RAINFALL, ETC., IN THE i'lIILl 1'1'INE ISLANDS. 41 



This does not mean that the soil is richer than portions of Japan, 

 China, India, or Siam, l)ut richness of soil is not the only elenu-nt that 

 determines productive capacity; rainfall and temperatnr(^ with c^ood 

 drainau-e, are even more essential conditions than natural ruhne.ss ot 

 soil In possessino- a uniform temperature suited to the best condi- 

 tions of tropical plant growth, the Philippines enjoy a great advan- 

 tao-e The distance of the islands from Cldna and Siam is sufhcient to 

 alfow the intervening water to neutralize any chill wmds from the 

 northwest, while the great warm current of the Pacilic touches them 

 upon their eastern shores, producing a most enjoyable chmate. Ihe 

 rainfall from 80 to 1<»0 inches per annum, is sufficient to meet the 

 requirements of tropical plants; but what is still more important, it 

 falls during the months-May to December- best suited to tlu^ growth 

 of plants. This is followed by a comparatively dry period-December 

 to :Mav 15— in which the plants mature and are harvested. 



The^-eport of the oljservatory at Manila shows the following aver- 

 aoe number of days in each month on which rain fell: 



RainfoR in the Philippine Islands. 



Month. 



January . . 

 February . 

 March . . . 



April 



May 



June 



July 



Number | 

 of days 

 )n which 

 rain fell. 



Month. 



August 



September. 

 October . . . 

 November 

 December . 



Total. 



« The rainfall is the average from 1865 to 1896, inclusive. 



The following table, compiled from the report of the observatory at 

 Manila, shows the mean temperature of each month for seventeen 

 years ended 1897: 



Temperature of the Philippine Islands. 



Month. 



January . . 

 February 

 March . . . 



April 



May 



June 



July 



Temper- 

 ature. 



° F. 

 77.0 

 77.9 

 80.6 

 82.9 

 83.8 

 82.4 

 80.9 



Month. 



August 



September. 



October 



November . 

 December . 



Temper- 

 ature. 



o j^ 



80.9 

 80.6 

 80.4 

 79.0 

 77.3 



Average . . 



.3 



11084— No. 35—03- 



