The National tribune., 1904-09-22
COFFEE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
4 Wonderful Opportunity for Capital and
Ent.rpriss-Dy Eber G. Smith.

In the Agricultural Building of the
Philippine Reservation at the Worlds
Fair, is on exhibit coffee grown in II diff
ferent provinces, which clearly goes to
show that the Philippines are naturally
adapted to coffee growing.
That misfortune never goes single hand
ed is verified by the advent of q destruc-
tive insect, which in recent years has
played havoc with the coffee crop of the
Philippine Islands. On account of the
ravages of this insect, the native owners
of coffee plantations have become dis
measure given over the cultivation of cof-
fee. The Bureau of Agriculture of the
Philippines is giving special attention to
this insect. and it is hoped that soon a
remedy will be discovered against this new
enemy of the coffee plant. When this is
done a forward movement may with con-
fidence be expected and coffee raising again
restored to one of the foremost industries
Of the Islands.
1t is often related that the production
Of coffee in the Philippines was formerly
so remunerative that those engaged in its
culture could find no way sufficiently ex-
trayagant in which to spend their money.
save by the purchase of diamonds, which
were prOfusely worn, even to the extent
of using them as ornaments for their shoes
and slippers.
There are many thousand acres of gull
lied hillsides especially adapted to the Gull
ture of the coffee plant, which are now
idle and covered with dense growth of
tropical plants, which will need both CAPT
tai and energy to reclaim and turn into
coffee plantations
There are exhibits of coffee at the fair
from the provinces of Rial. Bulacan.
Batangas. Bataan. Abra. Panay. Cebu,
SURFACE. Zambuanga, Tarlac. Laguna,
Isabella. Jolo. Neuva Ecija. Cavite, Occi-
dental Negroes, IlocOs Sur. Ronblon, Iocos
Norte, Bontoc. and Lepanto.
The Bureau of Agriculture has an ex-
pertinent farm in the province of Batangas,
where particular attention is being given
to the culture of coffee. and it is given out
that encouraging progress is being made.
When the coffee industry in the Islands
was in the most f1ourishing condition over
81 100000 worth was exported per an
mum, and there seems to be no question
that with scientific attention directed to ITS
culture these figures may easily be sur
passed.
1t is suggested that the Congress of the
United States should extend encouragement
to her eastern insular possessions to fur
nish the greater part of the 81 100000
worth of coffee imported annually from
Cuba. Java, and other foreign countries.
in the way of bounty. or by placing
duty upon foreign products.
The flavor of Philippine coffee is par
ticularly favored, and highly appreciated
in Spain. where there is always a ready
market for this product.
The coffee comes into berry in three
years. and the elevation of 1000 feet and
less supplies a climate healthful and vigor-
GUS and renders it's practicable for white
labor to expend any amount of energy
in it's cultivation.
There is much capital and energy in the
United States that could find profitable
employment in the growing of coffee in the
Islands.
There are few sights more beautiful than
a well-conducted coffee pl:k,tation. Neither
plum. nor the pink Of the peach can COM
nare with the exquisite beauty of the cof-
fee tree. where nature has excelled herself
in combining those rare qualities which de
light the eve. tickle the palate. and render
good return for labor and capital invested