Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-10-15
PHILIPPINE FARMING
How Agriculture Is Being Aid
ed In the Islands.
MANY NOVELTIES INTRODUCED.

First Experiments Prove That Fruits
and Vegetables New to the Islands
Can BE Successfully Grown There.
Jute Promises Excellent Returns.
Valuable Future For Oil Bearing
Seeds.
Great success regarding the intrOduc-
ton of seeds and plants in the Philip
pine Islands for the production there of
new food and forage plants is reported
by the Philippine bureau of agricul-
ture, says the Washington correspond
end of the New York Tribune. The
experiments already conducted demon
strate that many fruits and garden
vegetables heretofore unknown to the
islands can be grown there. The new
vegetables introduced include arti-
crOkes, asparagus, beans, peas, beets
brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, eau
NfOwer, celery. sweet corn. cucumbers.
eggplant. endives, garlic, leeks, lettuce.
muskmelons. watermelons, okra. pars-
nips, peppers, radishes, rhUbarb. sal
sify, spinach, squash, tomatoes and
turnips.
The results show both success and
failure. AS was anticipated the re-
suits secured by the bureau were bet
ter than those obtained by the natives
who had secured seeds for experiment
tai purposes. Beans grew we'll in many
places, while peas gave less satisfac-
tory results. Experiments with pump.
kins, cucumbers and melons show
long record of disaster, all practically
confined to the ravages of insects or
fungous diseases. but it is thought that
by planting in the dry season and by
irrigation better results may be Sc
cured.
Elephants, tomatoes and peppers, all
Of unrivaled size and excellence We're
generally reported. both by natives and
by the government agrOnOmic stations.
Okra, of tropical Asiatic origin, has
given universally good results. The
profitable production of beets, turnips,
lettuce. endives, spinach and radishes
has been demonstrated and is assured
by an intense high forcing system pur
sued from the day the seed is sown
until the crop is secured.
Among Oil bearing seeds sesamum,
rape, peanuts and suntlowers have
done we'll. and there seems to be val
ia bic future for them in the islands.
In the bureaus trial grounds at Ma
Mia a limited number of Japanese
plums. loquats persimmons. chestnuts
and grapes have been tried, together
with Japanese types of citrus fruits
and Il few pomcgranates. The grapes
and persimmons have made q good
start, and the progress of the citrus
fruits and pomegranates has been of
the best
Experiments with textile plants have
been confined to cotton and jute. While
the former has given good results it is
q question whether the native grower
has an adequate conception of the
standard crop requirements of cotton
growing countries. Jute promises to
give excellent returns, and it is the
opinion Of the bureau that the export
trade Of British India in this fiber.
amounting TO $l5,OO0.00O annually.
could be largely diverted to the Philip
pines.
ce'eid EdlIctlcS ol coffee HiNe DeeD
imported from Java and distributed to
planters interested in the attempt to
rehabiitate Tie coffee industry, and
the bureau has raised many thousands
of young r,an,s. which will be set out
under its own direction. Fine vari-
cites Of tobacco seed have been dis
tributed in the famous Isabella and Ca
yavop toho cao diStricts
With the experience gained from
these first trials as to the best SOIL the
best time for planting and methods of
cultivation. there is no doubt that veg
etabe, fruit forage and other crops
will be materially increased and add
pelago.