The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-12-22
FARMING IN PANAMA.
United states Consul Kellogg Sees Fine
Opportunities for Profitable Agri-
culture on the Isthmus.

DR.. James G. Kellogg OF New Or
leans, who is efficiently and ably fill
ing the post OF United States consul 81
Colon, Panama, was in New York
recently on leave of absence, and gave
an interesting expression of his views
to representative Of the Journal Of
Conuercs on the subject OF agricul-
sural conditions and opportunities il
the Isthmfan republic. There is q
fine opening for the successful opera
ton Of truck farms on modern scien-
tific principles, according to DR..
Kellogg's opinion.
"Sueh farms, situated in the canal
zone along the line of the Panama
Railroad would,'' he said, s'undoubt-
edly become profitable investments
and would contribute much toward
solving the food problem on the 18TH
mus proper, which continues to be q
difficult proposition. The staple pro-
ducts raised by the natives consist
chiefly of yams, bananas, yuca. maize,
rice, beans, plantains and cocoanuts.
Sugar cane grows we'll on the alluvial
lands. To obtain the cane juice, the
cane is crushed by homemade wooden
machines, although occasionally one
sees a primitive iron mill in use; the
cane juice is boiled and poured into
small wooden molds; after hardening
it is rolled up in leaves, whereupon it
is ready for the market. A little soft
dark sugar is sometimes made, and
large quantities of rum are manufac-
tured from the sugar cane.
''The methods of planting as prac-
ticed by the natives, are extremely
crude; modern agricultural implements
and machinery are unknown, conse-
quently one sees no blowing nor har-
rowing Of the soil. In the province OF
Chiriqui, which is the banner agricul-
tural province, conditions are better,
but still even there the farming meth
DDS are antiquated and without system.
AS this country awakens TO its posi-
bilities. in the agricultural line there
will be q fine opening for American
farm implements and machinery.
TROPICAL sTs-CLEANING LAND.
ssThe products OF the forest are pro-
cured with great difficulty, owing to
the lack OF roads through the almost
impenetrable Jungle, and most of the
valuable woods and other forest pro-
ducts that lay adjacent to the naviga-
BILE streams and rivers have already
been exploited. Penetrating the forest
is also dangerous on account Of the
great number Of wild beasts In the
jungle and alligators and reptiles in
the BwGmps. The jungle and swamps
TEEN with countless varieties Of fish
and game, among the latter deer, wild
hogs, turkeys, pigeons, partridges,
woodcocks, rabbits, tapirs, monkeys,
pumas, leopards and even tigers and
lions.
'Laborers are paid from so to 80
cents gold per day for cleaning virgin
lands and getting them ready for
The cost per acre Of clear
ing virgin land is about $50 ID gold.
This excessive cost is owing chiefly to
the slow methods employed and the
lack OF and inability to use other
than the machete. The
prospective American planter who
wishes to clear the land himself would
do we'll to be provided with extra
heavy stump-iumper disc plows and
extra powerful stump pullers. With
shese implements the cost of clearing |
would be very much reduced, and |
SO If the natives were in
structed how to use such implements, |
'or the cost of labor-6O to 60 cents /
gold per days moderate.
PUBLIC LAND LEAsED-PoULTRY
SUPPLIES.
s'The Panamanian government does
aot sell public lands, but simply
eases them in tracts; one to ten acres
ian be leased yearly for SO cents gold
per acre; larger tracts OF a thousand
acres can be leased yearly for 800
yold per tract. These prices refer only
20 virgin lands. Private lands forl
arming purposes are sold ON con-
basis, no fixed prices being
out upon such lands.
The above mentioned leases can be
obtained for at least ten years, with
privilege of renewal. The Isthmian
Canal Commission also leases farm
ands for short periods at moderate
,rices. The draft animals used for
arming and other purposes are small,
,ut what they lack in size and strength
8 made up for by their hardness and
he small cost OF maintaining them.
domestic fowls, such as poultry
md ducks. are not raised to any great
xient, at least not in the district of
solon, where they are scarce and
ommand exorbitant prices. Most of
he live poultry is imported from Car
sgena, Colombia and from New Or
sans, and due to freight rates,
municipal tax and high profit percent.
ges, the retail cost is from 90 cents
} $3.50 gold each; with the result that
hickens, which form part of the daily
BOD in other South American and
Vest Indian countries, are rarebits