624 EXPERIMENT STATION RECUKD. 



vaeld heav}" crops and the unhuUed coffee at present sells readily in 

 Manila at $35 Mexican per cavan [3.47 cu. ft.], for consumption in 

 these islands or for shipment to Spain. Coffee bushes come to bearing 

 in Benguet in three years. There is no region in the United States 

 which has a more healthful or delightful climate than is afforded by 

 the Benguet highlands, where a white man can perform heavy tield 

 labor without excessive fatigue or injury to his health." 



The production of milk and of ))eef are thought to offer great 

 opportunities for profitable development, provided animal diseases 

 can be kept within bounds. 



The primitive and undeveloped condition of agriculture in this 

 region, much of which is naturally so productive, indicates the splen- 

 did field which lies before the bureau of agriculture for experimental 

 and demonstration work. The country is essentially an agricultural 

 one, and the greatest opportunities for development lie in that direc- 

 tion. The problem of l)ringing about this improvement and develop- 

 ment, however, is beset with unusual difficulties. The government 

 holds 65 million acres out of the TO million acres of land in the archi- 

 pelago. The customs and traditions of the people, the result of six 

 years of warfare, and the depredations of animal diseases, in addition 

 to the primitive methods of agriculture which have been followed, 

 combine to present unusual obstacles in the way of reforms and the 

 establishment of new conditions. This is brought out in other parts 

 of the Commission's report. 



It is encouraging to note, therefore, that the letter," puljlished in 

 the report show a marked interest and appreciation of the bureau of 

 agriculture, and indicate that there is a considerable element capable 

 of profiting by its work. The efforts of the bureau to get in touch 

 with the more intelligent and progressive persons interested in agri- 

 culture have resulted in a mailing list of about 1,000 names; and the 

 distribution of seeds for testing has met with cordial cooperation. 

 The popular publications of the bureau have been well received. 



That so encouraging a beginning has been made b}^ the bureau in 

 the short time covered by the report speaks much for the energy and 

 good judgment which have characterized this pioneer undertaking, 

 and augurs well for the future development of the work. A more 

 inviting field, viewed from the opportunity for pioneer as well as 

 more advanced work, could hardly be imagined, and under the liberal 

 policy which e\ndcntly prevails toward the bureau of agriculture, it 

 should be a foremost factor in ])r«i)aring the way for developing the 

 neglected resources of the islands. 



