CLIMATE OF THE ISLANDS. 377 



in their interior are rich mines of copper, gold, iron, and coal. 

 " There are two distinct and strongly marked seasons in 

 the island of Luzon, namely, the rainy or the wintry season, 

 and the dry or summer season. For six months of the year 

 that is from June to December the wind blows from the 

 south-west to the north-east, and then the declivities of the 

 mountains and all the western side of the island are in the 

 season of the rains ; in the six other months, the wind changes, 



GROWING TOBACCO ON THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



and blows from the north-east to the south-west, when all 

 the eastern parts of the island have the season of winter. 

 During the rainy season, the incessant fall of rain on the 

 mountains causes the rivers, both large and small, to over- 

 flow and to become torrents, that rush down upon the plains, 

 covering them with water, and depositing the broken earth 

 and slime which they have gathered in their course. In the 

 dry season, water is supplied for irrigation from reservoirs, 

 which are carefully filled during the rains. From these 

 causes it follows that without any manuring, and with scarcely 

 any improvement from human industry, the soil of the 

 Philippines is as fertile as .any in the world ; so that, without 

 great labor, the cultivator has most abundant har\ f ests." 



The above description of the Philippines by Gironiere 

 gives a faithful account of the vast resources of the islands. 

 Of the products cultivated rice and tobacco are the most 

 important. The finest tobacco plantations are situated in the 

 northern parts of the island of Luzon, and furnish the finest 



