Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-06
Quality Of Tobacco.


bacco factories, for which Manila Is famous,
asserted that the quality of the leaf re-
ceived from the native growers was inferior
to what 1t had been twenty years ago. and,
although 1t was well known that the original
seed was imported from Havana, no late
importations Of good tobacco seed from
Cuba had been made. The distribution by
the government of q large quantity OF the
best Cuban and Sumatra seed Is an expert
ment wei worth making and the careful
selection Of the seed from the best Manila
grown strains Is a matter of prime import
ance, considering the very large dividends
paid by the Sumatra companies out of sales
made principally In America and the posi-
bility Of there being produced in the Philip
pines cigar wrapper equal to the famous
Sumatran.
There is great variety Of native-made
fabrics which are most diaphanous In ma
ture. These are woven in plain but pretty
patterns, and are go universally worn by
the natives Of even the poorest classes that
they give the street and market scenes an
appearance of neatness and bright color not
met with elsewhere In the east. These fab
rics are made from the Manila hemp fiber
and that of the native pineapple. and are
often shot with threads of bright-colored
silk. Though OF a harsh texture and OBJ
teCtlonable when worn next the skin, they
are easily washed and starched, and are
OF great durability. The Chinese of Singa-
pore are said to pay big prices for this
pineapple cloth. of which they make their
loose comfortable. jackets. 1t is possible
that improved machinery and an increasing
chinese demand may make the manufac-
ture OF these Manila fabrics paying in
dustry AS yet the fiber of the pine is OBJ
tanned chiefly by means of primitive ma
chimes worked by hand.
Cultivation Of Rubber
THE prospects for rubber cultivation are
as yet unexplored. There may be localities
where the Para rubber trees can be grown
and will yield paying amounts of rubber
but the occurrence of a pronounced dry
season on most of the Islands will prob
ably reduce the flow. as 1t does in Ceylon,
below the point of profitable cultivation.
An early survey of the islands with this in
view should be made and experimental
groves set out II necessary. The employ
ment of an expert acquainted with rubber
cultivation might save the colony much
time and money, as he could point out the
regions in which the rubber trees would be
most likely 10 succeed
For the orchid hunter the rich and little
explored island of Mindanao will yield many
new treasures. II is considered by sue
cessful orchid fancier and breeder of Manila
as the most promising island In the archi-
pelago for this family of plants. The Ma
Mia markets have large yarty of native
vegetables and fruits, but the absence of
such superior vegetable as the alligator
pear and the great scarcity of the tropical
yam, upon which the blacks OF Jamaica
1--we, Indicate that there many lines
along which profitable plant introductions
may be made. Although the inertia of the
oriental native will be a constant drawback
to the introduction of new cultures such
successful examples as those furnished by
the Introduction of the cotton plant int o
Egypt during our civil war and the civiz-
Ing effects OF the Introduction of coffee
among the savage head hunters of northern
Celbes in 1922 should be encouragement
enough to induce our governmnt TO try on
larger scale the civizing effects of the
Introduction and Improvement of tropical
plants in the islands"