841 



inches of rain falls, practically all of which comes in 

 five months, two to four inches more being scattered over 

 a few inconsequential showers during the remaining seven 

 months. Even in the few years where the rainfall in the 

 dry season exceeds this amount, it is at best, absolutely 

 a negligible quantity, for the reason that the prevailing 

 hot dry winds and unclouded sun will remove every appreci- 

 able trace of moisture from the soil a few hours after a 

 fall of from a quarter to half an inch. On the other hand 

 I lost a row of about two dozen three year old seedlings 

 of 'tobug' growing in the undrained land which was nearly, 

 but not quite inundated during a ten day storm in which we 

 had nearly two feet of water fall. At the same time adja- 

 cent rows of Mexican limes, and sweet oranges in variety 

 were hardly injured. Some of the water logged 'tobug' 

 which I had dug up, had, for their size, an extraordinary 

 root system, and in porous land, I am of the opinion would 

 penetrate to a surprising depth. Such land uncontrolled 

 by water, is still found in southern California in large 

 areas and I think that if 'tobug' could be tested on such 

 lands and found to thrive on only the normal ten inch 

 rainfall, and responding freely to grafting, that there 

 would be a possible opening for those rainbow chasers 

 whose idea of the sum of all happiness is to end their 

 days on an orange grove in southern California, and who 

 are now deterred by the fabulous prices asked for orange 

 lands which are commanded by water. Of course, being an 

 ultra tropical species, there would be the factor of cold 

 to be reckoned with; but if budded low, the stock, the 

 susceptible part, would practically be under ground and 

 likely to escape serious injury. 



"Of relatively new fruits, I now have the 'beriba' 

 Rollinia sp., received from Mr. Fischer some five years ago, 

 now in full flower. It probably makes a much larger tree 

 than most of its congeners, my plant now being some twenty 

 feet tall and with trunks six inches in diameter. 



"Canarium sp. t the 'pili' nut of commerce, I have now, 

 at six years from the seed fruiting with a first but light 

 crop. The Filipino has already nearly killed the demand 

 for this most excellent dessert nut by husking it in boil- 

 ing water. This method quickly kills the seed and turns 

 the meat rancid. The average buyer of an expensive food 

 likes to get more than a dozen good nuts in each hundred 

 he pays for. In consequence the shipments of 100,000 

 bushels of two or three years ago have dwindled down to 

 four or five thousand, and will probably drop to zero. 

 The Filipino may be ready for self government but he has 

 plenty to learn about making the most of his best food 

 products. " 



