SPAIN. ]<) 



may be localities where the Para rubber trees can he grown and will 

 yield paying amounts of rubber, but the occurrence of a pronounced 

 dry season on mosl of the islands will probably reduce the How, as it 

 docs in Ceylon, below the point of profitable cultivation. An early 

 survey of the islands with this in view should be made, and experi- 

 mental groves set out if necessary. The employment of an expert 

 acquainted with rubber cultivation mighl save the colony much time 

 and money, as he could point out the regions in which rubber trees 

 would be most likely to succeed. 



For the orchid hunter the rich and little explored island of Min- 

 danao will yield many new treasures. It is considered by an orchid 

 fancier and successful orchid breeder of Manila as the most promising 

 island in the archipelago for this family of plants. 



The Manila markets have a large variety of native vegetables and 

 fruits, but the absence of such a superior vegetable as the alligator 

 pear and the great scarcity of the tropical yam. upon which the blacks 

 of Jamaica live, indicate that there are many lines along which profit- 

 able plant introductions can be made. 



Although the inertia of the Oriental native will be a constant 

 drawback to the work of introducing new cultures, such successful 

 examples as those furnished by the introduction of the cotton plant 

 into Egypt during our civil war, and the civilizing effects of the intro- 

 duction of coffee among the savage head hunters of northern Celebes 

 in 1882 should be encouragement enough to induce our Government 

 to try on a larger scale the civilizing effects of the introduction and 

 improvement of tropical plants in the islands. 



AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS IN SPAIN. 



Barcelona, Spain, 



August 6, 1001. 



Before leaving southeastern Spain, where I have been successful in 

 getting the finest almonds in the world for our California growers, it 

 gives me pleasure to write a few general impressions of the country. 



The idea grows on one, with a prolonged stay, that this region is 

 agriculturally now so far behind that it will have hard work to catch 

 up. The price of farm labor in southeastern Spain has dropped to an 

 equivalent of 21 cents a day. Spanish as well as foreign capital is 

 chary of investment in new undertakings. There is wealth here, but 

 the Spaniard can get 5 per cent on Government bonds and hesitates to 

 exploit a mine or go into sugar beet raising lest some change in the 

 tariff regulations will injure his business ; he prefers, therefore, to invest 

 his money in bonds and live quietly on the interest they bring. For- 

 eign capital is afraid of changes and invests cautiously. Certain com- 

 panies advertise that buyers will be charged for any changes due to 

 new Government regulations. 



