PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 15 



iiiM- season, the crop should be removed without disturbing any more 

 than necessary the base of the vine and that collection of irregular 

 root tips w Inch forms the incipient head. The latter should be covered 

 and allowed to remain as long as possible before digging. 



Experience would teach what modifications of the methods in vogue 

 here would be necessary in the Southern States of America. 



It seems certain that the cultivation of these superior varieties of 

 yams, especially of Yampie. would be lucrative it' such yams were intro- 

 duced into our northern markets and people were informed how they 

 should be prepared. The Jamaica Cookery Hook, issued in L897, gives 

 four or more different methods of preparing the Jamaica yam, but 

 omits the important recipe for baking, although the baked Yampies are 

 more palatable than any other form of prepared yam. The crisp 

 browned skin of a Yampie baked for ten minutes in a quick native 

 oven is especially palatable. 



OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL 

 RESEARCH IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



S. S. •• Tonkin.*' 

 Messagerie Makatimk. 

 Between Singapore and Colombo, 



April 17. WOO. 



The agricultural and botanical institutions in the city of Manila 

 are in the most dilapidated condition. In L897 the more or less exten- 

 sive herbarium and collections of natural history, as well as the library 

 of scientific books relating to the Philippines, was accidentally burned. 

 There are now existing in the city only a few miscellaneous works on 

 the fauna and flora of the islands and a small but neatly kept museum 

 of zoological and botanical specimens in the Jesuit Academy, in charge 

 of Padre Simon. 



Some works on forestry which were formerly in the office of the 

 Inspection de Montes, or inspection of lands, were sought for in vain. 

 The office building- was occupied by the Twenty-seventh Regiment and 

 crowded with camp stoves and other army supplies, looking as little 

 as possible like a forestry department. It is evident that this depart- 

 ment was given more than usual attention by the Spanish colonial 

 government, and as evidence of this Captain Ahern. of the board of 

 claims, informed us that the forest laws were far more carefully drawn 

 up and more comprehensive than those of our own country. 



Judging from the large quantities of very excellent timber which 

 have been used in the construction of churches and houses, the forests 

 must have contained and still possess a wealth of exceptionally good 

 tropical wood. Polished floors made of 14-inch boards, as straight as 

 if newly laid and without a check, are a great rarity elsewhere in the 

 Tropics, and such a floor as that of the Jesuit Church, which is as 



