New-York tribune., 1917-11-12

sumed in the Philippines; and, in add
tion, from $3,000,000 20 si3,0006t,
worth is imported each year. II,
amount imported depends upon Il,
variation of the crop from normal. II.
total value of the rice crop in fsvon.
bile year is in the neighborhood OF So,
700 in the municipal markets.
Probably a much larger proportir
of the population is dependent ur,
rice production than upon any otas
industry. 1t is cultivated in practical
every section of the islands much mon
widely than any other crop. A failgn
of the rice harvest or a marked shor
age in it is felt in all parts Of the ID
ands more keenly than is a simir
slump in any of the other stsndri
crops.
Aoaca, or manila hemp, is the lea.
ing export crop of the islands. Sors
what over 100000 acres are deveM
10 its cultivation. By TAR the greiw
part of the total output of this fin
is produced in seven or eight provir,u,
and many of the more important prr.
inces Of the archipelago yield more
The value of the hemp produced an
nually is in the neighborhood Of $50,
100000.
Sugar cane ranks next to hemp as ,
commercial crop in the Philippines
rated by the total value of the annus
output. The value of this crop, In {
normal year, is in the neighborhood 0.
S17,000,000; of this, about Sll,000,0 ,0el
is represented by sugar exported from
the islands. About 100000 acres ar.
annually planted to sugar cane, o.
which rs per cent is contained within
five leading sugar provinces. Th,
methods of cultivation employed. sn.
still TO greater extent the antiquste:
character of the milling processes, an
handicap to the industry.
Cocoanut Is Important
Next in commercial importance smors
the industries OF the Philippines o.
present is the cultivation Of the cocoa.
nut palm, which produces a total ysu'
in the municipal markets Of about ST.
100000 annually. OF this about il0'
100000 is represented by cocosns'
products exported from the country
copra and oil. The portion consume.
within the country includes about ST..
100000 worth of ripe cocoanuts USED
for food, S1.250,000 worth of tuba, .
beverage made from the cocosnut aF,
and some oil. There has been marksc
increase in recent years in the produe'
tion and export of .cocoanut oil.
As regards the value of the raw eror'
lnGian corn or maize ranks next y
cocoanuts among the products OF sgri'
culture, and in this respect outrann
tobacco, although the latter Represents
an annual export value OF about ~
100000, whereas there Is no corn "-
ported. The annual value OF the corn
crop in the municipal markets IS no'
far from 100000. Corn, ike rec
is raised in almost every part oi ns
archipelago and enters into the food o.
the people very largely. As a rna'"'
OF fact, the shortage Of rice eroq
has been rendered less disastrous u
recent years by the increasing coz
sumption of corn as a substitute 1905
AS an article of export, tobacco J,
one Of the four leading products o
Philippine agriculture. There ere D
the neighborhood of l25,000 acres cc
voted to its production in the enln,
archipelago. The total annual Yslue
the crop is between S3.500,00O ana -,
100000. The total production OF ls.
tobacco is annually about 10000 tols
Between 5000 and 1000 tons OF msnE
factured leaf is exported snnphy.
About two-sevenths of all the toose"
of all classes exported IS absorbed y
the United States. Cigars 10 the ysi.'
of 100000 and upward are snlua'
sent out.
Much Fertile Land
The resources OF the Philippines ~
varied, but those coming under ". ~.
head of agriculture predominste. ~.
archipelago contains spproXlrns'..
100000 acres of arabic land. Az y.
present time not more than OVV",
acres are under cultivation. Mueh "
this land will not produce the s"P'
crops OF the country without irnp
tion, while irrigated land will prcos"
two crops r year Of the rapidly NAV.
ing kind. The land is remarkably y.
tile. and under scientific method' -
productivity might be multiplied sr
ly. More labor and modern inten,.,". ~.
cultivation would produce from :. -,
soil OF the Philippines wealth snne'..s =.
TO support comfortably Ave times '"
present population.
Conditions for stock raising are 'sG
favorable in many parts Of the s'''
pelago. 1.n
The Philippines offer an inviting ,.. ~
for American capital in eonneeA,,
with tho establishment OF faetorie, 49,
work up certain raw materials oeis.
they have been exported. The ~, -,
formation Of the copra busine" n,
an oil business that is now rsp-
taking place illustrates this festu"
the situation. An immense savins
freight is being made by manui'e..s.
ing the oil on the ground. An ~
sive supply OF excellent paper .sd
terial Is found in the Philippines ~
could be made into paper In ,m ~
ands 70 advantage. As q msrAss -
modern machinery Of nearly -
kind, tho islands have been lifus
than touched.