El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-24
Copyright 1919 By Frank c. carpenter.)

silk countries have and there is now
under way movement 10 breed up a
race Of silk worms there which viii
outlay al others the bureau Of science
IS making a book to instruct the peo-
PIE how 70 build I'D the industry It
gives directions as to how to raise the
cocoons, how to feed the young worms,
ana also how TO prepare the raw silk
for spinning. As Il is now, the islands
import the most Of their raw silk from
China and they mix II with the fibers
OF the Islands in weaving just cloth and
olner cloths Of high price
Ine bureau Of agriculture says that
the mul perry tree can be grown all
over the the Philippines and that it viii
furnish food for the worms within two
years after planting A 3 year old tree
VIII give enough leaves for a thousand
SILK worms, and two and One-half acres
VIII support 1000 trees, which viii feed
more than 100000 silk worms. This
number OF worms should produce sew
eEaI thousand pounds Of cOcOons In
snort II IS estimated that the silk
business viii yield something like a
thousand dollars an acre ana that II
viii steady grow as to the profits.
connected with the agricultural college
there Is now model silk building In
which thousands Of cocoons are pro
ouced every month and where the stu
Qents are given practical instruction
IN rearing the worms.
Philippine Lands.
Tire total amount OF land in the
Philippines is said TO be about 10000
600 acres. OF this only about one-fiftb
is owned by individuals, and the other
1our-fifths belongs to the government
Uncle sam has bean Veiv careful in
granting concessions for this land Com
paratlVely few farms have been given
away, and there VIII be no waste OF
government property, either mineral or
agricultural, as has been the case with
me United States The friar lands.
which covered about 100000 acres.
ga -fra~-
They were bought by rhe government
at cost Of 1925, 600. which was Just
ABOUT as much as we paid for Alaska,
the money being raised by bonds Sc
cured by the islands. These lands are
being sold and homesteads are being
given out on the public lands to
t1liDinos The number OF homestead
applications are comparatively small
There were less than 1900 last year,
although the sales of public lands have
Increased All lands are sold with
IOrrens titles, and this system of land
transfer is becoming common through
out the islands. There is a vast
amount Of good lands that viii be
eventually brought into cultivation,
and the archipelago viii some day
not only produce all its own food, but
export rice 10 China Japan and other
countries Of the far east Last year
me amount paid for rice to outside
countries was more than 100000.
IN connection with the rice lands,
tle government IS opening Up some
irrigation works which will redeem
thousands OF acres Rice must have
plenty Of water and although the
-alnLel OF the Philippines IS heavy,
1LstE now and then comes a drOuth /
Whlcn affects the rice crop. This viii /
oe remedied By irrigation The bureau /
OF Pubic works has just completed a I
- 49, Wnlch has redeemed 10000 acres I
&c curing the present year II viii /
nave another under way which will 4
I e-iaiIn 1000 and Il IS estimated that 4
such Wofk IN the central valley Of Lu- I
on aIone VIII incease the amount Of /
80 C4op 70 value Of more than So !
OVV,OVg per year. There are ZOO GOO |
acres IN that valley that might be irri- /
gated, which, II done. will add to its /
~ seq ~. productiveness more than S2O,-
The Forests Of the Philippines.
Inc government is taking good care