OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 215 



while the exports amounted to about |14, 000,000, principally hemp, sugar, coffee, 

 and tobacco. 



A great number of reasons have been assigned for the limited development and 

 retrogression in agriculture. The native people seem to possess little ambition, 

 and are content when their limited requirements are supplied. They grow a 

 little rice, plant a patch of sweet potatoes, and for their other necessities depend 

 to a great degree upon the natural products of the islands. Lack of transporta- 

 tion facilities has been generally considered one of the most serious drawbacks to 

 the development of agriculture. But few roads have been constructed through- 

 out the islands and most of these become almost impassable during the rainy season. 

 Witliout transportation facilities between the producer and the market, there is 

 little incentive to the growing of bulky crops. A lack of knowledge relating to 

 the proper growing of crops is another drawback. Aside from the production of 

 the so-called manila hemp, the most important agricultural products of the 

 islands are from crops the cultivation of which was introduced by the Spaniards. 

 In the growing of one or two of these, considerable proficiency has been shown, 

 but even for these the crudest, most primitive implements are employed. The 

 principles of agriculture seem wholly unknown, and only a little knowledge 

 regarding the practices as relating to a few crops is followed. Improved machin- 

 ery is almost unknown and wholly unemployed. Lack of capital, without which 

 no' industry can flourish, and the very high rates of interest exacted, tend to 

 prevent the development of small farms and minor industries. Large plantations 

 can obtain loans upon much more favorable conditions than small ones, the 

 titles to which are often defective. 



Various attempts have beea made to develop the resources of the country. In 

 1783 a monopoly of the tobacco industry was decreed in several provinces, and a 

 forced cultivation of that crop was attempted. Each family was required to grow 

 and deliver to the Government a certain quantity of tobacco each year, receiving 

 for it a sum determined upon by the officials in charge of the monopoly. Either 

 under private or governmental monopoly this continued for a century, with vary- 

 ing success. In 1882 the monopoly was abolished, and in ten years the exports 

 increased more than 50 per cent. In 1784 a company was chartered by royal 

 decree which gave almost absolute control of-the mercantile affairs of the islands 

 to this syndicate. This company, the Real Compaiiia de Filipinas, was required 

 to expend 4 per cent of its net proceeds upon the development of agricultural 

 resources of the archipelago. Stimulated by the large amount of money expended 

 and the prospect of more to come, many enterprises were begun which flourished 

 for a time. Sugar, coffee, and tobacco plantations were extended on all sides. 

 Indigo, silk, cotton, cocoa, condiments (pepper, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, etc.) 

 were produced in considerable quantity, and their production seemed well estab- 

 lished. A lack of technical knowledge of the industries, coupled with special con- 

 cessions gi-anted to thecity and merchants of Acapulco, Mexico, and those assumed 

 by various provincial governors down to 1844, served to nullify all the projects of ~ 

 the company, causing its final downfall. A number of enterprises that were begun 

 under the stimulus of this bounty have since retrograded, until now they are of 

 comparatively little importance. Notably true is this of the production of rub- 

 ber, indigo, cotton, silk, and condiments. Among the natives the present status 

 of agriculture seems to be limited to the production of a few food stuffs, and these, 

 with fruits which can be obtained from the forest, supply the necessities of life, 

 while manila hemp is resorted to to provide ready cash whenever any is needed. 

 There is always a market for this fiber, and it is purchased in any amount, a few 

 pounds being easily brought to market, and the purchase price supplying the 

 temporary requirements of the seller. 



On November 15, 1881, there was organized as a sort of adjunct to the depart- 

 ment of forest inspection an agricultural society, but the two were separated after 

 an existence of about three years. On July 8, 1884, it was decreed that "in the 

 future the agricultural department should be independent of the inspector-general 

 of state lands, and should remain in charge of an agricultural commission, whose 

 organization, object, functions, and duties were determined in regulations approved 

 by the sovereign. " These regulations required a study of agriculture, animal pro- 

 duction, and the me?ns leading to their improvement, theoretical aud practical 

 teaching of agriculture and animal culture, the preparation of reports relating to 

 the above, editing of monographs with reference to the agriculture of the archi- 

 pelago, and the making of agricultural and other collections for local museums. 

 A royal decree issued November 26, 1887, established a school of agriculture at 

 Manila, and in 1888 the budget, as given by Foreman in his work on the Philip- 

 pine Islands, provided .SI 1 a, 686. (54 for the support of this school and model farms 

 which had been established in different provinces about this same lime. Accord- 

 ing to the decree establishing a school of agriculture, attention was to be given to, 



