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AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF PORTO Rico

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

a

A REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
AND CAPABILITIES OF PORTO RICO WITH SPECIAL REFER-
ENCE 10 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTU-
RAL EXPERIMENT STATION IN THAT ISLAND. |

>

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1901.

Cornell University

The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924094808957

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF PORTO RICO.

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

A REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
AND CAPABILITIES OF PORTO RICO WITH SPECIAL REFER-
ENCE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTU-

RAL EXPERIMENT STATION IN THAT ISLAND.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1901.
<a

COSI

56TH Coneress, | HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. | Document
2d Session. No. 171.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF
PORTO RICO.

MESSAGE

FROM THE

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

TRANSMITTING

A REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RE-
SOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF PORTO RICO WITH SPECIAL
REFERENCE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION IN THAT ISLAND.

DECEMBER 11, 1900,—Message and accompanying papers ordered printed and re-
ferred to the Committee on Insular Affairs.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit herewith a report on investigations of the agricultural
resources and capabilities of Porto Rico with special reference to the
establishment of an agricultural experiment station in that island,
made in accordance with the act of Congress making appropriations
for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1901.

WILLIAM MCIXINLEY.

EXECUTIVE MANnsiIon, December 10, 1900,

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, D. C., December 5, 1900.
Str: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the agricul-
tural resources and capabilities of Porto Rico with special reference to
the establishment of an agricultural experiment station in that island,
made in compliance with the act of Congress making appropriations
for this Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901. The
investigations have, in my judgment, shown the desirability and feasi-
bility of maintaining an agricultural experiment station in Porto Rico,

2 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

and I earnestly recommend that provision be made by Congress for the
establishment of such a station in the Territory on a permanent and
efficient basis in accordance with the recommendations of the Director
of the Office of Experiment Stations, herewith submitted, and that an
appropriation be made for this purpose equal to that which is given
for the maintenance of similar stations elsewhere in the United States.
T have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
JAMES WILSON, Secretary.
The PRESIDENT.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS,
Washington, D. C., December 6, 1900.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the agricul-
tural conditions in Porto Rico with special reference to the establish-
ment of an agricultural experiment station in thatisland. This inves-
tigation was made in accordance with the terms of the appropriation
act for this Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, which
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to ‘investigate and report to
Congress on the agricultural resources and capabilities of Porto Rico
with special reference to the selection of locations for agricultural
experiment stations and the determination of the character and extent
of agricultural experiments immediately demanded by the condition
of agriculture in that island.” As the agent to make this investiga-
tion, Prof. 8. A. Knapp, formerly of the Iowa Agricultural College
and more recently engaged in agricultural enterprises in southern
Louisiana, was appointed special agent in charge of agricultural
investigations in Porto Rico and sent to that island about the middle
of June, 1900, with the following instructions:

The following subjects should be included in your investigations:

(1) The general agricultural conditions existing in Porto Rico and the neces-
sary and feasible measures for the improvement of these conditions.

(2) The lines of experimental investigations which should be undertaken in
Porto Rico, and especially those which should he undertaken in the immediate
future. As far as tog aoa the scope, extent, and cost of the experimental
inquiries immediately demanded should be determined.

(8) The locations suitable for agricultural experiment stations in Porto Rico,
including a main station with laboratories, farm buildings, and experimental
fields, and outlying stations, whose work shall consist of field, garden, and orchard
experiments and experiments with domestic animals.

(4) The buildings, land, and equipment required for the proper maintenance
of agricultural investigations in Porto Rico on the plan indicated in section 3.
Careful estimates should be made regarding the cost of the buildings, land, and
equipment needed to inaugurate the work of the experiment station in the island,
with special reference to the sum required for these purposes during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1902. The methods of acquiring real estate for the use of
the station should also be investigated.

(5) The needs of the agricultural people of Porto Rico as regards information
on agricultural subjects, and the best means for supplying them with this infor-
mation by publications, oral instruction, and demonstration experiments, or
otherwise.

(6) The desirability and feasibility of securing the cooperation of the residents
of Porto Rico in the conduct of experimental inquiries and the dissemination of
agricultural information; the desirability and feasibility of including instruc-
tion in agricultural subjects in the curriculum of the schools of Porto Rico.

(7) The facilities for preparing, printing, publishing, and distributing in Porto
Rico circulars of inquiry and bulletins of information on agricultural subjects in

-AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 3

the English and Spanish languages, and the best ways of securing the preparation
and dissemination of such information in printed form. rare

(8) The cost of inaugurating and maintaining agricultural investigations and
disseminating information (exclusive of the buildings, land, and equipment) in
a manner similar to that of an agricultural experiment station in one of the
United States having an area approximating that of Porto ‘Rico. An estimate
should be made with special reference to the cost of maintaining such work during
the single fiscal year ending June 30, 1902.

Professor Knapp’s report of his investigations is submitted here-
with. In this report the need of experiment-station work in Porto
Rico is plainly shown, and itis recommended that a station should be
established with headquarters in the vicinity of San Juan. This sta-
tion should give immediate attention to promoting the production of
larger and better crops of coffee, sugar, and tobacco, and of food
products for home consumption. As soon as practicable it should
undertake work in horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, and
dairying. Besides conducting experiments, it should give object les-
sons in improved farming and should disseminate information by pub-
lications and agricultural meetings. In these recommendations of
Professor Knapp I heartily concur. In my judgment an agricul-
tural experiment station should be immediately established in Porto
Rico on the same general plan as that pursued elsewhere in the United
States.

Land should be obtained in the vicinity of San Juan on which to
erect office, laboratory, and farm buildings and to conduct experi-
ments. A competent man should be appointed to act as the chief
executive officer of the station, plan and supervise its operations, and
begin the organization of astaff of scientific and practical men to con-
duct investigations in various lines and instruct the people in improved
methods of agriculture. It will be best to limit the work of the sta-
tion at the outset to a few main lines, which will require the services
of only asmall staff, and develop the organization of the working corps
as the station becomes more fully established and the way is opened
for the extension of its work. As the station will not have the aid of
an agricultural college already equipped with buildings and land, as has
been the case with most of the stations established in the United States,
it will be necessary at the outset to devote a considerable amount of
money to its equipment. Without doubt as much will be required for
the current expenses involved in the proper maintenance of an experi-
ment station in Porto Rico as is the case elsewhere in the United
States. I can see no good reason why an appropriation of $15,000 a
year should not be given to Porto Rico for the maintenance of-an
experiment station as well as to the other Territories of the United
States, and I hope that Congress will make the first appropriation of
this kind during its present session. For the purchase of land and the
erection of buildings the station should have in addition an initial
fund of $15,000. In the case of the other Territories such expenses
have been largely provided for by the local governments, and I think it
would be well if this plan could be followed in Porto Rico, a portion of
the revenues of the island being set aside for this purpose by the
action of Congress or the Territorial legislature.

Authority should be given the Secretary of Agriculture in the
appropriation act to establish and maintain an agricultural experi-
ment station in Porto Rico, including the purchase of land, the erec-
tion of buildings, the printing (in Porto Rico), illustration and distri-
bution of reports and bulletins in the English and Spanish languages,

4 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. .

and all other expenses essential to the maintenance of said station.
Half of the first appropriation should be made immediately available.
Very respectfully,
A. C. TRUE, Director.
Hon. JAMES WILSON,
Secretary of Agriculture.

LAKE CHARLES, La., September 22, 1900.

Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith my report on the investi-
gations regarding the agricultural conditions existing in Porto Rico,
with special reference to the establishment of an agricultural experi-
ment station in that island, made under your instructions dated June
11, 1900. Tarrived at San Juan June 19, 1900, and immediately com-
menced my observations on the agricultural conditions and capabili-
ties of the island. I traveled by private conveyance over 350 miles in
the rural districts, and was everywhere cordially met by the farmers
and given every facility for obtaining the information desired.

Respectfully,
SEAMAN A. KNAPP,
Special Agent in Charge of Agricultural
Investigations in Porto Rico.
Dr. A. C. TRUE,
Director of Office of Experiment Stations.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF
PORTO RICO.

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The island of Porto Rico is situated in latitude 18° north and lies
in the direct line of trade between New York and South America.
In a general way it may be described as about 100 miles long and
36 miles wide, and has an area, including its dependencies—the
islands of Vieques, Culebra, and Mona—of 3,530 to 3,860 square
miles. The whole island may be classed as mountainous except a
border on the seacoast and numerous interior valleys. The moun-
tains are not in bold and forbidding ranges, but consist of an endless
variety of immense segregated and fertile hills, with interspersed
valleys, in an ascending series, but without special order, from the
north coast to two-thirds the distance across the island, where the
hills attain an elevation of 1,500 to 2,500 feet, and the valleys, many
of which are of considerable extent, are from 500 to 1,500 feet above
the sea.

CLIMATE.

The temperature of the island is tropical, but is so modified by alti-
tude and ocean winds that extreme heat or cold is never experienced.
Cold never reaches the frost line and rarely drops below 65° F., while
91° is usually the extreme of heat in a season, and that only fora
short period. As the temperature is largely modified by the winds
from the ocean, and especially by the trade winds, considerable varia-
tion is found in different portions of the island, it being warmer where
the trade winds are shut off by mountains. A much greater differ-
ence is observablein the rainfall. Somesections are ordinarily deficient
in rainfall; in others it is very heavy.

Ina recent report on the water resources of Porto Rico, H. M. Wilson?
states ‘‘that all the crops which the soil will produce can be grown
over three-fourths of the extent of the island with the aid of the abun-
dant rainfall alone. The other one-fourth, including all the region
near the coast and from Cabo Rojo on the extreme west to beyond
Guayama on the east, must be irrigated if the soil is to produce the
full measure of crops of which it is capable. The total area of these
irrigable lands is, however, relatively small.”

The weekly crop bulletin issued by the Weather Bureau of this
Department, San Juan, P. R., June 18, 1900, confirms the above
statement.

1 Water Supply and Irrig. Papers, U. 8. Geol. Survey, No. 32, p. 28.
5

6 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

Temperature and rainfall for the week ending June 18, 1900.

City. Temper’ Rainfall.
OF, Inches.

BAO CLI ee os a Noh ahah cA Pellerin A ay al a) Plc ia geet eth eek erase anlar 78.4 1.65
Manati.. 80.4 58
Isabela. - 80.0 1.22
Baynas - : 79.2 1.90
San Lorenzo 79.8 4.37
OUT A 2 ate hata ass co Sadocnany lables x ole cnn aelnheone dgeiciuinie Spel nasa ey aS SEIS ee anieases 77.2 3.40
IMP NTA Oo oo a eiaie Spnsc a crop tonern oie ae oe euseeawicla xb Sa ny melange sone Re Rac Eee SESS - 80.8 3.19
FUUIMA CAO 222585 accis midioteaubondenneste ooeamsasaysocasemennce = 80.2 6.52
Juana Diaz... za 80.4 4,72
Lajas -......- 53 80.3 4.20
Bayamon .... 80.9 .30
Canovanas 5 82.9 1.48
RS RTE AUD sae cps asa cts scl meena ieiasicrecaucic ee eae Saeed Hama cleseens Semiercemsee SSSR ae 81.4 1.33

The above being a report for one week does not indicate the relative
rainfall for the year at the different points, but it shows how unequally
the rainfall is liable to be distributed in a given period. It is said
that the rainfall was much more equal when the summits of the
mountains were well wooded. An article by Prof. Mark W. Harring-
ton, of the United States Weather Bureau (in U. 8. Treasury Doc.
2118), is instructive:

The published observations of Porto Rico are very scanty, consisting of a total
of about nine years at San Juan only, and these are fragmentary, being scattered
through twenty years. They show a true tropical climate, with a high mean
temperature (78.9° F.) and very little difference in season, except in rainfall.
The coldest month on the average is February (75.7°) and the hottest, June (81.5'),
but December to March are very much alike in temperature, and so are the months
from June to September. The very coldest month on record is January, 1895
(70°), and the very warmest is June, 1878 (86°). The average change from the
coldest to the hottest is only 6”, but this is very appreciable to one who has lived
long in the.Tropics. The cool months really seem to the natives to be decidedly
cold, requiring additional covering on the bed and heavier clothing. The coldest
temperature on record in San Juan is 57.2° on a day in January, 1894. The very
hottest on record is 108° on a day in May, 1878. The absolute range of tempera-
ture observed is therefore between 43° and 44°. The {ormer temperature is far
above frost, but would seem to the natives very cold and would check the growth
of tropical plants. The latter would seem very hot, for the air of San Juan is
very moist and the evaporation of perspiration is slow.

The comfort of San Juan as a place of residence, not to mention its healthful-
ness, is very much increased by the ‘‘briza,” which is not given in the public
reports. It is the northeast trade wind which has been turned toward the west,
until the ‘‘ briza” comes quite regularly from the east. It is not felt much during
the day, but springs up late in the afternoon and lasts through the evening. Itis
asoft, gentle breeze, laving the body and giving an effect which is most fresh and
delightful. It has a regularity approaching that of the sun, and Santurce and
Catafio, two suburbs of the capital, get it both more strongly and through a larger
part of the twenty-four hours. At Catafio it may be felt until the middle of the
forenoon, and begins again in the mid afternoon. At Santurce it makes the nights
positively cool.

The year at San Juan is divided into the dry season and the wet season; but the
dry season has about as much rainfall as the Northeastern States, and the wet
season more than twice as much. The dry season embraces the months from
December to March, with a rainfall of 10 or 11 inches. It is the most attractive
season of the year, relatively dry and cool. It is the proper season for the visits
of Northerners to San Juan, and winter residents would find its climate very
gentle, mild, and safe. The wet season embraces the other eight months in the
year, and has a rainfall of 48 to 49 inches, or more than the whole of the year for
the most of the United States. The total rainfall at San Juan is nearly 60 inches,
and the culmination is in November, when an average of nearly 8 inches falls.

The rainfallis not excessive. Itisequaledin many places in the Southern States
and in the northern part of the Pacific coast, andis surpassed in many places. It
is less significant from the ease with which the rain comes down. There are no
threatenings of storms for days beforehand. There is little wind and little light-

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 7

ning. Rainy days arerare, but rainy afternoons or evenings—for an hour or two—
common. The rain begins suddenly, falls heavily,and ends soon. There is no
aa of rainy climate, except that everything seems constantly fresh and
clean.

The healthfulness of San Juan is the greatest of any city in the West Indies.
Yellow fever is never at home here, and when imported it rarely, if ever,
spreads. * * °

The climate of the rest of the island is much like that of San Juan, with modifi-
cations due to elevation above the sea and to changes in the ‘‘ briza” due to the
topography. The change of the temperature with elevation is relatively rapid
here, being approximately 4° of temperature to every 1,0U0 feet.

Now, Mount Yunque, at the northeastern part of the island, is, according to the
chief of the department of engineers of the isiand, about 6,000 feet high, and its
summit would have a mean temperature as low as that of many places in the States.
Besides, elevations of 2,000 feet are not unusual for towns; snow apparently never
falls upon the islands, but hoarfrosts are reported as occasional in high places.
Several towns of some size in the interior have a popular reputation as being cold—
Cayey, Adjuntas, and Utuado. That black frosts do not occur, however, is evi-
dent from the fact that the banana grows freely up to at least 2,000 feet, and is
very sensitive to frost.

There appear to be three mountain ridges running from end to end in the island,
but the central is the commanding one, and the elevations are, on the whole, high-
est toward the eastern end, and especially at the northeastern angle. The result
is that the ‘‘ briza” most wets and refreshes the eastern end of the island, and the
rainfall changes greatly from point to point. Judging by Jamaica, of which the
climate has been carefully studied, the heaviest rainfall is in the northeast, and it
may here in places amount to 100 inches annually or more. In Jamaica it is
known to surpass 200 inches in some places, and El Yunque, as seen from San
Juan, is very generally capped by a rain cloud. The interior valleys of the island
are relatively dry, while the northern and eastern mountain slopes are wet.

The following summary, taken from the United States Weather
Bureau report for Porto Rico, shows the temperature, rainfall, cloudy
and clear days, and wind velocity at San Juan for one year:

Summary Jor twelve months.

Highest Lowest Greatest

Month. tempera-| Date. |tempera-| Date. Mean. daily

ture. ture. range.

°F, OR, °F 2 Rs

November, 1898 .....--.-2+=-s-sss0s---<- 88 1 65 9 17.2 18
December, 1898 _-.... _ 85 12 66 118 75.9 M7
January, 1899__.. Ace 82 28 66 19 74.6 ey
February, 1899_--.- a 85 8 66 220 75.2 16
March, 1899_......--.-- 82 35 66 8 74.7 15
April, 1899. ..........-- 90 21 66 4 76.6 16
ay, 1899... = 2 89 43 68 1 79 17
June, 1899 -......--..-. 91 22 al 6 79.4 17
July, 1899.... pela = 87 2 70 54 16
August, 1899 --........-- ne 88 29 a 20 80 16
September, 1899. .__.-. ee 91 11 71 30 81 14
October, 1899 2 xcssncwendeeseceneeeesccees 89 10 68 1 80 17

Least | Gionay | Partly | clear Maxi-
Month. daily eae cloudy ae a Rain. aren Nes

range. Re ays ve ocity
of wind.8

oF. Inches.
November, 1808 222222020; avxwecasecess- “4 84 612 PTZ OB! | isis fon
December, 1898 -- — “ 8 9 22 Dedd [ew coca os
January, 1899 -_.. 8 |. 9 Be 2.92 22
February, 1899. a Becomes 9 19 80 20
March, 1899 .-.. 10 1 9 21 2.29 21
April, 1899 -. 8 2 8 20 6.09 24
May, 1899 - 10 2 18 11 2.59 19
June, 1899 - 9 6 17 7.23 24
July, 1899 - 7 4 16 11 7.53 19
August, 1899. 7 5 12 10.38 766
September, 1 i 6 11 13 13. 66 31
October, 1899 -. eexbes — i 13 12 10,21, 38
|
' Also 19, 22. 3 Also 7, 19, 20, 29, 30. 5 Also 8, 27, 28. 7 Righth, east.

2 Also 23. 4 Also 4, 22, 27. ° Beginning Noy. 13. ® Miles per hour.

8 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.
SOILs.

Near the ocean the soil is quite sandy, merging into a sandy loam a
short distance inland and gradually changing into a clay loam as the
hills are approached. This is generally but not universally the case.
Sometimes a spur of the mountain projects into the ocean and carries
its soil conditions to the water’s edge. Occasionally there are tracts
of gravelly soil, but all very fertile as far as observed. The soil along
the larger streams is a deep, rich, sandy loam, merging into a clay loam
near the hills and frequently extends to the top of the hills and minor
mountains, rendering them so fertile that they produce excellent crops
of sugar cane. The soil of the mountains is a peculiar ferruginous
clay, which readily disintegrates when exposed to the air, and under
the influence of tropical heat and moisture furnishes an abundant
supply of plant food. Bananas and coffee grow luxuriantly on the
mountain sides, more than 2,000 feet above the sea level. Limestone
is abundant in all portions of the island and more or less affects the
soils, producing on the mountains a slightly caleareous soil. A green-
sand marl, similar in appearance to that of New Jersey and rich in
phosphates, is, according to Wilson,! ‘‘ found extensively in the north-
western portion of the island, between Lares and San Sebastian, and
also in the neighborhood of Carolina, at the northeastern extremity of
the island.” The division of soils for taxation by General Henry in
his Order No. 6, dated January 19, 1899, throws some light on the way
soils are classified. It is as follows:

LANDS AS CLASSIFIED FOR TAXATION,

(1) The assessment of taxes upon iands will hereafter be made in accordance
wae various cultivations existing in the island and the quality of the lund
taxed.

(2) In accordance with the various cultivations there will be taxes on cane
ene coffee lands. tobacco lands, pasture lands, minor-produce lands, and forest
ands,

(3) In accordance with the quality of the land there will be taxes of the first,
second, and third classes—the first class comprising the best lands, the second class
the next best, and the third class the poorest.

(4) On all lands of the first class there will be a tax of 1 peso per cuerda (acre);
on all lands of the second class a tax of 0.50 peso per cuerda; on all lands of the
third class a tax of 0.25 peso per cuerda.

(5) Each municipal corporation will appoint a classifying commission, which
will select commissioners in the different districts of each township, the subcom-
missioners to report to the classifying commission on the class of lands in their
respective districts.

(6) These commissioners will be guided by the following instructions:

First-class cane lands are plains and valleys and other alluvial lands lying near
settled communities, highways, railroads, and seaports, and the lands of drained
lagoons and mangrove marshes.

Second-class cane lands are the highland plains, generally surcharged with oxids
of iron, and known in the country as clayish lands.

First-class coffee lands are valley lands and hills abounding in organic detritus.

Second-class coffee lands are highlands having a calcareous or limy formation.

First-class tobacco lands are valley lands watered by rivers.

Second-class tobacco lands are loamy highlands mixed with clay and sand.

_. Third-class tobacco lands are sandy lands along the coast and calcareous lands
among the hills. Fi

First-class pasture lands are valleys, lagoons, and glens, where grow ‘‘malojila”
and guinea grass.

Second-class pasture lands are those on the hills and those on the coast, where
grow guinea and dog grass,

' Loe. cit., p. 33.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 9

Third-class pasture lands are those along the coast and lime hills, where grow
only brush, ‘‘ rat-tail,” sweet grass, etc.

First-class minor-produce lands are valley lands.

Second-class minor-produce lands are highlands.

Third-class minor-produce lands are sandy and limy lands.

First-class forest lands are those growing virgin forest whose timber can supply
building and cabinet woods, e. g., ‘‘aceitillo,” ‘ cedar,” ‘‘capa,” ‘‘ausubo,” ete.

Second-class forest lands are lands with a rocky and calcareous soil growing
only bushes available for fuel.

RENEWAL OF SOIL.

While the soils of Porto Rico retain their fertility to a remarkable
extent, they have deteriorated in a measure under the effects of con-
stant cropping without the use of manure. Like most tropical soils,
they are deficient in humus, and this is particularly noticeable in old
fields ‘‘turned out to rest.” The Porto Ricans say that the land is
“‘tired.” It is further noticeable in the fact that the soil is too adhe-
sive in wet periods, and too dry, with a tendency to ‘‘bake,” in dry
weather. That there is no deficiency of elements in the soil is shown
by the large grass crops these old fields will produce. Cowpeas, velvet
beans, and other renovating crops have enormously vigorous growth
and furnish a ready means of supplying humus. In all parts of the
island are caves with vast quantities of bat guano, which is a cheap
and ready source of nitrogen. The large number of cattle and horses
furnish considerable manure, easily obtained, because many cattle are
herded on account of the absence of fences.

RIVERS AND DRAINAGE.

Few countries are better drained than Porto Rico. It is claimed
that there are over 1,200 streams in the island, of which 50 are rivers
of considerable size. Springs are abundant in the mountain district
and the water is pure.

There are several mineral springs of value, such as the sulphur
baths near Ponce, the mineral springs near Coamo and at San Sebas-
tian and San Lorenzo, and the hot springs of Caguitas.

FORESTRY.

One of the most serious obstacles confronting the agriculturist in
Porto Rico is the scarcity of timber and wood. There is practically
no accessible building timber. Occasionally a small log is brought
from the interior at great expense and sawed into boards by hand.
There is not a power sawmill in the interior of the island. There are
afew sawmills in the coast cities, mainly for sawing imported tim-
ber. At Mayaguez one of these mills had a small stock of native logs.
They were from 6 to 12 inches in diameter and 8 to 12 feet long,
crooked and knotty. The mill had astock of four or five thousand feet
of native lumber, in which were a few tropical cedar boards, short
but of superior quality.

The principal lumber sold in the coast cities is hard pine, which
retails at $30 to $50 per 1,000, depending upon the quality. This
searcity of timber accounts for many things. It renders it almost
impossible to erect or maintain creditable farm buildings in the inte-
rior, especially where there are no good roads. It renders it necessary to
construct the cottages of the laborers of bark and poles. It precludes
the fencing of the farms into suitable fields for keeping the variety of

10 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

stock best adapted to the conditions and yielding the largest profits to
the farmer. It accounts in part for only one-eighth of the arable land
of the island being under cultivation. The absence of timber on the
mountains is believed to affect in a large degree the amount and
regularity of the rainfall. The records of history and the samples of
the woods preserved prove that Porto Rico at the time of its discov-
ery had a wealth of timber unsurpassed by any island in the world.
In the United States quartermaster’s department at San Juan is the
relic of an old Spanish military museum, which contains samples of
Porto Rican woods selected over fifty years since, from which Mr. Paul
L. Hardy, engineer, made me a list of 150 varieties, with the uses for
which they are valuable. Among them are found cabinet woods, as
mahogany, satinwood, cedar, walnut, etc.; other woods that are almost
indestructible in air or water, especially valuable for wharves. Many
varieties are suitable for posts, fencing, and building purposes. That
immediate steps should be taken to reforest the island to the extent of
its own uses is self-evident, especially as there is plenty of idle land
for this purpose. There is much government land in the mountains
that can be profitably used for woodland, on which could be planted
hard-wood trees of quick maturity for fuel and more durable woods
for posts and building purposes.

FARMHOUSES.

The huts in which farm laborers live are either in tent form, 10 by
14 feet on the ground and 6 feet high at the ridge, made of poles and
covered with the bark of the royal palm or with grass, with the ground
for floor; or they are made house fashion, 12 by 16 feet base, 5 to 6 feet
high at the eaves, sides and roof covered with palm bark, with which
the so-called windows are closed at night; rarely the roof is thatched
with grass. In the vicinity of towns the sides are frequently made of
boxes. Most of the huts built in house form stand on short posts and
have a rough floor made of palm boards sawed by hand. Many of
them have a small room, possibly 6 feet square, for cooking. In these
small houses large families areraised. Sometimes more than one family
reside in one house. There are rarely any gardens, flowers, or fruit,
except the banana. The water is not always the best, and few make
any effort to improve it. Under such circumstances it is impossible
to have comfort or good morals. The houses occupied by the proprie-
tors or farm managers are generally fairly comfortable dwellings, occa-
sionally of a superior type, according to the taste and wealth of the
owner.

PUBLIC ROADS.

In a country like Porto Rico there are no medium roads. They are
either good or so bad as to be impassable with a wagon. Unless a
road is constructed of stone, thoroughly ditched and bridged, the tor-
rents in the rainy season will wreck it. There are about 150 miles of
first-class road, which were constructed by the Spaniards at an aver-
age cost of over $12,000 per mile (gold). These roads are a monu-
ment to the science and thorough work of the Spanish engineers.
Outside of these military highways transportation must mainly be by
pack train. The cost of this in some seasons of the year operates as
a complete embargo on marketing farm products. Landslides cover
the trail, bridges have been swept away, and the swollen streams are
impassable at the fords. One person reported that he sometimes paid

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 11

$12.80 (gold) for an ox load—distance, 21 miles. To relieve the most
important rural sections and to furnish labor to the peasants, deprived
of labor by the destruction of the coffee plantations, the insular gov-
ernment has undertaken to construct about 125 miles of first-class
roadsin theisland. (See map.) The construction of these roads will
cost about $1,000,000. In addition, large sums have been expended
in repairing the old military roads injured by the floods at the time
of the hurricane. When these are completed and dirt roads con-
structed in sections not liable to torrents, nearly all portions of the
island will be accessible.

Lack OF MANUFACTURES.

There are very few manufactures in Porto Rico, except such as are
the necessary adjuncts of a farm crop, to fit it for market—uas coffee
and sugar mills. Manufactures other than these are not sufficient to
produce any material effect upon the general industrial situation. At
the time of the American occupation they were limited to cigars, ciga-
rettes, macaroni, chocolate, ice, matches, and rum. The cost for the
initiative, or the privilege of starting the enterprise, was high; the
permit was slowin coming, and sometimes never granted; an enormous
tax was placed upon the importation of all kinds of machinery, and,
finally, the laws were so framed as to favor the Spanish merchant.
For example, wheat and wheat flour had to pay a high duty when
imported directly from the United States into Porto Rico, but they
could be shipped to Spain and thence to Porto Rico free or at a nomi-
nal duty. This benefited the millers of Spain and the manufacturers
of biscuits, soup paste, and other products of flour. The following
statement from the report of Dr. Henry K. Carroll (U. 8. Treasury
Dept., Doc. 2118), is in point:

As between Spanish and Porto Rican producers and manufacturers the latter
had no chances. Nor were the needs of Porto Rican consumers, however urgent
they might appear from the insular point of view, treated as worthy of serious
attention. Indispensable articles of food not produced in the island had to come
in a roundabout way through the hands of the merchants in Spain or pay enor-
mous duties if imported direct from other countries. ‘lhe Porto Ricans thought
that some of the many streams of the island might well furnish power to mills to
grind wheat from the United States or Canada into flour, but the Government at
Madrid punished these aspirations by making the duty on wheat almost as high as
that on flour. Flour paid $4 per sack of 92 kilos (about 200 pounds) and wheat
$3.15, and flour paid also, for municipal purposes, a consumption tax of $2.30.
There were mills in Spain, and by importing wheat for them from the United
States they could be kept going. The millers of Spain profited; the people of
Porto Rico suffered.

Attempts were made in the island to manufacture soup paste and crackers,
The result is graphically described in the report of the manulacturers of Ponce,
drawn up in 1898 for the use of the colonia] minister at Madrid and presented to
the commissioner of the United States without change, as the best statement pos-
sible of the needs of the island. The cracker manufacturers had to pay the high
duty on flour and compete with crackers from the Peninsula entered free of all
duty. Those who invested largely in the manufacture of soup paste saw their
business killed in the same way. Their petition to the liberal minister, from
which they hoped so much, is pathetic in its pleadings for simple justice. Appeal
after appeal was made, they say, but all ‘‘ slept the sleep of the just” (are pigeon-
holed), for if ever a minister intended to cast a pitying glance upon such injus-
tice and relieve so much misfortune by some saving measure this intention never
materialized, but was strangled in its birth by the influences brought to bear by
Spanish manufacturers.

The shoe manufacturers have the same story to tell; shoes imported free from
Spain, shoes of the poorest quality—-' pasteboard soles, badly made, unsightly,
coarse, and without durability "—while Porto Rican manufacturers were heavily

12 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

taxed for the raw materials. Of course shoes are costly, and 700,000 out of the
900,000 population go bare-footed. It was the opinion of the industrialists that they
could make better shoes and furnish them more cheaply than the Balearic Island
manufacturers, but they were not given the chance. They believed that the result
of home manufacture would be to lower the prices, as in other instances, but com-
petition with Spanish producers, when the latter had both the home and insular
markets, was impossible. There are salt:mines at Cabo Rojo, but salt from Spain
is free, and vessels loading with salt had to clear from Mayaguez, increasing the
expenses of shipments, because the port of Cabo Rojo had been closed, so the salt
industry was crippled.

Those interested, or who would be glad to be interested, in the manufacture of
soap show that while soap from Barcelona paid only the transitory duty of ‘10 per
cent at the ports of the island, amounting to $15 for every hundred boxes of a
hundredweight each, the insular industry is compelled to pay $32.82 in duties
for the raw materials to make that quantity of soap. No wonder they ask, in
despair, What business can succeed under such circumstances?

AGRICULTURE ON NARROW LINES.

Agriculture in Porto Rico is conducted on narrow lines. Sugar,
coffee, tobacco, and cattle constitute almost the entire exports. In
1897 the total agricultural exports amounted to 18,352,541 pesos (peso
valued at 60 cents gold), and of this total, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and
cattle furnished 18,133,682 pesos.

Rural lands are classified, as declared by their owners for assessment,
as follows:

Classification of rural lands.
Cuerdos (acres).

MPODACGCG: joc cezacauee tae oo oo woe Rene Ree e eee eee eeensesemse 4, 264. 07
DUCATI CAN a, ceoysco = sty eytets cad ta Cc Se RLS etcne BEES EeS 61, 558. 43
COMCO yah atee chet enc eas awenletaen Lem aie aneaea nen mrameeoiacecse 122, 359. 76
MAING? Chops enn es ea eaten et hs bs eens teh eed Het eee eee 93, 511. 08
Cultivated: Brassesis. <c.cnccucniane She 3 An Se ERERESE RE Ss co eReRREAS ene 16, 277. 23
Natural, pasture. 22 cccccc cen. cee 5ce & Sone aceademesace mnie ss 1, 127, 087. 55
Mountain lands and forests _..._-.--.......------------ ----25----- 664, 273.37

Total area of island..._____......02-- 2-2-2. 22 pe eee ee eee 2, 089, 381, 49

SUGAR-CANE LANDS.

Cane lands may be divided into three divisions, according to quality
required for this purpose:

First. The rich alluvial bottoms along’the rivers.

Second. Second bottoms somewhat remote from the rivers.

Third. Fertile hill lands.

The best cane lands produce 50 to 60 tons of cane per acre when
virgin, and one planting will last ten to twelve years. After the land
has been in cane four or five years the annual crop falls to 30 and 35
tons, and finally to 20 tons. The productive power of the soil gradu-
ally declines under the system of cultivation at present pursued.

Twenty to 25 tons of cane per acre is now regarded as a fair crop
on old land, and one planting will not continue profitable more than
three years on an average.

Second-class land yields on virgin soil 30 to 35 tons of cane per acre
and must be replanted after three crops. When somewhat worn, 15
to 20 tons of cane per acre is an average crop, and must be replanted
the third season.

Third-class lands produce about 20 to 25 tons of cane on virgin soil,
and deterioriate within a few years below the point of profitable cul-
tivation.

The extent of first-class sugar lands is quite limited in Porto Rico,
and nearly all of it has been farmed for many years. The proprietor
of one tract stated that it had been in cane continuously for ninety

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 13

years without fertilization of the crop, a proof of the marvelous pro-
ductive capacity of the soil. The growing crop of cane looked as if
it would yield 20 tons per acre.

CANE CULTURE.

Instead of planting in drills as in the United States, with the middle
upon each side deeply furrowed for drainage, the Porto Rican method
is to plant in double rows of hills, allowing the rubbish from the canes
of the previous crops to be windrowed between the rows of cane and
alternating with the deeply plowed middles, thus placing the drainage
middles about 10 to 12 feetapart. The drainage middles are 5 to 6 feet
wide, but those for piling the rubbish are narrower. This has some
advantage over our plan and some disadvantages. It is of great bene-
fit to the soil to allow the rubbish to decay upon it. It acts as a mulch
and as a positive fertilizer. On the other hand, while our method of
burning the rubbish is wasteful of the fertilizer, it gives better drain-
age by allowing a deeply plowed middle on each side of a row of cane.
Cane planting is almost a continuous operation from December till
July following, as canes are cut for the mill. Onthe2d of July, near
Arecibo, I saw trains of carts carrying cane to the sugar factory, and
as late as the 7th of July a factory south of Mayaguez was still grind-
ing cane. In both cases I was informed that the saccharine contents
were very low—reduced by the rains—and gave only about 130 pounds
of sugar per ton of cane.

The average period for maturing cane is one year, dating from the
cutting of the previous crop. Where the planting for some excep-
tional reason must be done as late as July, generally white cane is
planted and allowed to stand till a year from the following December
before cutting, allowing eighteen months in which to mature. Ribbon
cane, if allowed to stand so long, matures and cracks open, souring
the juice. This long period is given to avoid cutting in the rainy
season.

MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR.

There are but few modern sugar mills in Porto Rico. Most of them
have a single three-roller mill and are strictly upon the old open-
kettle or Jamaica plan, using the dried bagasse under the kettles for
fuel, and completing the reduction in an open steam evaporator.
Draining is accomplished in the usual way, producing a low to extra
grade of muscovado sugar, according to the care taken. Little fuel
in addition to the bagasse is required.

Large planters have introduced steam train vacuum pans and cen-
trifugals; a few have double mills, triple effects, vacuum pans, ete.
All defecate the juice with lime, but I found no filter presses, though
I was informed that some were in use. Factories make from 140 to
190 pounds of sugar per ton of cane, according to process pursued,
Only one factory was reported as making 200 pounds.

The progress of the sugar industry may be noted by the following

statistics:
Equipment of sugar factories, 1888 and 1898.

Factory equipment. 1888. 1898.
Factories with steam vacuum pans 20 50
Factories with open steam evaporators....-- 140 100
Factories using ox power and open kettles - .- 286 100

14 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

MOLASSES AND RUM.

Inferior machinery used in such a large number of sugar factories
leaves the molasses rich in sugar. Part of this is exported for reboil-
ing in the United States; the remainder is manufactured into rum.

In 1897 the number of distilleries of rum was.._...-.-----.------------ 198
In 1897 the number of distilleries of bay rum was...-_.---..-----.----- 28
Gallons of rum distilled in 1897. ......... 022-2222. ee eceeeeeeee eee e+ 1,615, 075
Gallons of rum exported in 1897 .._... .....------------------ ---- ---- 85, 252
Gallons of rum consumed at home__..._..-....--.-------.--.--------- 1,529, 823
Gallons of bay rum manufactured ...._.......---...-------------+----- 15, 143
Gallons of bay rum exported... ._.....--.--------- +--+ 2-2-2 - 2 ee eee 18, 843
Gallons of bay rum consumed at home -._..__--------- .--------------- 1,300
Total export of molasses in 1897:

Number of gallons _..__....-.--.--2 2-22-22 ee ee ee eee ------- 8, 548, 830

EMC on ternal coped wee te aR ie tes BAN area ee niger engin Mae te ase (POOLE

Waltie pot? Salons ccc ceciccns saacwake cised ant aicnngeaaicwenees cents. - 8.2

GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

With United States markets and under Spanish conditions of labor
in semiservitude, Porto Rican planters could make money rapidly
even with existing methods; but under American conditions of labor—
i. e., labor under American laws—it is an even thing between the pro-
duction of cane sugar in Porto Rico and cane sugar in the United
States. The sugar estates in Porto Rico pay lower wages than those
in the United States. They have a longer period in which to mature
and manufacture their crop, with no danger of frost. The cane hasa
full year for growth and five months in which it can be ground under
favorable conditions, as against nine months for growth and seventy-
five days for manufacture in the United States.

Labor, however, owing mainly to the primitive methods employed,
accomplishes very little in a day in Porto Rico, and notwithstanding
that men were paid only 50 cents a day, silver (worth 30 cents gold), it
was expensive labor. It required 6 yoke of oxen and 3 men to plow
three-fourths of an acre ina day. The oxen subsisted on grass with-
out grain, could plow only half a day at a time, consequently 3 yoke
were used in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon. One of the most
thorough planters in the island stated to me that he used 420 oxen to
cullivate and harvest his cane crop—a little over 800 acres. He
thought it would be economical to substitute mules. The farm work
is universally done with oxen. No labor-saving machinery is employed
in the cane shed or in the field.

RENOVATING CROPS.

Sugar planters appear to have little knowledge of the importance and
value of renovating crops. When a field has been in cane so long
that it is exhausted, the Porto Rican planter says ‘‘it is sick,” or “it
is tired,” and forthwith turns it out to common till it is recuperated.
A system of rotating cane with corn and the free use of cowpeas
(which grow luxuriantly) would soon restore the cane fields. One
planter near Bayamon putsome manure on his old field, and he reported
a crop of 50 tons per acre last year. Improved implements, modern
methods in handling cane fields, the substitution of mules for oxen,

\

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 15

and better sugar machinery will enable the Porto Rican farmer to
compete with any country in the world in the sugar industry. The
available lands for sugar are too limited in Porto Rico, however suc-
cessfully managed, to materially affect the markets of the United
States. Wages are certain to advance. In fact, since the substitu-
tion of the gold standard, August 1, 1900, laborers are demanding 50
cents per day in gold instead of silver, and some sugar planters have
granted the advance. With better wages more sugar will be con-
sumed in the island. If the Porto Rican laborer used as much sugar
as the American, nearly the entire crop would be consumed at home
and there would be little sugar for export.

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

Prior to the American occupation of the island the sugar industry
was ina bankrupt,condition, owing to the low prices of sugar and other
causes. Many planters allowed their sugarhouses to go to, decay,
and turned their cane fields into pastures. Of the 26 sugar estates
in the district of Farjardo, 14 were idle and turned out for grazing in
1898—the year of our occupancy. Had they been prosperous they
would have beenin canethat year. Further statistics show that about
two-sevenths of the larger sugar estates of the island had gone out of
business. A few sugar estates, with capital and close management,
were able to pay expenses and continue the business. For the ten
years prior to 1898 Porto Rico had marketed in the United States an
average of over 80,000,000 pounds of sugar annually, at prices ranging
from 1.7 cents to 2 cents per pound. Thecrop of 1899, though injured
about 33 per cent by the hurricane, netted the planters more money
than any crop for several years. They stated that they realized from
33 to 4 cents per pound, according to quality. It is estimated that
the present crop will furnish about 80,000,000 pounds for export.
The sugar industry is therefore in a flourishing condition.

THE COFEEE INDUSTRY.

The coffee plantisstrictly a tropical evergreen, and, if left unpruned,
attains a height of 20 to 30 feet. It should be headed low; so as to
be more productive, and to make all parts easily accessible to the
picker. The leaves are 4 or 5 inches long. oblong-ovate, dark green in
color. The whole plant is fresh and attractive in appearance. The
fruit is much like a cherry in form. Each berry contains two seeds,
surrounded by a thin, sweet pulp. The flat surfaces of the two seeds
are facing and are separated by a thin layer of pulp, and also by a
tough membrane or skin which envelopseach. Asthefruit approaches
maturity the berry turns red, and Jater a dark purple. The plant
requires good drainage. The taproot penetrates to a depth of 3 to 5
feet, and is injured if it reaches standing water.

COFFEE CULTURE IN PORTO RICO.

The favorite places selected for coffee plantations in Porto Rico are
narrow ravines on the sides of mountains, where on three sides the
plant will be protected from the wind. Plants are started in a seed
bed and when 1 year old are transplanted into the field and set in
rows 4 to 5 feet apart. In Porto Rico little attention is given the
preparation of the soil, and no fertilizer is used. Very little pruning

16 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

is done. Shade for the first five years is furnished by planting bananas
between the coffee plants. Later guava trees. furnish shade. On
the coffee plantations I visited little attention had been paid to setting
in rows to any exact distance apart. In many instances two plants
had been set together, on the theory that one might die. Sufficient
care was not taken to thin the bananas, so as to furnish the requisite
amount of sunshine. The most reliable information I could obtain
placed the average annual yield of coffee per acre at 100 to 400 pounds;
but if the total product of coffee any year be divided by the number
of acres given by the planters for assessment, it shows a product of
430 pounds per acre for the entire island. Notoriously, however, the
number of acres given for assessment was below the real number in
crop, and consequently is not an exact guide. :

A coffee plantation should improve every year with increase in age
for twenty-five to thirty years, and the annual product should average
1,000 pounds per acre under cultivation. When it falls to 250 pounds,
it shows faulty cultivation. ;

The crop commences to ripen in the early fall, and is picked by hand
at an average cost of half a cent (gold) per pound for the green fruit.
There are three processes of curing. One exposes the ripe berry to
the sun till the pulp is desiccated, which requires several weeks. In
the second process the berries are passed between the rollers of a
“‘pulper,” and reduced to a pulp, which is dried in the sun before
removing the grain. By the third method, and the one generally
used, the pulping process is followed by washing, to free the grains
from the pulp. The grains are then dried and sent tothe merchant’s
warehouse, or to the port, where the skin enveloping the grain is
removed by machinery and the grain polished. Mocha and Old Gov-
ernment Java are prepared by the first process, which is considered
to givea coffee of higher flavor. The third process enables the planter
to market his crop much earlier and with less labor.

MARKETING THE CROP.

Before placing coffee upon the genéral market it is graded by selec-
tion into six classes, known in the island by the following names, in
order of quality: First, caracolillo; second, hacienda; third, pueblo;
fourth, cubano; fifth, merinda; sixth, frilla. The quality of the better
grades of Porto Rican coffee is excellent, and compares favorably with
the best coffees of the world. Till the American occupation it was
chiefly marketed in Europe, as shown by the following table for the
year 1896:

Exportation of coffee from Porto Rico for the year 1896.

Countries to which exported: Pounds.
DAI cece ssa Se sete Sk ES Bek Ses lye dae eg erences telesales atie tale 16, 405, 900
PTANCG a cccecwass 2 iehiet Abad aeetee ase asses sere esee sete ee ss 24 11, 306, 689
GOMMaDY no. 222s ond as eomese nnennee caeemaesebesa nectoneies +2 bs epee 8, 120, 409
TAY. 2c cceccamiees res. 205 bomew andere are e eerceseekeeoneen ge oe 4, 388, 819
Oba: cegenssccasaccmenepe ares eect: «agen eEsee reer ees 15, 577, 710
United Kingdon, ..20c0022 0c: cncens awensscesececasceeeresseeneecs 304, 119
Austria-Hungaryencensooceseess Geeta Gecassdws Seyesecewen eu 2, 280, 221
United States 2.) c2o:.22 aconcssacsieseeces metne esa eeeus cous 822, 591
Daniah: possessions:. 22. c.scwssaesk Sosa mood ieee ee cease Ses s 19, 595
British: possessions... 2.2 sisco asaciadvier ieee secoehen cam'see? Ses 452
Santo Domingo... +0. 2--- 22262: esscsesaeceoge westeeaege des 22, 501

Total .wcssscesuesed: eegersecensnpels Bede aceiccece uses dss 58, 780, 606

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 17

FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COFFEE PLANTERS.

All careful investigations show that when Porto Rico came under
American control the financial condition of the coffee planters, in the
aggregate, was about as bad as it could be. Of course there were
some exceptions. A few wealthy merchants owned plantations, and
some planters were very thrifty; but about 70 to 75 per cent of the
coffee plantations were heavily mortgaged, 30 per cent or more being
mortgaged to the full value of the plantations. To make clear how
this occurred, the financial system under which coffee plantations
were managed should be explained. It is well known in Louisiana as
the system of ‘‘advances.” At the commencement of the fiscal year
the Porto Rican-planter arranged with some city merchant (provided
the planter was not a merchant or a capitalist) to advance him from
time to time money and supplies sufficient to make his crop. He
pledged his plantation and crop by mortgage, agreed to pay 12 to 18
per cent interest, as the merchant might demand, and to turn over his
crop, when harvested, to be sold at the option of the merchant. The
planter received very little money and was charged a profit of 50 to
75 per cent on all supplies. The merchant, if he found it necessary,
could buy his goods in foreign ports on a year’s time. The coffee
planter opened a small store on his plantation and paid his laborers
in orders on this store or gave duebills on-some branch store of his
merchant. Under this system it cost the planter 30 to 40 per cent for
funds to make his crop, and at the end of the season he had no option
as to price or time in disposing of his crop; the merchant was the sole
judge. Frequently the crop did not pay expenses; then a mortgage
was retained, which increased from year to year till it absorbed the
property.

The testimony of Mr. Sasteria Francisca, before United States Com-
missioner Carroll, November 1, 1898, is in point:

Importations formerly were made on a half scale in Porto Rico—that is to say,
were imported over and above the needs of the island, because the importers could
get a year’s credit from Paris, London, or Hamburg commission houses. These
merchants or importers, when they sold tosmaller houses, charged them from the
date of invoice one-half per cent interest [monthly] outside of their commission on
the merchandise shipped, while they only paid their bankers at the rate of 4 per
cent per year. Moreover, these importers sold that very merchandise on long
terms to merchants in the interior, these terms extending as long as one year and
a haif in some cases, and generally sold at wholesale at higher prices than were
paid by retail at the rates prevailing in the capital. These merchants of the
interior would do exactly the same things in turn with the smaller merchants of
the country, selling to them on long terms, and charging them at least 1 per cent
a month on the invoiced values, and often from 14 to 24 per cent.

This class of smaller merchants in the interior consists for the most part of cul-
tivators, and it is a very important matter to be considered that these small culti-
vatorsare charged at least 35 per cent per annum over and above any profit realized
in any country in the world. The results of that system have been that at least
one-quarter of the small proprietors in the island, buying in that way, in the period
of five years have all lost their estates, the estates going into the hands of Spanish
merchants who commenced selling goods on credit without any capital to speak
of, and who after five or ten years have become worth $20,000 and even $50,000.
The estates on which they held mortgagés were unable to produce sufficient to pay
back at the half rates that were collected.

The evidence is to the effect that planters with plenty of capital
could make money in the coffee industry, but those who were obliged
to borrow lost money. The Porto Rican coffee crop of the years 1892
to 1896, inclusive, sold in foreign markets in cargo lots at over 14 cents
per pound (gold). This high price stimulated speculation in coffee
plantations till they were rated at fabulous prices. In some cases

H. Doe. 171——2

18 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

they were quoted at $600 (gold) per acre for all the land in coffee-
bearing plants. Probably $150 to $200 would be nearer a true aver-
age. Many coffee estates were sold on long time at these high prices
to planters. Small payments were made at the time of the purchase,
and the unpaid amounts were secured by mortgage at 12 per cent
interest. The records of mortgages in Porto Rico show $15,664,971.69
uncanceled mortgages on country property in 1898. By careful com-
parison of this with statements by bankers, it appears that the mort-
gage indebtedness of coffee estates at that time was about $8,000,000.
The total acreage of coffee reported for assessment was 122,389.76
acres, which would make the indebtedness on coffee lands equal to
$65.46 on every acre in cultivation. If 30 per cent of the estates were
not mortgaged, as appeared evident, but were owned by capitalists,
then the mortgage indebtedness on the remainder must have been
$93.51 per acre, an amount altogether too large for a farmer to safely
carry. The mortgage is purposely attached to the lands in coffee,
for in coffee estates they are the only income-producing property.
Under these conditions coffee planters were compelled to face a great
decline in prices, owing to increased competition in the markets of the
world and special changes in the Porto Rican market arising from
change of flag.

Under such burdens the coffee planters entered upon the season
of 1899 and secured such advances as they could to make the crop.
August 8, 1899, a destructive hurricane visited all portions of the
island, sweeping away many buildings and a large portion of the
coffee crop, tearing up the trees used for shade for the coffee, and
greatly damaging the coffee plants. This left the coffee planters with-
out means to continue work, because it destroyed credit as well as
property. Had the planter possessed the capital to go immediately
after the storm and clear away the débris, restore the buildings, and
straighten up the coffee plants, the damage would largely have been
limited to the partial loss of a crop; but not being able to do this, the
loss in most cases amounted to the practical destruction of the planta-
tion, which it will require five years to restore. In tropical countries
the growth of grass, weeds, and vines is very rapid, converting the
uncultivated coffee plantations in a few months into a jungle and.
destroying the trees.

From 70 to 75 per cent of the coffee plantations are now seriously
injured, and the value of all coffee lands has declined. In case of the
abandonment of this large percentage of coffee plantations these lands
will become nonproductive, except the slight value in grasses and
brush. This will reduce the export products of the island, as coffee
constituted about seven-tenths of the exports of the island, during 1895,
1896, and 1897. In 1896 itamounted to 58,780,000 pounds and brought
$8,505,665. Abandonment would mean death to many laborers, who
could find no other immediate employment. If not to be abandoned,
vigoroussteps should be taken to restore old plantations and setnewones.

Can this be done profitably? Planters claim that itnow costs 9 cents a
pound on an averageto make and marketa crop of coffee; that if former
methods are to be continued and Porto Rican coffee is to be sold
in the United States in competition with the Rio, it is better to
abandon coffee planting in Porto Rico. But it is not necessary to
continue former methods. The average product per acre should be
increased three or fourfold, which would reduce the cost of production
below 5 cents per pound. The best coffee in the world should be pro-
duced. Such coffees ought to average 14 to 20 cents per pound. This
result could be accomplished at a nominal expense by the United States

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 19

Department of Agriculture through an experiment Station, experi-
menting in, and disseminating knowledge of, coffee production. From
this standpoint coffee production in Porto Rico has a hopeful future.

THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY.

Tobacco, the third chief product of Porto Rico, does not labor under
any such disadvantages as coffee, as the loss of a crop can be repaired
in one year. Aside from the temporary loss by the hurricane, the
chief difficulty of the tobacco industry is the change of markets.
Formerly a large percentage of the tobacco of Porto Rico was shipped
to Cuba. This consisted of the better grade of ‘‘fillers and wrap-
pers.” In 1895 the amount shipped to Cuba was 2,160,347 pounds,
or nearly two-thirds of the entire crop exported. In Cuba it was
manufactured and sold as Cuban product. Of the remainder, about
1,000,000 pounds were manufactured and consumed at home. Of the
balance, mainly low-grade tobacco, 1,375,751 pounds were sent to
Spain and smaller lots to Germany, France, and other countries.

In January, 1899, the Cuban tariff, imposing prohibitive dutes ($5
per pound) on the Porto Rican product, went into effect, and the
market for two-thirds of the crop was at once lost. The Spanish
market was lost by change of flag, and tobacco was compelled to seek
new markets. In this emergency the tobacco dealers met the difficul-
ties by studying the markets of the United States and producing the
qualities here demanded. Formerly they assorted their tobacco into
three grades. Recently some have employed Cuban experts and are
making fifteen or sixteen grades.

Rorto Rican tobacco produced near the coast is of a low grade, but
in the interior valleys the tobacco is very superior and ranks with
Cuban where the seed, care, and curing have been similar. The hills
near Cayey are dotted with immense sheds for curing tobacco. For-
merly tobacco was grown in the valley only; later it was discovered
that the hills produced a better grade than the valleys. The plants
are set in August or September, and the crop is harvested in April
and May. At the proper time the stem of the tobacco plant is cut on
the two-leaf plan and hung in the sheds for about fifty days. It is
then taken down, stem removed, and packed in a warehouse. The
average production is 400 to 600 pounds per acre. Afterwards it is
assorted, which gives the country people employment. <A majority
of the persons employed in the assorting were women, girls, and boys.
Labor in the tobacco districts is noticeably better paid than in the
coffee districts. As soon as it has been ascertained that Porto Rican
tobacco and cigars can be profitably sold in the United States, there
will be a large increase in the annual output, as coffee planters will
engage in the industry to provide an income while they are restoring
their coffee plantations. The following Sable shows the quantity and
value of the tobacco exports for the eleven years preceding American
occupation:

Tobacco exports. Pounds.
WSS ooo ce noe Sa ee ees Sah sae ees ase eed eek ews abes pone eses 7, 633, 000
WS88 o crscc doo cca ae nels ansee casks soem ceceaed dee 2 eee cemeaers 3, 347, 000
1889). 3 one desa- Gia tecouoseeciseeees ua modded wed See le cee Wf, FO8, 000
1800 cei) Gaed SoS L SoS Maen Jgvaeindnies ocinitoe aeeases Gomi tinne Bs 984,000
1891 Steteer sea weer saa encaher Adteeis Liajedamnads oeie = ae sine DCO Ly OOO
1802 sc ce hk wooe: ocean Aue seaman Ree eater eaees aeeeee--.----- 4,207, 000
1898) nen kee eeeenies = Saat aoc aeescine eee ee --- 4,208, 000
DS a ASI a ste i ye gay pe ete nr fin Spa ley ato ues aytialy® Bae aah als 3, 370, 000
FTO By aes ies eto SSeat A oh rcienns eke ahaa nee tea alae Sota AS de Si eae ee eee, (000,000
1896 wscctie = xis ge = calste'sis oxic oeen Auch asices aware eins Go See aoe caine: (eye, 000

189% ssose cence reer ge a4 ogo seg ylege seat ekepieeee ei wee eae ei te 0,208,953

20 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

This table shows that the tobacco industry had been on the decline
for nearly a decade. In 1897 it showed sudden increase, due doubt-
less to the condition of the sugar and coffee industries.

MINOR CROPS.

Corn, rice, beans, potatoes, bananas, peanuts, citrus fruits, pine-
apples, cocoanuts, vegetables, etc., are classed as minor crops.
According to records, 93,511 acres are assessed as devoted to these
products, the chief of which is corn.

CORN.

The climate, rainfall, and soil of Porto Ricv indicate, upon the
whole, a good country for corn. Farmers report a crop of 60 bushels
upon virgin land of good quality and 20 to 25 bushels on old land.
This is equal to the average crop in the corn belt of the United States.
A further evidence of the corn-producing capacity of Porto Rico is
shown by the exports. In 1897 Porto Rico exported to Cuba 4,246,776
pounds of corn and 7,946 pounds of corn meal, and to Spain 30,133
pounds of corn. No corn was imported that year, thus showing that
Porto Rico produced more than sufficient for home consumption. It
should also be taken into account that the interior of the island could
furnish no portion of this surplus, because, with the exception of one
military road, there were no roads in the interior on which it could be
transported to the coast. With a better knowledge of the corn plant
and the conditions requisite for its best yield we may expect large
corn products in Porto Rico.

RICE.

In former years Porto Rico produced considerable rice, and the
only reason why it might not again is that there is very little level
land easily flooded except near the coast, and this can be more prof-
itably devoted to sugar cane. On the mountain summits, where
there is a surplus of rain during the rainy season, small fields are
raised without flooding. Here, however, the mole cricket (Gryllotalpa)
attacks it and does considerable damage. It is probable that Porto
Rico will continue to import the rice required by her people. The
advance in rice at this time came inopportunely for Porto Rico, but
it has increased the consumption of flour and corn meal. The annual
importation of rice into Porto Rico will be seen from the following
statistics:

Imports of rice. Pounds.
1894 cutee ¢ Ge eemnmacaesen ce pee een neRie cee! de eek EE tel eeees 72, 674, 540
18065 02 sie we aueat Soeeinteci pina Sh ese VERE eee Vee eee ceemios oodeeie 74, 145, 046
ROG sir saee de iseecee neo esa sans gaeai eee ceecee Riis ctme Jen 102708, 240
NOT oc caizced sercet.ae a selonguenes itiichoncheieuicreicies dais pepsin Ny OO, Lee

BEANS, SWEET POTATOES, AND BANANAS.

Beans are planted on farms for home consumption. The quality
and yield are good. Iwas unable to obtain any data showing the
amounts produced annually, but from the crops observed the supply
appeared entirely inadequate to the necessities of the people. The
nutritious sweet potato flourishes in all portions of the island, but,
like beans, the supply produced for home consumption is less than it

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 21

should be. Itis amuch more healthful article of food than unripe
bananas, and if supplied in abundance to the peasants of the coffee
district there would be greater health and vigor.

Bananas are ordinarily produced in great abundance, because they
furnish the shade of the young coffee plants. They are also grown
for food without reference to coffee shade. They constitute the
principal vegetable food of the laboring classes. The banana pos-
sesses some advantages. The product per acre on rich land is enor-
mous, yielding in some cases as much as 60,000 pounds of fruit. In
well-cultivated orchards it is possible to have fruit most of the year,
though it is more abundant atcertain seasons. The fruit should be cut
before itis ripe and hung in a dark place till mellow. Some place it
in a dirt house till mature; others simply cover it with dirt. In most
tropical countries the ripening is neglected and the fruit is eaten in
an immature state. It is usually cooked. A dwarf variety, known
as Guineo fruit, about 4 inches long, is greatly prized. The skin is
very thin, meat yellow and highly flavored. I observed a good many
stems that had failed to mature more than half a bunch of bananas,
probably the result of a deficiency in fertility or moisture, or both.
A little knowledge and care would easily remedy this defect. When
a line of fruit steamers is established to Porto Rico bananas will
constitute an important part of the exports.

VEGETABLES.

A visit to the markets does not give a favorable impression of the
capacity of Porto Rico to produce vegetables. The cabbages for sale
are very inferior in size and quality. Many are not more than 4
inches in diameter, and not solid heads. The tomatoes usually range
from 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Root crops are in proportion.
Watermelons offered are inferior in size and quality; the lettuce is
small and bitter. An inspection of the gardens or fields where these
vegetables are produced affords an entirely different view of the gar-
den problem. Vegetables are planted on land long in use, imperfectly
tiled, without fertilizer, and turned over for further care to Provi-
dence. The seeds in many instances are sown broadeast. Gardeners
from south Florida, located near San Juan, showed good results.
Their vegetables were not only of good size, but of excellent quality.
One gardener near Rio Piedras. delivered in San Juan several loads
of watermelons each weighing 50 pounds or over. His produce
brought high prices. The following vegetables can be successfully
raised:

Vegetables which can be raised in Porto Rico.

Beans. Kenep. Peppers (green).
Beets. Lettuce. Peas.
Cabbage. Lentils. Pumpkins.
Cassava. Lechosa (species of musk- Radishes.
Carrots. melon). Sesame.
Celery. Muskmelons. Squash.
Corn (sweet). Okra. String beans.
Corn (field). Onions. Tallote.
Cucumbers. Potatoes (sweet). Turnips.
Eggplant. Potatoes (Irish). Tomatoes.
Garlic. Peanuts. Watermelon.
Gourds. Peppers (tabasco). Yams.

ORANGES, LIMES, AND LEMONS.

Porto Rico is well adapted to the growth of the orange. Here the
tree is hardy, healthy, a rapid grower, a marvelous producer, and

22 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

retains its vigor for many years. It develops its fruit perfectly, even
in the wild state in the forest. In all parts of the island it is possible
to find many excellent locations for orange orchards. The planter
ean select such a conformation of hills as to protect his orchard from
prevailing winds. In soils he can take his choice between the rich,
sandy loam, the fertile gravel (6 feet deep), and the porous clay loams.
Lands for such purposes can be purchased at from $5 to $20 per acre
nearagood port. At Mayaguez I visited the fruit farm of F. G. Molina
on the bay and photographed an orange tree 3 years old from setting.
It was 6 inches in diameter at the base and about 18 feet high with
branches 5 or 6 feet long, full of fruit. I also photographed a tree 5
years old, which bore 5,000 oranges last crop, and another 7 years old,
which bore 7,000 oranges. Mr. Molina sold his oranges at $3 per thou-
sand f. 0. b. ship for New York.

What has been said of oranges applies equally to limes and lemons,
except that lemons are produced solely by cultivation, and very little
attention has been paid to them. .

SHADDOCK, GRAPE FRUIT, OR POMELO.

The shaddock is in habit like the orange, grows 30 to 40 feet high,
ornamental, globose or pyriform in shape, pale yellow in color, and
produces a large subacid fruit, rather coarse, with thick rind. Speci-
mens of this fruit sometimes weigh 10 pounds each and in rare cases
15. Itis a native of the Polynesian Islands, and was early brought to
the West Indies. It is hardy in Porto Rico.

Grape fruit, the best variety of the shaddock family, attains perfec-
tionin Porto Rico. Conditions of growth are like those of the orange,
except that it is more sensitive to frost, which makes it an unsafe
product in the United States, only in the extreme south of Florida.
This large, luscious fruit would be greatly appreciated in all portions
of the United States if it could be placed on the market at a moderate
price. With the low freight rates to New York, Porto Rico should
supply this demand.

MANGO. ;

The mango is a luscious semiacid fruit, greatly prized in the Trop-
ics. Its reliability as an annual product is one of its chief merits. It
is valuable simply for home consumption.

COCOANUTS.

The cocoa palm is one of the most valuable trees produced in any
country. It thrives on the sand dunes, valuable for little else, near
the seashore. The trees are from 50 to 90 feet high, and 100 to 160
can stand upon an acre. When mature the trees produce an average
of 150 nuts each annually. With due allowance the crop of an acre
may be estimated at 10,000 nuts annually, worth $150 on shipboard.
To gather the nuts, remove the fibrous shuck, and load costs $2.40 per
1,000 nuts, or $24 total cost of crop per acre. The shuck is sold for
matting material. Trees begin to bear at 5 years old and continue
for about one hundred years. Every partof the treeis valuable. The
hard portion of the trunk makes the celebrated porcupine wood; the
leaves are used for baskets and thatching; the fibrous husk of the
nuts is made into mats; the shell of the nuts is used for drinking
cups, frequently beautifully carved; the meat is used for confec-
tionery, and the water or liquor is an agreeable and healthful drink.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC,, OF PORTO RICO. 23

PINEAPPLES.

Pineapples are produced in all parts of Porto Rico with great suc-
cess at a trifling cost of labor. Eight to ten thousand plants are set
on an acre, and after the sets are well established no further care is
taken. Asa rule, after the plants are set they are neither hoed nor
shaded, asin Florida. The ripe fruit weighs from 2 to 16 pounds per
plant, and may be averaged at 6 pounds. At 3 cents apiece the pine-
apple crop is very profitable. It is one of the most luscious of fruits
when ripe, and if sold at reasonable rates the United States will prove
an unlimited market for it. In time pineapples should become as
abundant and as cheap as apples in our market. At Fajardo, San
Juan, and Mayaguez small farmers are prepared to make large con-
tracts for delivery to anyone establishing a cannery.

GUAVA.

The variety cultivated for the fruit is a small tree from 9 to 15 feet
high, with angular branches and an abundance of pointed, elliptical
leaves. The fruit is about 1 inch in diameter, apple or pear-shaped,
yellow, very fragrant, and filled with a yellowish or reddish pulp, sub-
acidin flavor. It isan abundant bearer, and furnishes one of the best
fruits known for the manufacture of jelly.

PEACHES, PEARS, FIGS, AND GRAPES.

These fruits have not yet been produced to any extent. Sample
trees of the peach, of the Leconte and Keiffer pear, planted near Baya-
mon, show excellent growth and vigor. There is apparently no rea-
son why they should not become staple products. Figs are yet on
trial. They do fairly well in some parts of the island. It is a ques-
tion whether they have been given a fair trial.

Few grapes are produced. Under Spanish rule grape enltare was
discouraged, because it might interfere with the wine industry of
Spain. Wine is commonly used as a table drink in Porto Rico. In
1897 the import of common wine was 4,314,473 ae (a liter is about
a quart), at a cost of about 52 cents per liter. . George Bird, of
Fajardo, stated to me that his father, on his ee ‘from Spain some
years since, brought from Malaga a few of the best varieties of grapes
produced there, and on trial they did better in Porto Rico than in
Spain. By pruning he had produced in some years four crops.

List of fruits and nuts produced in Porto Rico.

Alligator pear. Grosella. Orange.
Almond. Grape fruit. Pajuil.
Bread fruit. Grapes. Pineapple.
Banana. Guava. Plantain.
Cactus pear. Ivory nut. Raspberry.
Cocoanut. Lemon. Rose apple.
Cherry (tropical). Lime. Russet fruit.
Cocoa plum. Mamee sapota. Shaddock.
Chocolate bean. Mango. Soursap.
Cayoll (palin fruit). Mangosteen. Strawberry (wild).
Coffee. Mulberry. Tamarind fruit.
Custard apple. Nutmeg (spice).

Fruits and nuts that may safely be introduced.
Blackberry. Strawberry. Japanese persimmon.
Japanese plum. Keitfer pear. Leconte pear.

Olives. Pecan nut. Walnut.

24 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.
STocK RAISING.

Five conditions are requisite to make an excellent stock country:

(1) Abundant grasses, of superior quality, and pasturage as nearly
continuous as possible.

2) Pure and abundant water.

3) Equable climate.

4) Freedom from annoying insects.
5) Good markets.

Porto Rico possesses all of these advantages in an eminent degree.
As a grass-producing country it is unsurpassed. Its hills are covered
with grama grass, corresponding for pasture to the mesquite grass
and the buffalo grass of the United States. The cultivated grasses,
guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and malojilla, are very nutritious,
and produce a large amount of forage per acre. Dr. Don Augustin
Stahl states that 50 square meters of these grasses will sustain an ox
or a horse, which would be equal to 81 horses or oxen per acre. This
could scarcely hold good for the entire year. Twelve animals are
probably nearer the average. Authentic cases are given where land
set in guinea grass has produced 130 tons of green fodder per acre,
equal to 32.5 tons of hay. Cattle and horses in the working season
rarely receive any other food than these grasses, cut and fed in a
manger under shelter.

The creeks and rivers have sufficient current to keep the water pure,
and springs are plentiful in the mountains. The weather is always
cool, mornings and evenings, when the stock is grazing. Flies and
mosquitoes are about the same as in the higher portions of the South-
ern States. Cuba and St. Thomas take all surplus stock at good
prices. The horses are the exact type of those descended from Span-
ish stock in the prairie sections of Louisiana, very small but full of
energy. The foundation was evidently of the best Arabian stock, but
now greatly deteriorated.

The cattle are also of Spanish stock, but have been crossed more or
less with Senegambian males, adding something to the size and fat-
tening properties, but reducing their value for milk.

Some sheep are kept, but the industry has not been a great success.
There is too much rain in the highlands. Goats are common in all
parts of the island, and with a better stock might be made the basis of
an industry of much profit.

Comparatively few swine are raised. Possibly the absence of fences
is the cause. With small fields of cassava, sweet potatoes, peanuts,
and sorghum it ought to be possible to raise hogs at a nominal cost,
and the market is excellent.

The small amount of poultry kept is a perpetual surprise. One may
travel for miles in the country without finding a good flock of chickens.
Most of those raised are inferior in size and quality. The eggs are
small and lack in flavor, but the price is large enough—36 cents per
dozen. Chickens sell at 40 to 75 cents each. Investigations show
that there is little reason why chickens should not be produced in
great abundance.

FaRM WAGES.

The usual hours of work in the field are from 6 to 6. A majority of
the field hands commence work in the morning without having eaten
anything. A few take early coffee. At 11 o’clock half an hour is
given for breakfast. Breakfast consists of rice and beans, bread and

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 25

cheese, or sweet potatoes and fish. Where the plantation boards the
hands, as sometimes occurs in the sugar-harvest season, board con-
sists in furnishing daily one-half pound of rice and one-fourth pound
of beans, or 3 pounds of sweet potatoes and half a pound of fish
(dried), or 1 pound of bread and one-fourth of a pound of cheese.
The laborers on coffee estates rarely eat meat, except on Sunday.
Many laborers eat nothing till the close of the day.

The customary wages were 30 cents (gold) per day prior to the
changes in currency, but, instead of money, in most cases the pay-
ment was made by giving an order on the store, which reduced the
value at least 33 per cent. In coffee-picking time the-women were
able to earn 15 to 25 cents per day. Coffee planters are generally lib-
eral in allowing their laborers to use the bananas on the farm, and in
giving them theuse of small tracts for vegetables if they will use them.
The laborers complained that they had no time to make a garden.
Many laborers were unemployed in the coffee districts because the
plantations were uncultivated and had remained so since the hurri-
cane of last year. In the tobacco and sugar districts labor was in a
much better condition. Tobacco culture gives more employment to
women and children. On the sugar plantations higher wages have
usually been paid during sugar making, which continues for four or
five months. This better condition is shown more by the personal
appearance of the laborers than by improvement in their houses and
home surroundings. The constant efforts of the insular government
since the island came under American control have heen directed to
the relief of the labor situation.

1) All personal taxes have been removed from laborers.

{3} The oppressive consumers’ taxes on food and articles of neces-
sity have been abolished.

(3) The change of the money standard, which took effect August 1,
1900, has benefited labor. In many cases laborers are now receiving
in gold what they formerly received in silver.

(4) Thousands of laborers in the coffee districts have been given
employment on the public roads now in process of construction by the
insular government.

(5) The Porto Rican tariff on flour, corn, and rice was formerly very
high; now they are admitted free.

(6) Indirectly labor has been benefited by the removalof the export
taxes on sugar, coffee, and tobacco, and by the repeal of the law levy-
ing royal dues and taxes on importing agricultural implements.

CHARACTER OF THE LABORING CLASSES.

The laboring classes have surprisingly active minds, considering
the conditions under which they have lived. They are mechanically
inclined, kindly disposed, and respond readily to fair treatment.
With opportunities and reasonable encouragement they will rapidly
improve. Many American employers of Porto Rican laborers gave a
very encouraging report of their industry and faithfulness. It was
gratifying to note the desire to be self-supporting. The Women’s
Aid Society of Porto Rico gives partial employment to about 400 poor
women, many of whom are from the country. Garments are given to
the very poor. Only 8 per cent of the women employed, however,
accept alms, preferring to pay for their garments by installments at
the rate of 5 cents per week. Their average earnings are 15 cents per
week.

26 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.
DEPRESSION IN AGRICULTURE.

Many persons are under the impression that the agricultural indus-
tries of Porto Rico were prosperous under Spain, and that their decline
is due to bad management upon our part and to the hurricane of
August 8,1899. The American flag was not formally raised over the
island till October, 1898. Almostimmediately evidence was taken set-
ting forth the condition of agriculture. This evidence conclusively
establishes the fact that, while the income of the coffee farms was con-
siderable, the profits did not go into the hands of the tillers of the soil,
but went to enrich the capitalist, who in many cases returned to Spain
in afew years toenjoy his wealth. Blocks of stately buildings in Bar-
celona and other Spanish cities are shown the traveler which were
built with the profits obtained from the products of Porto Rican farms.

The conditions upon which the coffee planters secured loans to make
their crops is proof that the coffee industry had not been prospering
as it should. But there is plenty of direct proof taken prior to the
hurricane, and all to the same effect.

Sefior Luis Cenal, of Fajardo, stated on November 6, 1898:

The abandoned cane estates are run to pasture, but as this is not making proper

use of the land it can be calculated that 75 per cent of the district is, properly
speaking, unproductive.

November 7, 1898, Mayor Eustaquio Torres, of Guyanilla stated:

Agriculture, which has been languishing and has been impoverished, is over-
whelmed by enormous tributes, wanting facilities afforded by an agricultural
bank, and fighting an unequal fight with the merchants, owing to the fact that
the difficulties of the money system clozes to it foreign and national markets.
From this cause originates the general depression of the country, especially of the
laboring class. This class does not earn enough to buy food, and its ranks
are being swelled enormously by small proprietoys, who, wanting in means to till
their small farms, are obliged to sell them. That is the reason why public wealth
isconcentrated in the hands of a few capitalists in each town, and also why so
many uncultivated lands are seen, their owners, owing to their great extent, not
being able to give them attention.

The above evidence was taken before Dr. H. K. Carroll, commis-
sioner; and evidence was placed before me proving that the sugar inter-
ests had scarcely paid expenses for the ten years prior to 1899.

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION IN AGRICULTURE.

It is pertinent to inquire the causes of the decline of agriculture
under Spanish rule. They may be summarized as follows:

(1) The system of credit or ‘advances ”—explained under head of
‘* coffee.”

(2) The manufactures necessary to obtain full value of farm crops
discouraged.

3) Farms taxed for benefit of cities.

4) Tendency to build up large farms.

5) The consumption tax on food.

6) Laws favoring the merchant class.

7) No country roads; cost of transportation excessive. In some
cases it costs $1.25 to transport 100 pounds 5 miles.

(8) Economic conditions bad. Little agricultural machinery and
few implements used on account of excessive import duties; labor
depressed and unable to do good work.

(9) Landlordism. Farms fell into the hands of town and city peo-
ple who knew little of farming. Many farmers were so involved that
they could not control the management of their farms.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 27

(10) Too narrow a range of agricultural production. The agricul-
tural products imported amounted to about five-elevenths of the total
imports. In 1895 the agricultural products imported amounted to
$7,171,352 (gold), and the total nonagricultural to $9,644,101, or 42.60
per cent of the former to 57.40 per cent of the latter. The total
exports of native products in 1895 were $15,190,856, of which amount
$14,573,366 were agricultural. Tersely stated, they imported 50 cents’
worth of rice, flour, fish, etc., for subsistence to enable them to pro-
duce one dollar’s worth of sugar, coffee, and tobacco for export. If
there was any failure in the dollar crop, money must be borrowed to
pay the 50 cents.

(11) No agricultural schools nor journals to disseminate knowledge
upon agricultural subjects, without which no nation has taken front
rank in agriculture.

EFFECTS OF SUCH CONDITIONS.

The consumption tax was a tax levied by towns and cities upon the
necessities of life, such as maize, rice, lard, sugar, flour, silk, char-
coal (used for cooking), petroleum, etc. It was not placed on dry
goods, jewelry, and similar articles. This tax was very heavy, as the

following will illustrate:
Consumption

tax (silver).
Muscovado sugar _.-----.-----.------ per cwt.. $2.00
OUI 2 css caine eee mamacccieclec S255 --do_.. 1.25
Rice _- Ree ne meee ceases meee cacsevuens a Okie “Ree

This tax was far-reaching in its effect. It not only nearly doubled
the cost of living, but it prevented the establishment of small farms
in the vicinity of cities, because the farmer must provide for the con-
sumption tax before he could sell. This was practically prohibitory.

The effect of landlordism is to obtain the largest present revenue
from the land possible, regardless of the future. To this may be
charged the complete destruction of all the timber within merchant-
able distance of any good road or any market. Present fertility of
soil is taxed to the utmost at the expense of future production.
Improvements are cheap and rude.

Under such conditions it was only a question of time when general
bankruptcy must be forced on the producers. It was certain to fol-
low any general failure of crops, any great decline in prices or radical
change in the character of the markets, or any monetary crisis which
should destroy credit. Unfortunately for Porto Rico, all these things
occurred at once. Change of flag necessitated new markets for a
majority of her staples, the hurricane destroyed most of the crop in
1899, and credit to planters was totally withdrawn. The hurricane
was a crowning calamity. It swept away not only crops, but the
improvements, and devastated the island in all portions to an amount
searcely to be estimated. While it visited the coffee plantations with
special violence, it left its wreckage marks on every sugar plantation
in the island.

How CAN DEPRESSION IN AGRICULTURE BE RELIEVED?

J have stated the condition of agriculture and the cause of its decline
somewhat fully in order to point out clearly the relief. It is evident
that the only immediate relief that can be afforded the agricultural
interests in Porto Rico must be provided through the established lines

28 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

of industry—sugar, tobacco, and coffee. While immediate steps
should be taken greatly to increase the number of profitable agricul-
tural industries, such changes can only be effected gradually and
should be regarded rather as part of a wise economic policy for the
future than as a measure to afford the immediate relief required. All
thefarm labor of the island was formerly givenemployment. The insuf-
ficiency of employment now arises chiefly from the prostration of the
coffee farms. While the sugar and tobacco industries will provide
about the normal amount of labor the present year, they can be greatly
strengthened financially. Better drainage, the use of renovating
crops, and a judicious system of crop rotation will enormously increase
the product per acre, and more improved machinery will add largely
to the sugar product.

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND EXPERIMENTS.

These improvements require scientific inquiry and experiments
along practical lines. These experiments, to be of assured value, must
be made upon Porto Rican soil. The tobacco industry comes nearer
being able to sustain itself and provide for future improvement than
the other industries. This, however, applies more to the large plant-
ers and manufacturers than to the small producers, who at least need
instruction. Few crops require more technical knowledge and skill
in production and manufacture than tobacco. The production of the
best varieties is a fine art and is complicated by fashion, which differs
in different markets. Whatis a very high grade in one market is a
low grade in another, and small producers can not investigate meth-
ods as adapted to markets.

HOME PRODUCTION OF FOOD.

A further means of improving agricultural conditions is for all the
sugar, coffee, and tobacco plantations to produce a variety of food
crops sufficient for their employees, and for each employee who is the
head of a family to produce the food for his household. This should
be a cardinal principle adopted by all planters. For an island as
fertile as Porto Rico to import annually 50 cents’ worth of alimentary
products in order to export one dollar’s worth of sugar, coffee, and
tobacco is an unsafe policy and should be discontinued at once.

INCREASE OF SMALL FARMS.

Naturally when a large number of small farms fell into the hands
of the capitalist he consolidated them and placed them under one
administration. If it was not convenient to work them, they were
grazed, reducing the demand for labor. :

The number of small farms should be greatly increased and their
products diversified to the limit of profit. The fruit and nut crop in
ten years should exceed the combined annual export of all farm crops
at this date. Winter vegetables, poultry, and dairy products should
form large items in the export columns.

INDUSTRIAL VILLAGES.

The early establishment of a number of minor industries closely
related to agriculture is of vital importance to future prosperity. The

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 29

object of such industries is to give profitable employment to the wives
and children of farm laborers, so that the earning ability of the home
may be doubled and in some cases quadrupled. Under such conditions,
if the head of the family fails for any cause to earn his wage, the
home goes on; the earning capacity is lessened, but the home is not
destroyed. This has its moral as well as economic bearing. Many
philanthropic Porto Ricans suggested that the farm laborers on the
coffee and tobacco plantations scattered upon the mountains, without
roads, society, or schools, children nude and semiwild, could never
derive the full advantages of free education and be influenced by the
elevation of society until they were gathered into small villages and
became amenable to society. Ina republic this can not be done by
force, but once establish small industrial villages in the country and
the small, scattered mountain population will be attracted to the vil-
lage by its superior earning capacity and its advantages for schools,
society, and better living. This will be no detriment to the farms,
because the village laborers will be within reach of every farm. The
industrial village where all are workers, is fundamental in Japanese
civilization. The manufacture of hats, straw goods, and matting, the
production of raw silk, and the canning of tropical fruits are examples
of the employments in question.

BETTER HOMES.

It is of vital importance to the future prosperity of Porto Rico that
there should be a great improvement in the homes of the farm laborers,
better houses, and more comforts. To this end a larger and more
comfortable house must be devised that will be within the means of
the laborer to build. This can be done with a slight addition of the
labor expended upon it. In this connection the necessity of encour-
aging the planting of trees for building purposes is apparent.

PRESENT AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND POSSIBILITIES OF PORTO
RIco.

The exports of Porto Rico for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901,
may be estimated as follows:

Estimated exports of Porto Rico for 1901.

Articles. Pounds. Value.

SUSOl's scccssatescacieecasscuseseeawauealsads miwedioaceed sume csc ewescu ewer ecteeus
Molasses. -... porter wie gecia area a
Tobacco and manufactures

TONGS, cmt sige BN ws anc ot SRE A a cv i od vi cnn i ho liso 10, 605, 762

Nore: The total exports for 1897 were $11,011,524.

The sugar crop of 1900 will be less than normal, but, by reason of
the better price, will bring considerably more money. The tobacco
crop is placed at normal, and the coffee crop at 50 per cent of normal.
It will be seen that the estimated exports of the fiscal year ending
June 1, 1901, are only $405,762 below those of 1897, the last year of
Spanish possession, regardless of the destruction of the hurricane, which
reduced the coffee export about $5,500,000. The farmers have given

30 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.

more attention this year to the production of food crops. It may,
therefore, be fairly claimed that, as a whole, the net income of Porto
Rico from farm crops will be about the same as usual; but this will
“not relieve the distress, because it will not be as widely distributed
as formerly, the deficiency occurring in the coffee districts.

POSSIBILITIES OF AGRICULTURE IN PoRTO RICO.

As to the possibilities of agriculture in Porto Rico I submit the
following statement:

The United States imported in 1899, in addition to the imports of
sugar, coffee, and tobacco, the following:

Fibers (vegetable), manufactures of, including mattings, etc___..--.-- $45, 457, 687
Nits anid fads, 25 ok oe ae ates Oy pb tinin a Gr eenen bey clahiee sede 18, 317, 201
Silk; unmanufactured....2o tec. wecesdesveeemne vebecwectann 4a Sees 32, 479, 627

Total dono Gekbey asSssae scoaeamede. eee tecetes en deen aay ee 96, 254, 515

The industries of Porto Rico, properly developed, could produce
a large portion of the foregoing without interfering with her present
exports. In addition, it could produce camphor, india rubber, spices,
and other articles of which we import large quantities. Thrifty speci-
mens of india rubber plants and of camphor plants were seen. In
case of such an expansion in the production of tropical products,
Porto Rico would become a large consumer of the food products
exported by the United States, which would be greatly to our trade
advantage over the present plan of securing these articles. No por-
tion of Porto Rico is over 20 miles from the coast, and with good
roads all products could reach an ocean port in a few hours and by
the conveyances of the farm. The transportation from the ports to
New York is low and with increased freights will be much reduced.
A few thousand dollars judiciously expended annually in the devel-
opment of the agricultural resources of Porto Rico will result greatly
to our benefit, because we shall then be buying our tropical imports
with our surplus products.

The appended list shows some articles, and their values, of import
into the United States in 1899, all, or a portion of which, could be

profitably produced in Porto Rico:
Articles imported into the United States which might be produced in Porto Rico.
Cocoa and the manufactures of ._.._-.-. --.-.--.------.------------ $5,360, 116
Coffee... ---- acicdorgeateeoelgeny ceecgey 000,070, 470
Fibers, vegetable, and manufactures of ........--..-------.---------- 45, 457, 687
Eruits.and nuts .<:22 <::cenc: cece ceeresceusels ces sek suere s sommes 18, 317, 201
Hats and bonnets, materials for ... _.....-. -------------- veces 25426, 726
India rubber and gutta- percha and manufactures of__.-.--.-.-.----- 82, 370, 098:
Molasses _... wusmusuee es eewereckeees: eee s Sos 24: 3 ees oe8 789, 576
idle mrmnennd tNCLEROU cx vae coatene: aioceoconcasss asus tos ence ae 32, 479, 627
Spices IF a OE ER Re rete ea ee re eC 2, 782, 301
SUGAL ci. 2aebisceee adel aon shee tee eRe nes “ eeeese go e2 94, 964, 120
Tea. __ Keak dene DEMS Cai eel be ein cadeza 9, 675, 081
Tobacco and manufactures of _.._...----.----+-----.--00+--2e- nee -ee 11, 848, 357
Vanilla bean... 22s acsseceecueesed 22k sien Be se ee 1, 235, 412
Totals seasatec ease ae ee cca) ence serosa ace seas 812, 976, 771

AN AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

The most potent factor in accomplishing the improvement of agri-
culture would bea properly equipped agricultural experiment station,

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO. 31

with a wider range of investigation and application than is usually
given to such institutions.

First. Such a station should give immediate attention to the pro-
duction of larger and better crops of coffee, sugar, and tobacco, at a
less cost than at present.

Second. It should encourage the production of food products to
the extent of home consumption.

Third. It should promote the establishment of small farms for fruit
and vegetables.

Fourth. As soon as practicable it should prosecute investigations
that will lead to the improvement of farm stock with special reference
to the requirements of the farms for work animals and of the markets
for beef and dairy products. There is no good reason why Porto Rico
should import 743,560 pounds of cheese annually at a cost of 16.4
cents per pound when there is an abundant supply of sweet grasses
and rich milk on the island.

Fifth. Thestation should diligently prosecute investigations in for-
estry to reestablish the woodlands.

Sixth. It should be especially empowered and charged to introduce
minor industries for the betterment of the families of farm laborers.

Seventh. An important part of the station work should be the
introduction of new varieties of seeds, plants, trees, and animals
which are adapted to the climate and conditions found in Porto Rico;
also to see that the best seeds and fertilizers are sold to farmers. For
any country to fail to keep a watchful eye on the progress of other
countries and take advantage of their natural resources and the
improvements they have made in the products of the soil is to fall
behind in the race of life and publicly acknowledge a lack of enter-
prise.

OBJECT LESSONS.

It will be necessary to place the work of the station mainly in the
form of object lessons and on a sufficient scale to show economic
results. This will require more land than would be sufficient to
establish theories or principles in agriculture.

To carry out the plan of the station the earnest cooperation of the
farmers should be secured by local associations and otherwise. The
station should issue bulletins at regular periods, and the officers of
the station should meet the local association for discussion of agricul-
tural topics at least once a year. At the same time schools for women
could be held, giving instruction in various home industries suited to
their condition.

DESIRABILITY OF SECURING THE COOPERATION OF PORTO RICAN
FARMERS IN EXPERIMENT WORK.

It is highly important to secure the active cooperation of the farmers
in investigations of the station and in the dissemination of information.
The best plan is to organize local associations of farmers in every im-
portant rural center in the island who will cooperate in testing seeds,
plants, and methods of cultivation and aid in distributing bulletins,
pamphlets, etc. In nearly every community can be found planters
of liberal education and travel. Some were educated in the United
States and can speak English. As far as consulted, all planters were
enthusiastically in sympathy with the proposed work of the station.

32 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, ETC., OF PORTO RICO.
INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE IN THE COMMON SCHOOLS.

A few simple oral lessons on the nature of seeds and plants, how to
prepare the soil, and how to plant and care for the crop, with some
small plats around the schoolhouse as object lessons, would be of in-
estimable value to the youth and far-reaching in its results. Many
of the lower classes in the country appear to have no knowledge of
the principles of agriculture or of its successful practice. They half
stir the soil, sow the garden seeds broadcast, and let Providence do
the weeding. The commissioner of education for the island expressed
a desire to do all in his power to promote agricultural education in
the common schools.

LOCATION OF THE STATION.

There are a number of reasons why the experiment station should
be located near San Juan.

First. It is the opinion of all who have investigated the subject that
object lessons under farm conditions should form an essential feature
of the station. It must, then, be at the place most accessible for the
people of the whole island and for persons temporarily visiting the
island.

Second. The station must be located where it can have direct and
prompt communication with the Department of Agriculture at Wash-
ington, because for some years it will not have equipment to do all
the scientific work required, and reference must be constantly had to
the several departments at Washington.

Third. San Juan is the only city upon the island which has printing
establishments sufficiently equipped to issue bulletins in English and
Spanish with reasonable facility.

Fourth. Lands near San Juan can be purchased at reasonable prices.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE STATION.

For the current expenses of an agricultural experiment station in
Porto Rico at least as much money will annually be required as is now
appropriated for such stations in the States and Territories ($15,000).
The cost of the buildings needed by the station is estimated as follows:

One building for director and assistants_..__. _.....---.-..-------.------- $5,000
One building for offices and laboratory...-_....----.--.----------------- 38, 000
One house for farm foreman......---.---.--------------------+--+ +--+ eee 1,000
Four cottages for farm laborers._._-....-...----------------------------- 800
BARNS See ueren st sje teased aes Me cor aae Gente tare mcia eae see Ame taae er donee. Ch OOO

TOtal cede ict ines eaends Cohat aoeeoecscee ance deeds Ree eoskceeese 10, 800

Suitable land in the vicinity of San Juan will probably cost $25 per
acre, and at least 200 acres should be obtained for the station there,
for the purchase of which $5,000 will be required. For outlying experi-
ments Government land on the island may be reserved. These reser-
vations should include alluvial or level lands for sugar and rice,
mountain lands for forestry, tobacco, and coffee, and sandy sea-coast
lands for cocoanuts.

O

House Doc, No. 171. PLATE I.

= eS,

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——

pee

GATHERING COCOANUTS.

House Doc. No. 171, PLATE Il.

PLOWING FOR SUGAR CANE.

HAULING CANE TO MILL.

House Doc. No. 171. PLATE Ill.

CANE MILL.

SPREADING BAGASSE TO Dry.

House Doc. No. 171, PLaTe IV.

EXPORTING SUGAR.

a

HAULING MOLASSES TO MARKET.

House Doc. No. 171, PLATE V.

SuGAR PLANTER’S HOUSE, ARECIBO.

LaBoRER’S HUT, NEAR CARMEN.

House Doc. No, 171. Pate VI.

THREE-YEAR-OLD ORANGE TREES.

LaBorer’s HuT, COFFEE PLANTATION.

PLaTE VII.

House Doc. No. 171.

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REFERENCES.
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MAP OF ISLAND OF PoRTO RIGO, SHOWING STATE OF ROADS IN 1900.