The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-09-01
PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE.
Natives Are Too Lazy to Develop the
Productive Possibilities
Of the Soil.

not raise sufficient vegetables 20 supply
their own wants. although the soil pro-
duces an abundance whenever It has Q
chance. The fiber OF Filipino garden
truck is rather coarse, and the flavor II
not so good as that grown In temperate
regions. but that is the rule oil through
the tropics. Al least one-third Of the
vegetables offered for sale in the Ma
nila markets is imported from China, be-
ing brought over in junks.
The native is too lazy to work gar
den You will notice as you drive
around 10 the suburbs OF the city that
very few OF the cabins have gardens at
tached TO them and when you find one
IL Is badly cared for, The Filipino loos-
ems up the ground, throws In a few
seeds. rakes the soil over them and lets
nature do the rest lie deyotes his en-
tire attention TO breeding fighting
cocks. and lives on bananas. Last year,
through the efforts Of the bureau of ag-
rleulture, there was decrease In the Inn
portatlon OF vegetables. especially po-
tatoes. onions, beans and peas, from
China. from s7iS, 4S2 In 1902 to t5lS.5s7 In
1909 The bureau Of agriculture is do
ing good work In Introducing seeds suit
able to the soil. but unfortunately Il has
not been able. up to this time. to produce
a serum that will cure Incidence, and the
indifference OF the Filipino 10 his own
interests is exasperating TO those who
are trying 10 help him.
Nearly 100000 worth Of eggs we're
imported from China last year, and a
corresponding amount Of other simple
food that might be raised by every VII
lager
And what Is even more discouragine'
the amount Of food imported into the Is
lands increases every year. In 1899 the
total was only 81 .99S i69. IN 1900 s5AS3,-
soe In 1901. ss.l5s.79l In 1902 $40 sie.-
i4a and in 1908, siie755 522
During the last year Il should be ex-
plal2ed. an unusual quantity Of rice was
imported by the government In order 10
supply a deficit caused by the drought.
but there was an increase IN doEen
other Items which should he furnished
entirely hy the local farmers II they had
any industry or enterprise. But they
viii not work In the soil They cannot be
induced to raise enough rice 10 feed
themselves. although the area suitable
to that staple Is unlimited. In 1901
IS 400 so worth Of rice was imported {,
IN 1902. se57s.4sl: in 1908. si0O6l .32s.
and. IN addition 20 that more than
81 900 600 worth Of other vegetable
and articles of food while the imports
Of beef. pork and other animal prod
ucts have increased from siss026 Ia
1899 70 81 $50 i56 IN 1903
This. YOU viii recognize Is most un-
healthy condition % hnd In an agrucul-
tural country where millions upon mill
lions Of acres Of fertile ground have
never been turned by plow The agri-
cultural department Il doing It's best BY
introducing modern methods. labor-HAy-
ing machinery seeds and otherwise en-
couraging farming and truck gardening,
but Il makes very little headway There
are several experimental farms. and
Prof Worcester has imported maehln-
cry and implements suitable TO this
country He invites native farmers 10
come down and examine the American
methods there displayed. and some Of
them show moderate amount Of inter
est, but very few have departed from
the ancient modes Of cultivation and
harvest. and. - for the ordinary peas
ant farmer. be eiings stubborniy 70 the
crooked stick that answers for a piow
and the long knife which is almost his
only other implement
The soil and climate Of the Philippines
are especially adapted 10 the cultivation
of coffee II has been grown here for
more than 3 century. but Il IL impozsi-
bic TO interest the natives IN the indus
try. although thty can look across to the
nelghboFing Island Of lava and see hun
dreds Of men who have made large for
tunes IN coffee orchards that are the
best IN the world Coffee can be raised
in any of these Islands. where The hills
rise 70 an elevation OF 1000 feet and the
latitude and atmosphere required is the
most heaIthful and delightful In the
archipelago Or anywhere 10 the east A
white man can perform heavy field labor
without any more fatigue than In Iowa
Or New York The profits on coffee are
larger than npon most of the staples. Il
requires comparatively little capital and
he crop is almost certain. Yet the peo-
PIE of The Philippine islands import half
Of their supply from Java and the other
East Indian Islands
/ The same remarks apply 70 the culti.
sation of eaoso which viii grow ia the
lowiands with vleor and luxurlanee and
pass big profit. but i this Industry and
others are ever developed II viii - done
+ BY Americans Or Chinese.
These are only a few of many tsmnt.
Ins opportunities ih the way Of asTieul.
ture over here which are almost en-
tirsiy overlooked b. the natives And
these conditions are a standing answeI
70 the srguments used against the "a.
mission Of Chinese labor.
f