Cultivation in Panama :; 1^ 



other reasons, there is no doubt that the palms 

 that have hitherto been produced along the 

 sea shore, in the immediate vicinity of, and so 

 influenced by, the salt breezes from the sea, 

 are superior in quality, in size and in yields 

 to those grown up in the hills or further 

 inland. Whether science and patience in the 

 Philippines can prove otherwise yet remains 

 to be seen, but science and patience cost money 

 and time, and as one meanwhile can grow very 

 fine, if not the finest, nuts in Panama, this 

 centre certainly deserves attention from the 

 prospective planter, be he an individual or a 

 whole company. From what we hear, the low- 

 lying stretches of sand near the Isthmus are 

 mixed with loam; in fact, one description speaks 

 of the soil as being formed of loam with a 

 good mixture of sand, crushed shell, and other 

 matter to keep it open and friable. ' Such soil 

 certainly appeals to us as being eminently 

 suited for coco-nut cultivation. 



San Bias is on the Atlantic side, east of 

 Colon, and therefore north of the City of 

 Panama, itself lying on the other (Pacific) side 

 of the Isthmus. The Pacific nuts are rather 

 more squat, or less oblong. Pacific planters or 

 owners, however, assert that New York and 

 other experts claim th t at the western nuts are 

 equal to the San Bias. This is not unlikely, 

 for although we use the term "western" the 

 best lands on the Pacific coast are south-south 

 west, rather than west, if our boxing of the 



