Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-09


ducing large quantities of nearly ev-
cry tropical commodity we purchase;
but as yet they are doing compare
lively little to supply us with these
articles. Hawaii sends us a great
deal of sugar. for she exports little
but sugar and we buy the whole crop;
but i'm the fiscal year ending June 30.
1900. our total purchase from the
island possessions We're: Porto Rico,
So. IOO. 900; Hawaii, $20.100,OOO, and the
Philippines S5,9OO.O0O. In other words
our islands are selling to us smaller
value of tropical products in year
than we buy in Il month; and more
than two-thirds of the things they
sell TO us is the sugar we buy from
Hawaii. 1t is highly desirable that
the islands should have far
larger share in our tropical trade.
This gives special interest to the eff
fort our government is now making
to investigate the agricultural re-
sources and possibilities of the island
possessions. Here are some of the
most important facts bearing on this
work that have appeared in reports
sent to congress or to various depart
ments in Washington in the past
year:
Congress appropriated 5000 in 1900
for a preliminary survey of the agri-
cultural conditions of Porto Rico.
with special reference TO the estab-
liShment of an experiment station.
The secretary of agriculture accord
ingly sent Prof. 5. y. Knapp, former
~ of the Iowa experiment station. to
Porto Rico to make the investigation.
In the report in which he summar-
lied the agricultural conditions as
he found them he showed in what way.
agriculture might be aided by an eX-
pertinent station and, recommended
that one be established. ne pointed
out that in n population more than
three-fourths of which is illiterate.
it would be impossible to conduct
station upon lines that would be laid
down for one in a more advanced
community; object lessons and pri-
mary teaching should be of first i'm
portance, scientific Investigations be-
ing subordinate.
On the basis of this report congress
appropriated $4,000 and authorized
the secretary of agriculture to estab-
lish an experiment station. The
work was placed in charge of Frank
ID. Gardner, who, last summer, Sc
cured the lease of 20 acres of land
near the village of Rio Piedras. seven
miles from San Juan. The appropria-
ton was not large enough for the
purchase of land. but the legislature
of Porto Rico appropriated $4,000
for this purpose and il is likely that
the next report on the progress of the
station will show that il has all the
land required for its permanent use.
OF course, the work has only Just
got under Roadway. as is the case
also in our other tropical groups. The
first enterprise now under way. is eN-
perimenting with vegetables. the
raising of which. as Il commercial in
dustry, is scarcely known in Porto
Rico. The time and best methods OF
planting, the use of fertilizers, the
best varieties and other facts relat-
ing to the raising of vegetables are
being investigated.
Simultaneous Investigations in diff
ferent parts of the island. in relation
to its most important crops, are be-
ing planned The studies with regard
to coffee have already begun. Coffe"
is the principal export crop. but
though it is of superior quality. the
better grades surprising much of the
coffee sold in this country, the meth
DDS of planting are haphazard, little
attention has been given to selection
for quality or yield. and the question
of shading the shrubs. so important
in most of the coffee-raising coun
tries. is little understood. The pro-
duction varies from 100 to 400 pounds
to the acre. but this might be readily
increased to 1000 pounds with better
methods. Experiments are now be-
ing made to improve the yield and
quality of coffee by selection. breed
ing and propagating, and in restor'
ing old groves by removing part of
the shade, thinning, pruning and 9th
er means.
Investigations have also been begun
to discover means for checking the
ravages of troublesome insects and
especially the mole cricket (changa),
which is very destructive to the sugar
and tobacco plantations. 1t works
at night, Durrowing under the ground
and eating the young plants on at the
crown. The subject of forage plants
and dairying will also be taken up as
soon as the resources of the station
will permit. Cattle flourish and fat
ten upon the luxuriant grasses, about
10000 being consumed or exported an
nually. With the inevitable increase
in the area of cultivated lands the
pastures will be reduced and there
will be urgent need for more and bet
ter forage crops. The supply of
swine and poultry may be much inn
proved and augmented; and expert
ments are to be made in this -direc-
ton. Many other needs of the coun-
try, such as Improvement in cane and
rice growing and in the curing, fer
mentation and grading of tobacco, ir-
rigation, forestry methods, fruit
growing and marketing, fibre plants.