ABACA (MANILA HEMP) — EDWARDS 337 



estate. As abaca, is a close relative of the banana plant, and as prac- 

 tically all the bananas at Almirante had been destroyed by the virulent 

 "Panama" disease, the disease situation was threatening, but it seemed 

 unlikely that any location for experimental work with abaca could be 

 obtained in Central America that would be entirely free of this dis- 

 ease. As the management at Almirante was definitely interested in 

 the project and offered to cooperate in any experimental work that 

 might be undertaken, it seemed advisable to make tentative arrange- 

 ments for the establishment of an abaca nursery at this place. The 

 next step in the project was to obtain from the Philippine Islands the 

 plant material required. 



OPPOSITION IN THE PHILIPPINES 



There were both political and business interests in the Philippine 

 Islands opposed to the exportation of abaca plant material. When 

 it became known that consideration was being given to experiments 

 with abaca in Panama, the three chambers of commerce in Manila, 

 including the American Chamber of Commerce, presented a joint 

 resolution to the Governor General requesting that the exportation 

 of abaca plant material to any regions other than the United States 

 and its possessions be prohibited. The Director of Agriculture in 

 the Philippines, in an exceptionally strong and logical statement, 

 advised against the enactment of any legislation of this character, 

 and for the time being no further official action was taken. The 

 agitation continued, however, and finally resulted in the enactment 

 by the Seventh Philippine Legislature of a law prohibiting the 

 exportation from the Philippine Islands to foreign countries of 

 seeds of abaca, and its derivatives. This law was approved by the 

 Governor General on December 1, 1925, but fortunately some 3 

 months earlier a large consignment of abaca plants that proved 

 successful had been shipped from Davao to Panama. 



INTRODUCTION OF 1923 



Early in 1923 an unsuccessful collection of about 350 rhizomes of 

 four varieties of abaca had been obtained in Davao. These plants 

 were dug on the plantations in Davao early in March, and received 

 rough handling on the small interisland boat during the period of 

 shipment from Davao to Manila. They were received in Manila 

 during the middle of the hot season when conditions were unfavor- 

 able for the transportation of material of this character. The rhi- 

 zomes were dipped in a lime sulfur solution under the supervision 

 of a government plant pathologist, inspected by the plant inspectors, 

 repacked, and shipped to the Canal Zone. Seven weeks elapsed 

 from the time the plants left Manila until they arrived in the Canal 



