumber and iron for the
construction CT the factories and much
of the machinery viii be drawn from
the United States.
"Of the fabrics. cotton and wool
alone have made much progress under
the factory system. and this is owing to
the fact that they were not produced TO
any extent in tie empire. and hence no
home system of manufacture had been
established foc them.
The principal agricultural products
imported into Japan are wheat, flour,
sugar, cotton, butter. cheese and meat.
The annual value of these articles is at
present between twen,y-four and
twenty-five million dollars In gold. un-
der favorable treaty regulations, Japan
Will import from the United States
nearly all her flour, butter, cheese and
meat three-fourths of the raw cotton
required, and from the Philippines
nearly their entire surplus output Of
sugar"
Regarding China, the report says:
THE great area. the large per cent OF
fertile lands and the enormous popula-
ton of China. stagger the observer on
the Threshold Of investigation. Here,
however, as in Japan. radical changes
in agricultural methods or products
must be made very slowly. If at all, be-
cause the food supply cannot be mater
Tally reduced or even changed vita
safety.
Large areas devoted to fiber plants for
the promotion of manufactures would
be 4 dangerous invasion of the acres
necessary for the food supply and must
be speedily followed by importations
from the United States. DR.. Knapp was
deeply impressed by the alert, indus
trious and frugal character OF the Gill;
nese.
The philippines.
From China, DR.. Knapp proceeded to
the Philippines. Arriving ut Manila he
went by rail as far as San Fernando,
passing through the rice section TO the
east ard north Of Manila on to the sugar
lands to the north. The yield per acre,
according to the best authorities Is
about 1000 pounds Of huled rice on
lands under rainfall irrigation solely
and 1000 on lands artiflcially irrigated.
This shows very careless husbandry. The
rice clay loan soil about San Fernando
is well adapted to sugar cane. In Lu-
thn nNptlnlg nf IN lp,r
quite different from those pract tIced in
the United States. while the factories
are the crudest conceivable The sugar
is drained upon the open Kettle plan.
The proprietor furnishes land and fac
tory and the tenant furnishes the seed,
does all the work In tho field, delivers
the cane to the mill and supplies most
of the hands for making the sugar. Tho
proprietor receives one-half the SUGAR
and all the mol0sses. The tenant. in
theory. is allowed the remainder, but in
practice, he usually receives about two
hfths or the sugar. DR.. Knapp was In
formed that In the Islands OF Panay.
Negros and Cebu. the sugar farms and
factories are much more improved than
In LuGon. Sugar lands produce from
5000 TO 5000 pounds per acre, depending
upon the cultivation and the factory.
The Flllpnos as far as he observed, do
not give as much attention to the pro-
duction Of heterogeneous foods rs the ia
panese, hence are less muscular. Span-
ish statistical reports and interviews
with Manila exporters satisfied the doc
tor OF the prosperity of the tobacco and
hemp industries under normal condi-
tlons.
Millct, maize. saGo and indigo do we'll,
and are ordinarily profitable crops,
Philippine coffee. Of which there were
formerly many plantations. has Il pecu-
liarly rich and pleasant flavor. Cocoa
nuts. pineapples, oranges. bananas
grapes. figs and many other fruits grow
almost spontaneously.
The Philippine Islands abound In VAL
liable wood for building. furniture, dye
woods, and some yielding costly per.
fumes.
According to the highest authority.
nearly two-thirds OF the land Is still
public and passes 10 the United States
with the title. II opened for settlement
to soldiers, many OF our young men win
remain and become permanent settlers.
Some associations OF this kind have nj.
ready been organized. The price or i'm.
proved land ranges from 81 TO SO pcr
acre (g0ld). depending upon the locn.
ton and value Of the improvements.